The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-08-20

advocates of free coinage have on all occa-
sions shown their willingness to cooper
ate with other nations in the reinstate
ment Of silver, but they are not willing tc
await the pleasure Of other governments
when immediate relief is needed by the
people Of the United States, and they fur
Their believe that Independent action offers
better assurance Of international bimet-
allism than sery1le dependence upon for
eign aid. For more than 90 years we have
invited the assistance of European nations,
but all progress in the direction of inter
national bimetallism has been blocked by
the opposition of those who derive pecun.
larry benefit from the appreciation Of gold.
How long must we wait for bimetallism
to be brought to us by those who profit by
monometallism? If the double standard
will bring benefits to our people, who will
deny them the right to enjoy those bene-
fits? If our opponents would admit the
right, the ability and the duty of our peo
pie to act for themselves on all public
questions without the assistance and re
gardless of the wishes of other nations
and then propose the remedial legislation
which they consider sufficient, we could
meet them in the field of honorable debate,
but when they assert that this nation is
helpless to protect the rights of its OWL
citizens we challenge them to submit the
issue to people whose patriotism has new
er been appealed to in vain.
We shall not offend other nations when
we declare the right of the American PEG.
pie to govern themselves, and, without let
or hindrance from without, decide upon
every question presented for their consid
Grafton In taking this bo ton we sim.
,1x- raj tho DIGNITY Of IN 000
citizens who are second to none in theil
capacity for self government.
The gold standard has compelled the
American people to pay an ever increasing
tribute to the creditor nations of the world,
q tribute which no one dares to defend.
assert that national honor requires the
United States to secure justice for all its
citizens as well as do justice to all its cred
tors. For people like ours, blessed with
natural resources of SURPRISING richness,
to proclaim themselves impOtent to frame
financial system suited to their own
needs is humiliating beyond the power OF
language to describe. We cannot enforce
respect for our foreign policy SO long as
we confess ourselves unable to frame our
own financial policy.
Honest differences of opinion have al.
ways existed and ever will exist as to the
legislation best calculated to promote the
public veal, but when it is seriously as
serted that this nation must bow to the
dictation of other nations and accept tho
policies which they insist upon the right
of self government is assailed, and until
that question is settled all other questions
are insignificant
A Word to New York Citizens.
Citizens of New York, I have Travelled
from the center Of the continent to the
seaboard that I might, in the very begin
ming Of the campaign, bring you greeting
from the people Of the west and south and
assure you that their desire is not to &c
stroy, but to build up. They invite you to
accept the principles of 4 living faith rath-
er than listen to those Who lrt sch the Cos
pei of despair ard ;.dyisc C. diir.Ece OF the
ills you have. The ;.,ivocat;:, Of free coin
age believe that in striving to secure the
immediate restoration Of Iilnctallism they
are laborin:, in your behalf as well as in
their own behalf A few of your people
may prosper unCcr present conditions but
the rcrnIlncl t welfare of Kew York rests
upon the roduc2rs Of wealth. This great
city is built upon tho commerce of the na
ton and must suffer if that commerce is
impaired. You cannot sell unless the peo-
they cannot obtain tho money with which
to buy unless they are able to sell their
products at remunerativo prices. Produc-
ton of wealth goes before the exchange of
wealth. Those who create must secure a
profit before they have anything to share
with others. You cannot afford to join the
money chan GERS in supporting & financial
policy which, by destroying tho purchas-
ing power OF the products Of toll must in
the end discourage the creation of wealth.
ask, expect your cooperation. 1t is
true that d few of your firaIfciers would
fashion new figure, q figure representing
Columbia, her hands bound fast with fct-
tcrs of gold and her face turned toward the
cast, appealing for assistance to those who
live beyond the sea, but this figure can
never express your idea of this nation.
You will rather turn for inspiration to the
heroic statue which guards tho entrance to
your city, q statue as patriotic in concep=
ton as it is colossal in proportions. It was
the gracious gift of q sister republic and
stands upon q pedestal which was built by
the American people That figure, Liber-
ty, Cnlightcning tho world is cmblematic
Of the mission Of cur nation among the
nations of tho earth. With q government
which derives its powers from the consent
Of the governed, secures to all the people
freedom Of conscience, freedom of thought
and freedom of speech guarantees equal
rights to all and promises special priv
ilc2e3 to none, the United States should be
an example in all that is good and the
leading spirit in every movement which
has for its object tho uplifting of the hui
man race.