The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-07-17

with me In leaping across the differ
ences that separate US and bowling with
reverence and respect over his lifeless
body.
Let US not speak harshly OF those
who differ with US. Let US remember
that they. too. are attempting TO serve
| their country according to their con-
sciences and according to their judg-
meDt. but let this be a fight of princi-
Piles. not men. Let Il be a contest, a
struggle. IL you will. over a great issue
and not a bitter warfare between con-
tending persons. But, my friends.
while we have all charity for those
who differ from US. and while we con-
cede TO them the right to wage this
war as best they can and by every
honorable means secure that legisla-
tton they think to be best, beg To i'm
press upon you that you have an equal
right with the people of any section OF
this land to make your influence felt In
dealing with the destlnies of this repub-
| lie. We have our homes and our fam
lilies to consider. and they have none
to protect them but us. and II we fail
In our duty their interests must be
neglected.
Il believe ITO the very bottou Of my
heart-I believe. and the belief touches
every fibre of my being-ufftil we re-
store silver to hts place by the side Of
gold, to the place II occupied for so
many years. so many centuries and so
many ages, there can be no lasting
prosperity brought back to the homes
of those who toll. (Deafening applause.)
They tell us that they want conf
dence restored. We reply that conf
dence must have a substantial basis
upon which to rest. and that so long
as you legislate value out Of property
there Is nothing substantial upon whIch
confidence can rest. IL they tell US
they want an honest dollar we tell
them that we vie with them In our de-
sire for an honest dollar. but when we
attempt to define an honest dollar we
beg them to give US a dollar which Is
as kind to the man who produces
wealth as to the man who holds fixed
Investments: a dollar that smiles upon
q man who owes a debt just as much
as 1t does upon the man who holds
mortgage.
II am not treading In new paths. nor
trespassing upon dangerous ground
when l tell you that dollar that rises
In value Is a dangerous dollar. a dollar
WUl'Il WD'it u hots stNt
which gives to it's possessor an unearn-
ed increment, which Is taken out of the
sweat and blood Of those who toll. and
II man who owns a dollar desires that
sort Of a dollar he forgets the equities
of the case. There Is no reason why
the producers OF wealth should bow
down and worship a dollar destroying
them and their chances for existence.
But ! want to appeal to you to study
this question for yourselves | want
to suggest two things for you to think
about. They tell you that the gold
standard Is the standard of civilization.
II they tell you that. let me suggest
an answer that Is complete. III the
gold standard Is the standard of civil
ization. why is II that the United
States, the leader In the civilization OF
the world has never declared for the
gold standard? II the gold standard
Is the standard Of civilization. why is
It that no national party In the history
of the United States has ever declared
that the gold standard 10 a good thing?
(Applause) A voice: THE republican
party did"
"You say the republican party didf
No, II did not. The republican party
declared that the gold standard should
be maintained until something could be
substituted for It. (Great applause and
lauFhter). Then what was that some
thing? II was was bimetallism. And
they pledged themselves to get rid OF
the gold standard and substitute bi-
metallism as q better thing than a gold
standard Applause and laughter).
n the gold standard is a good thing.
why should we try to get rid OF IL? II
q L. haA linz xryhy uhnnlA kaan
Il for single moment? II. my
friends, they dare. upon any stump.
upon any platform or In any state. to
advocate the gold standard as q good
thing. we point to the republican plat
form as conclusive evidence that the
principle OF bimetallism is better than
the principle involved In the gold
standard; and II they admit that the
double standard Is better than single
standard. a single gold standard. and
tell us that this nation 10 unable TO
sustain II without the aid OF and con-
sent Of other nations. we hurl back
defiance to them and tell them that
this nation Is great enough to legislate
for It's own people without waldnE for
the aid or consent Of any other nation
on earth. Which course will they take!
They dare not take either course. they
dare not meet the issue on the money
question, because there Is no ground
upon which they can stand. IL they
had declared for n gold standard they
might have advocated II, but having
declared against a gold standard. they
dare not ask the verdict of their coun-
trymen on this proposition.
Now. my friends. ! want TO leave
this subject to be discussed by others.
and want to simply say one thing:
II Is not a difficult thing for us who
live In this western country, who know
the condition OF our people. their means
and their desires. II Is not difficult
thing for us to advocate bimetsllism.
1t IL not difficult thing to ask for the
restoration OF the free and unlimited
coinage OF gold and silver at the ratio
OF ls to l. But there are sections OF
this country In which 1t requires more
of heroism to stand out for the rights
OF the masses of the people, and ask
YOU as you assemble tonight, not to
forget that brave man who stands upon
the ticket with me and who away or
near the Atlantic shore, has been hght-
ing the battles Of the common people
as courageously as Bland has fought
them I'm Missouri. as courAyeously as
western advocates of free coinage have
fought the battle here. And in our
delight over having at last
claimed recognition OF the ticket
for western man and west
ern ideas. do not for one moment