Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-10-17
EAuLkNER AND CAMDEN.
which Is the Consistent Man Of the Two,
To-day?

Wheeling Intelligencer.
Senator Faulkner, who is helping to
run the National Popocratic campaign,
delivered one of the strongest speeches
made in the Senate against free silver.
Here is an extract from it, which looks
strange alongside Of the Senator's pres
ent attitude:
1--WE can not legislate for the present
from the standing of the past. The
monetary systems of the world have
changed; the demand for the white
metal is lessening annually. SHOULD
WE ADOPT FREE AND UNLIMITED
COINAGE AT A RATIO THAT
WOULD DRAW THE SURPLUS Sill
YER TO OUR MINIS, THERE ARE
NO CHANNELS THROUGH WHICH
1T COULD PASS FROM THIS COUN-
TRY EXCEPT TO SOUTH AND CEN
TRIAL AMERICA, CHINA AND
JAPAN. Would they absorb sufficient
to prevent glut in the home market
which would SO effectually depreciate
the price as to destroy silver as a stand
ard of value? With an increased pro-
duction and a continual decrease in the
demand, would it be wise for the true
friends of bimettallism to seek at this
time to place silver in the position it
occupied i'll our monetary system prior
to 1878?
"Mr President. CAN SEE NO so
LUTON OF THIS PROBLEM EX-
CEPT IN INTERNATIONAL BIMET-
ALLISM. The stability of silver. which
has been overthrown by vicious and sell
fish legislation, can only be restored in
this way"
This utteranee of Senator Faulkner
was not made Is or 20 years ago, when
conditions were different, but was made
after the beginning of the present active
agitation Of the question, and was de-
iivered in the Senate on the Sth day of
September, 1898. Senator Faulkner's
present course aud this speech, which,
if space would permit, we would like to
publish entire, carry with them their
own comment.
Senator Camden was another West
Virginia Democratic senator who, i'll the
same debate, took strong grounds against
Popocratic associates now propose to do.
Senator Camden said in the Senate on
Sept. 3d. 1898, in the course of a lengthy
speech, the following:
"Mr. President, | am led to the con
clusion that the free coinage of silver
under the conditions that exist today,
and its circulation in parity with gold,
is A PRACTICABLEI MPOSSIBILITY
BY THE UNITED STATES ALONE.
1T CAN ONLY BE DONE BY INTER
NATIONAL AGREEMENT. Any at
tempt to establish bimetallism or the
free coinage of silver in the United
States WITHOUT AGREEMENT
WITH OTHER NATIONS WOULD
BRING US AT ONCE TO A SILVER
BASIS. Conscientiously believing this,
as L do, / can not favor it under present
conditions. If | could believe with the
senator from Colorado MIR. Teller) that
silver and gold could be kept on parity
III this country by free coinage, / would
go with him for free coinage, but ac-
cording to my judgment, IT CAN NOT
BE DONE"
Accompanying its publication of this
speech, The Register, on Oct. 4, gave it
the following editorial and endorsement:
1.-The full text of Senator Camden s
speech in favor of the repeal of the sill
yer purchase law will be found on an
other page. Mr.. Camden goes to the
root of the currency question and shows
clearly and conclusively that A DE,
BASED CURRENCY Is THE DIRECT
ENEMY OF LABOR in these days,
when the great volume of business is
done through bills of exchange, checks,
drafts. etc"
Ex-senator Camden stands by his
colors and his convictions and accepted
the invitation of the sound money Dem
ocrats to preside over the great Bourke
Cochran meeting at Parkersburg, Oct. 2.