The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-08-28

1885 the Withdrawals of gold from this
country amounted to $3.50, 266, 512. Show
ing what Europe thinks of Democratic
policy and finano1ering and the lack of
European confidence in this country un-
der Democratic policy.
Who is there among you" said Gen.
Curtis. "who will not say that this ooun-
try had the most prosperous times any
nation has ever seen while under Re-
publican administrations. No nation
on earth was ever SO prosperous as ours
has been up to the time Of Grover Cleve-
land.''
Gen. Curtis then entered into discus
sion of the financial question and the
free coinage doctrine. He told how and
why thu act of 1878 which the Democrats
claimed demonetized silver was passed.
1t has been referred to as crime but to
his own knowledge many of the men
who now proclaim 1t as crime were
present In Congress when the act of 1878
was passed and voted for 1t knowing full
well what 1t was. He said that silver
had never been demonetized. 1t had al
ways been received in payment of debt
and two-thirds Of the gIesn backs in cir
oulation were either silver certificates or
bank notes calling for silver. Not a
single function has been taken from sill
yer and to claim that this metal has ever
been demonetized is a misnomer. He
referred to the Bland OR trade dollar of
1875 or trade dollar worth only so cents
in this country and said 1t was coined to
satisfy the siver mine owners who de-
manded protection. Bryan claims that
with the free coinage OF silver the metal
will be quoted at 81 1.29. but that will be i'm
possible and cannot be done while SO
much silver Is being mined all over the
word. The effect of free col mage will
simply be the stamping of an ounce of sill
yer at the government mint showing it
to be an ounce worth In the market just
what its market value is and nothing
more. 1t vic amount to just about the
same thing as the making of tobacco in
to plugs, stamping the weight OF each
plug and selling 1t to customers without
weighing it as the stamp of the manu-
government makes these silver dollars
debt paying it will be ruinous, destroy
our credit abroad and be dishonest
Gen. Curtis showed what the effect
would be to repudiate our debts as we
would should we give silver free COIN
country for 100 years and there is no need
of our endeavoring to cheat our creditors
now.
The effect of Mr.. Bryant's election
would be manifesto the property Of the
entire country in depreoiated values.
There would surely be panic, in it some
men might get rich but the majority
would get poor. Gen. Curtis contrasted
the credit of theU nited States today with
that of silver countries. We can borrow
money now at three per cent and at a
premium. Mexico, silver country, pays
six per cent and gets no premium.
Gen. Curtis said matter of as great
Importance to the welfare of this coun-
try as the financial question was the
blow aimed at the judiciary of the coun-
try by the Democrats. Wise men can
not look upon the plank In the Demo-
cratic platform which is aimed at our
judiciary. without shuddering at what
may occur should Bryan be elected. Mr..
Bryan has been guilty of crime against
mankind and his country in advocating
this plank and uttering such sentiments
as he has uttered during the last few
weeks. His speeches tend to create
revolution and to overthrow what the
Americans are accustomed to look upon
as their dearest rights.
In closing Gen. Curtis said, "We who
come into Maine have a right to expect
that you will return to the halls of Con-
gress such invincible leaders as T. B.
Reed (applause) and Nelson Dingley(ap-
plausel whose experienced aid the ooun-
try needs In guiding legislation. Maine
has an opportunity of teaching the rest
of the country great moral lesson in
September and I feel that when she
speaks it will be with no uncertain voice.