Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-06-21
TAKING ROOT IN MAINE.


All along the line the true democratic
principle of bimetallism is taking deeper
root in the minds of the people. On the
eve of the democratic state convention
of, Maine the Young Mems Democratic
club of Portland gave banquet. There
were more than 900 people present,
among whom were Ex-Governor Garce-
lon and Ex-senator Bradley. Mr.. Brad
ley declared at the banquet that a ma
jority of the delegates to the Maine DEM
ocratic state convention at heart agreed
with him in favoring the free coinage
of silver.
The principal speaker of the occasion
was the Hon. George Fred Williams, the
democratic candidate for governor of
Massachusetts last year and an ex-mem-
Der of congress. Mr.. Williams has been
and is yet an advocate of the gold
standard but had the following to say
on the Industrial and financial questions
in his banquet speech, which is said to
have struck popular cord in the minds
and hearts of his hearers:
Il believe and declare that q vicious,
unjust and cruel system has developed in
our industry, which has worked with in
creasing strength, until a popular up
rising is at hand. Agriculture and labor
are the basis of our national prosperity;
as they flourish or wither the whole
country smiles and groans They are the
customers of trade. We who have some-
thing to invest do not know where to
put it, for fear it will be stolen. 1 have
lost more from dishonest railroad man
ayers and monopolistic tyranny than a
silver standard could take from me under
any circumstances. And those who took
my earnings are walking head-up in Bos-
ton and elsewhere today and will
likely be the first to rush into print and
say that am attempting to array class
against class.
who are the anarchists, who are the
repudiators in community where such
methods thrive and not even social penal
ties are visited upon the wrongdoers? I
cannot tolerate the blindness of morals
which accuses whole sections of the coun-
try of dishonesty, when they seek a way
out of spurious money system, while
men who organize corporations for pill
lage are accounted the leaders in the
community.
ut seems to me that our commercial
morality is sadly degraded, and that we
cannot ask men to be honest toward capt.
tai when capital ceases to recognize the
laws of honesty and justice. 1t seems to
me that revival of the public conscience
against such methods is today of far
greater Importance than any single is
sue of public policy, and when I count
the forces with which this work is to be
done, find them in the democratic par
ty, and to this party we must appeal for
remedy, If there Is any. do not blame
any section or any class for rising in pro-
test against these developments in our
republic, creating new system of extor-
ton and oppression under forms of law.
1t is time that the east, which is SO
much under the influence of their indus
trial and legal enormities, inquired
whether 1t is indeed the money standard
or natural causes which has brought
money to rate on which even property
holders cannot live, or whether it Is not
the robber system which has wrecked in
vestme nts so often that no one dares
trust his money in a railroad or even in
an industrial enterprise.
IT. for one. am thankful that the great
agricultural and labor interests are be-
stirring themselves and no longer suf-
fering in silence and consenting to be
dragged behind the car of monopoly.
They are more honest and sincere than
most of those who malign Them and no
agrarian movement which is possible can
do one-half the mischief and ruin which
the rapacious and fraudulent methods of
the monopolist and the speculator have
wrought in the last five years.
"As we view the sceneat st. Louis, a
CAS- we view the scene at st. Louis a
lican party is hopelessly surrendered
into the hands of monopoly. 1t is no
longer the republican party; it is now the
Hanna trust doing its masters bidding
at his nod scattering money through the
country to purchase delegates without
show of justice suppressing its candi-
dates opinions and deciding for an anx-
ious country whether the word gold
can have a mention in the platform.
The three weapons of the trust, money.
secrecy and force, have made a submits
sive party of slaves. What says this
free country to such a scene? A fit eli
max to the career of this party in doing
the will of our industrial tyrants
CAS- a gold standard supporter / have
not the face to ask justification for
system which permits a solemn contract
with a syndicate of European bankers to
exert their financial influence to pollute
the treasury Of the United States. That
is not q monetary system fit for free
and powerful nation. 1t would be
farce were 1t not scandal and shame.
IT have never been doubted, believe,
as a staunch friend of the gold standard.
I have fought it's battles for several
years before the people and in congress.
go to Chicago to register the will of the
democracy of Massachusetts. But be-
fore either national convention has made
up the issues I wish to say to the peo-
pie who have trusted my patriotism up
on the money question, that as between
absolute free coinage of silver and con-
tinued stagnation, followed by another
wreck of our gold standard by repub-
can Legislation or by republican pres!-
dent, am convinced that the best inter-
ests of the country would be best served
by the former. say this without abat-
ing from my loyalty to the gold stand
ard, but IL am to choose between two
evils. unhesitatingly choose free sill
yer standard rather than topping gold
standard. to be again loaded with Sher-
man-McKinley dynamite, which will
spring the ruin of 1893 wider and deeper
and deadlier than before"