, 1896-08-10
FITCH OF ARIZONA.
TELLS IN ELOQUENT WORDS WHY
HE is A REPUB-
LICAN.
Differs in Opinion. However. From the
ST. Louis Plank Relating to the
Conditions Under Which Silver
Should Be Coined in the United
States.


Should Be Coined in the United
States.
AT the late republican convention OF
Arizona, held to elect delegates to the
St. Louis convention. Tom Fitch, n
of the most noted free silver advocates
in the territory, was called upon to
speak, and responded in a speech which
for simple e%loquence and beauty of die
ton deserves preservation. His rea-
son why he should remain in the re-
publican party are unanswerable, and
should be read by all republicans. The
reading will in no way dwarf their en-
thusiasm for the grand old party. The
full text of Mr.. Fitch's speech is a fol-
lows:
Gentlemen of the Convention: I
thought that the seclusion that the up
per gallery grants, combined with 9TH
err circumstance would exempt me
from any invitation to speak before
this convention, but your repeated calls
leave me no alternative consistent with
courtesy but to answer them.
THE speakers who have addressed
you have spoken of free coinage of
silver as a cardinal principle of the
republican party. | fear that the St.
Louis convention may compel us to re-
trace some of our steps in this matter,
and as the statesmen who control this
convention have not included me
among those deemed most fit to repre>
sent Arizona at St. Louis, l fell quite at
liberty TO tell the truth.
Il suppose no one will question my
long devotion 20 the cause of free con-
age of silver. Years ago. at the incep,
ton of the movement, |, as vice presl-
len of the national executive commit
tee of che silver convention, in connec>
ton with A. J. Warner, the president
of the committee, travelled through the
south and west preaching the doctrine
of bimetallism, and | have never since
had occasion to ever change my views
with respect to the great benefits hat
might result to this nation from the
complete restoration of silver as a
money metal; and yet there are other
circumstances quite as influential
which must be potent in determining
my future, and tn, future action OF
many republicans in this matter.
This morning a friend who is a
member of this convention, and who
now honors me with his audience, said
to me: Mr.. Fitch, you have always
been a pronounced advocate OF the free
coinage of silver; what will you do If
the st. Louis convention adopts a plank
their platform favoring a single gold
standard and denouncing the free coin,
age of ~silver?' l did not answer this
question then, but with your PERMITS
sion l will do SO now.
Il belong to the republican party be-
cause its history is the history OF the
growth, the greatness and the freedom
Ol iIliS HdlIOI, DtCduoC l pun PocSo -
patriol.c: because it is the friend Of la
Dor without being the foe Of thrift; be;
cause It is wise, because it is just, be-
cause lis restoration to complete power
will rekindle the furnace and start the
turbines, and fill The land with the
music of cCnten.ed and well-paid toll,
and put bread into mems mouths and
into their hearts.
Il belong to the republican party be-
cause it is the greatest political organ
of freemen in he world because
under its wise guidance. star after star
has been added to our flag, ship after
ship has been added to u fleets, fac
tory after factory has been added to
our resources. millions upon millions
have been added to our wealth. city aft
er city has been developed from IL
villages, and the land has been laced
with a network Of iron rails. ard fur
fires have illuminated the night,
and the grand diapason Of labor has
been made to sound throughout the
aH
II belong to the republican party be-
cause under its inspiration these Uni
ted States. once a wrangling and dis
cordant commonwealth; these United
States, Cnce shamed with slavery and
decrepit with the disease of secession
these United States have become a
where no salve's presence dis
dishonors labor. where no freeman's
utterances are choked by the hand OF
power, where no man doffs his hat to
anathn. oxaant throuuh Tho courtcau oA