The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-18

high His beard and hair are iron
gray, the hair brushed straight back
from his forehead and falling back
ward like cataract. He was evident
ly aroused by the emotions that stir
red him and his gestures at times were
almost fierce. But his general tone
was one Of sadness and regret. He was
given most respectful hearing by the
delegates.
Senator Teller was recognized by the
chairman. AS the Colorado senator
came forward. he was received with
cheers and Kisses. He spoke as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen of the Convention
viii not attempt to inf1ict upon you
discussion of the great financial ques-
tiOn which is dividing the people not
only of this country, but of the whole
world The few moments allotted to me
by the convention viii not permit me to
more than state briefly our objections
to the financial plank proposed for
your consideration
II am practical man and recognize
the conditions in this country fore
shadowed as they are by the action Of
the committee. This plank was present
ed to the whole committee, and by lt
rejected. Loyalty to my opinion ana
consideration of the great interest
which is felt in this country compeis
me in the face of unusual difficulties,
to present this for your consideration,
not with that bounding hope or with
this i'm other bodies with greater meas
ure of success than 7 can hope for here.
THE local and supreme Importance
of this question IS alone my excuse now
for the few words that ] shall have to
I'm connection with this subject in a
public capacity, / have dealt with it
for 20 years. represent state that
produces silver, but 7 want to say to
you here. and now. that my advocacy
of the proposition is not i'm the slightest
decree in ffT1anC90 or CODTIOILeQ DY LlaL
degree Influenced or controlled by that
fact. Applause and voice good
.I contend for it because believe
that there can be no sound financial
system in any country nor in the world
that does not recognize this principle.
t'I cOntended for it in 1873 when it
was rllthIessly stricken from our stat
utes and since when there has been
continued depreciation of all the prod
ucts of human labor and human ener-
gy. contended for it because in this
year of 1896 the people are in greater
distress than they ever We're in their
III contend for it because this is my
Judgment, the great incubus that has
struck down enterprise and destroyed
progress in this favored land of ours
[ contend for it because j believe the
progress of my country is dependent
IDOn it. I contend for it because I be-
lieve the civilization of the world is to
be determined by the rightful, or the
wrongful solution of this financial
question I am tolerant of those who
C1fioT with me aCL from my JUu2-
ment. enlightment as best i have been
able to by my study and my years Of
thought In my Judgment the Amert- /
can people in the whole line of their
history have never been called upon to
settle a question of greater Importance
than this The great contest in which
my party should parucipate-twos states, /
or One-Was NOT more important to the
people than the question of finances.
II have said enough to show you that /
this is not q question of policy, but
nothing. but one on which hangs the !
happiness. the prosperity. the morality
and the independence of American la I
Dor and American producers. ZAP /
Confronted for the first time in the
history of this party of ours. confront
ed, I say, for the first time with a dan
ger Of financial system that i'm my judg-
ment would destroy all the great inter
eStS of this land, we are called upon to /
give this provision Of our platform, our
adherence.
s'0Ir. President. 90 not desire to say
unkind things. and / viii touch only [
moment upon why object to this pro
vision OF this platform The RepubH- /
can party has never been the party Of
single standard Iapplause.l 1t was a /
bimetalHc party in its origin. in all its /
allism. in 1892 it declared for bimetal-
lism. In 1896 it declares for a single /
gold standard Tn 1883 we carried the /
state that / here represent, for the Re
publican nominee: we carried it on a
bimetallfc platform. We carried it with /
a majority that was equal considering
our vote, to that of any state in the
Union Faint applause
cit has been a Republican state from
the hours Of admission. 1t has been
kept in the straight road, and in the
house of Republican members. Mr..
President, I promised you I would not
discuss the silver question and I win
not except to say that this platform is (
such a distinct departure from every +
thing heretofore held by the party. /
that it challenges our Republicanism. /
to accept it,
"The platform contains some plati- /