The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-08-18
(Coneinued From FL Page.)


If these are merely prophesies INDUCED in
by those who have forgotten the provisions
of the constitution, it will be sufficient to
remind them that the president is en-
powered to convene congress in extraordi-
nary session whenever the public good re-
quires such action. If, in November, the
people by their ballots declare themselves
in favor Of the immediate restoration of
bimetallism, the system can be inaugurated
whiting few months. If, however, the
assertion that loans will be withdrawn and
mortgages foreclosed is made to prevent
such political action as the people may be-
lieve to be necessary for the preservation
of their rights, then a new and vital issue
Is raised Whenever it is necessary for the
people, as a whole, to obtain consent from
the owners Of money and the changers Of
money before they can legislate upon finan-
cial questions, we shall have passed from
Democracy to plutocracy. But that time
has not yet arrived. Threats and intimida-
ton will be of avail The people who
In l1l6 rejected the doctrine that kings rule
by right divine, will not in this generation
subscribe TO doctrine that money is not
Omnipotent.
In conclusion, permit me to say Il word in
regard to international bimetailism. We
are not opposed to an international agree
ment looking to the restoration of bimet-
allism throughout the world. The advocates
of free coinage have on all occasions shown
their willingness to cooperate with other
nations in the reinstatement of silver, but
they are not willing to await the pleasure
of other governments when immediate re-
lief is needed by the people of the United
States, and they further believe that indie
pendent action offers better assurance Of
international bimetallsm than servile de-
pendence upon foreign aid. For more than
twenty years we have invited the assist
ance of European nations, but all progress
In the direction of international bimetallism
hoe Ixr,.
who derive pecuniary benefit from the ap-
probation of gold. How long must we wait
for bimetallism to be brought to Us by those
who profit by monometallism?
If the double standard will bring benefits
to our people, who will deny them the right
to enjoy those benefits? If our opponents
would admit the right, the ability and the
duty of our people to act for themselves
on all public questions, without the assist
ance and regardless of the wishes of other
nations, and then propose the remedial leg
islation which they consider sufficient, we
could meet them in the field of honorable
debate; but when they assert that this ma
ton is helpless to protect the rights of its
own citizens we challenge them to submit
the result to a people whose patriotism has
never been appealed TO in vain.
We shall not offend other nations when
we declare the right Of the American people
to govern themselves, and without let or
hindrance from without, decide upon every
question presented for their consideration.
In taking this position, simply maintain
the dignity of seventy million citizens who
are second to none i'll their capacity for
selfgoyernment. The gold standard has
compelled the American people to pay an
ever-increasing tribute to the creditor
lions of the world-a tribute which no one
dareS to defend. l assert that national
honor requires the United States to secure
justice for all its citizens as we'll as Go
tn a
like ours, blest with natural resources of
surprising richness, to proclaim themselves
impotent to frame a financial system suited
to their own needs, is humiliatinS beyond
the ccWer OF la2Gnagc IT GescEr-. we can
not enforce respect for our foreign policy
so long we confess ourselves unable to
frame our own financial policy.
Honest difference of opinion have always
existed and ever Will exist, as to the legis-
lation best calculated to promote the public
veal; but when it is seriously asserted that
this nation must bow to the dictation of
other nations and accept the policies which
they insist upon, the right of self-goyern-
ment is assaiied and until that question is
settled all other questions are insignificant.
Citizens Of New York; have Travelled
from the center of the continent to the
seaboard that | might, in the very begin
Ing of the campaign, bring you greeting
from the people out West and South to
assure you that their desire is not to de-
stroy but to build up. They invite you to
accept the principles of faith rather than
listen to those who preach tie gospel OF
despair and advise endurance of the ills you
have The advocates of free coinage be-
lieve that, in striving to secure the imme-
date restoration of bimetallism, they are
laborng in your behalf as we'll as in their
own behalf. A few of your people may
prosper under present conditions, but the
permanent welfare of New York rests upon
ibo of
built on the commerce of the nation and
must suffer if that commerce is impaired.
You cannot sell unless the people have
money with which to buy, and they cannot
obtain the money with which to buy unless
they are able to sell their products at re-
munerative prices. Production of wealth
goes before the exchange of wealth; those
who create must secure Il profit before they
have anything to share with others. You
cannot afford to join the money changers in
support of a financial policy in which they
destroy the purchasing power of the
products of the toll. and which must in
the end discourage the creation of wealth.
| ask, l expect, your cooperation. 1T IS
true that a few of your tiuanciers would
fashion n new figure-a figure representing
Columbia. her hands bound fast with fet'
tiers of gold and her face turned towards
the East, appealing for assistance to those
who live beyond the sea, but this figure can
never express your idea of this nation. You
will rather turn for inspiration to your city
"a statue as patriotic in conception as 1t Is
colossal in proportions; it was the gracious
gift of sister republic and stands upon
pedestal which was built by the American
people That figure-Liberty enlightening
the worlds emblematic of the mission Of
our nation among the nations CT the earth
With a government which derives It's
Mowers from the consent of the governed,
secures to all the people freedom of con-
science, freedom of thought and freedom of
speech guarantees equal rights to all and
promises special privileges to none, the
United States should be an example in all