The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-07-16

OF silver mas greatly fallen. Why, 1t Is
the very pregnant fact that confronts all
the world in the solving of this great ques-
ton, of the immense discovery of silver
everywhere. The great fact confronts
the world that the cost of silver produc-
ton has been reduced nearly one-half.s If
the American people were brave, were
courageous; if they had the spirit OF 1776,s
as this platform says, could they, single
and alone, make copper the equal of gold?
Could they make lead the equal OF gold?
Must you not take into conside sation the
great fact of production, the CREST fact OF
the lessening of the cost Of production In
the last fifteen and twenty years?
II bravery. if courage, could produce these
results, then you could make any metal, no
matter what it might be, money metal
But tell you it is question Of economics,
a question Of business Judgment; 1t
is not a question of finance. It Is ques-
ton OF resources. And upon that 1t is the
judgment Of the minority OF the committee
that the safest course is to take tip first
great step In favor of international bimetal-
lism, and stop there. / know 1t will be
said that in some particulars this plat
form agrees with our Republican friends.
1t, to me, Is neither any better nor any
worse for 1t. / call your attention to the
fact that your plank upon pensions, that
your plank upon the Monroe doctrine, that
your plank upon Cuba, that your plank upon
territories that your plank upon Alaska,
that your plank even upon the civil service,
are exactly like the Republican planks.
Therefore, do not think that that criti-
cism will detract from the value of the sug-
gestion. Mr.. President, ] said few mo-
ments ago thought the safest course for
this convention to have pursued was simply
to have said that this government should
enact statute in favor of placing gold
and silver alike the currency of the
country, and stop there. l do not think l
said, and will repeat it, that 1t Is wise
everything
Der.
The Income Tax
Another suggestion permit me to make.
What was the necessity for putting into
the platform other questions which have
never been made the tests of Democratic
loyalty heretofore? Why, we find the dis
puted question Of the policy AID consti-
tutionality of the income tax. What? Has
it come to this, that the followers of Sam
uel J.. Tiden, who, all his life, was the
opponent of that iniquitious scheme, which
was used ag ainst him in his old age to an
noy him and harrass him and humiiate
him-why, say, should it be left to this
convention to make as a tenet Of Demo-
cratic faith, belief in the propriety and con-
stitutionality of an income tax? Why was
it wise to assail the supreme court of
your country? Will some one tell me what
that clause means in this platform? 1t
you meant what you said and said what
vision? That provision, If it means any
thing, means that it is the duty of con-
gress to reconstruct the supreme court Of
ayowed-it means the adding Of additional
members to 1t, or the turning out of Office
and reconstructing the whole court. As
I said. I will not follow any such reyo-
lutionary step as that. =
The Democratic party has passed a tariff
bill, which, unfortunately, has not pro-
duced sufficient revenue as yet to meet
49, %lo 01,@
has been deficit of about $50. OOO, 900 year.
1t is hoped that in the near future this bill
will produce ample revenues for the sup
part Of the government; but In the mean
time your greenback currency and your
treasury notes must be redeemed when they
are presented, If you would preserve the
honor and the credit of the nation Where
would the money have come from if your
president and your Southern secretary OF
the treasury had not discharged their duty
by the issuing of bonds to save the credit
of this country? Let me call your atten-
ton to the figures. There has been issued
during this administration $500, OOO, COO Of
bonds. What amount of money have you
T in the treasury to-day2 Only just about
that sum. Where would you have obtained
the means with which to redeem your
paper money If 1t had not been produced
by the sale Of bonds? Why, my friend TILL
man could not have had money enough out
of the treasury from his salary to pay his
expenses home.
Mr.. President, I reiterate to this conven-
ton that it has brought into this canvass
an unnecessary, a foolish issue, which puts
US on the defense in every school district in
the state. l do not propose to deeain you
by any other criticism of this platform at
this time. 1t is sufficient that you have en-
tered upon an issue on which the Democ-
racy is largely divided In addition to that
you have unwisely brought into this plat
form other questions foreign to the main
question, and made the support of them
the test of Democracy. I do not think that
this was the course that should have been
pursued. Mr.. President, there is time
enough yet to retrace these false steps.
The burdens you have imposed upon us in
the Eastern states in the support of this
platform in its question relating to silver
Is all that can be reasonably borne. But
In addition to that you have put upon us
the question of the preservation Of the
public credit. You have brought into it the
question Of the issuing Of bonds. You have
brought into it the question of the recon-
struction Of the supreme court. You have
brought into 1t the question of the issuing
of paper money. You have brought into it
the great question Of life tenure in office,
and this platform is full of incongruous
and absurd provisions which are proposed
to be made the test of true Democrats
Mr.. President, it is not for me to revive
any question Of sectionaism, and I shall
uoI 10 IT, InlS country is now at peace,
all sections of it, and let it so remain.
care not from what section of the country
the Democrat comes So long as he is true
to the old financial principles of our faith
ers will shake him by the hand and ex-
press my friendly sentiments toward him.
The question Of Sectionalism will creep In
in spite of the efforts of our best men to
keep it out 1 oppose this platform because
think 1t makes our success more difficult.
want the grand old party with which /
have been associated from my boyhood to
bel have looked forward to the day when
it should be-securely entrenched in the at
fections Of the American people. I dislike
the Republican party. I dislike all their
tenets. I have no sympathy with their
general principles, but / do think we are
here to-day making mistake in the ven.
ture which we are about to take Be not
deceived Do not attempt to drive old
Democrats out of the party that have
grown gray in its services to make room
for lot of Republicans and old Wings and
other Populists that will not vote your
ticket after all
|. Mark the prediction which make. Cry
of ''No.'o Some one says no. Who are
authorized to speak for the I'opuiist party
here in Democratic convention? 1 saw
upon this platform the other day an army
OF them, giving countenancc and support
to this movement; men who never voted 8