The record-union., 1896-06-19

duced in an audience like this. / must
beg your indulgence if / seem to tran
scend the prescribed limits on this oc-
casion; if ! shall say something per-
sonal to myself. l have formed my con-
v1ction on this question after twenty
years of careful study, twenty years
OF careful thought and careful read
ing. / have been trained in a school
that. 1T seems, fits me we'll for reaching
just conclusion, and | have formed
my conclusions to such an extent that
they have had the effect of influencing
my conscience
L repeat here what I said yesterday.
| was not acting upon my own judg
1nent alone. l dare not take this step
alone. My friends, l am sustained in
my view of the danger that is coming
TO us and coming to the world by the
adoption of the gold standard by the
Intelligence of the world. They may
say the silver question is craze. Let
me tell you the best part of Europe,
the best of the world, is with the ad-
vocateS of bimetallsm. All the great
political speakers of Europe, with the
exception of five or six, are pronounced
advocates of bimetallism, unrestricted
and unrestrained bimetallisin. All of
the great teachers of political economy
i'll European colleges, without eXcep-
ton, are in favor of bimetallism My
own judgment based as I have said
to you, upon careful preparation and
Careful study for twenty years, bears
me out and puts me in accord with
them, and / would be recreant to the
trust given me by my people if l failed
to protest here and failed when the
Republican party makes this one of
the tenets of it's faith to sever my con-
nection with that party. Cheers and
cries of NOD
Mr.. President, I ask your kind per-
mission to say few things, and when
have said them, having told you what
my conscience demands that | shall do.
will leave this question for your con-
s1deration. Do you suppose myself and
my associates who act with me and
take the same view of this question that
| do, do you suppose that we can take
this step without distress? Do you sup
pose we could take it for any personal
advantage or any honor that could be
conferred upon US? We say it is a
question of duty You may nominate
in this convention any man you choose.
If you will put him on the right kind of
platform 1 will toll for him. You may
take any methods to nominate him that
you think proper. I will abide by your
Judgment and support him if the plat
form is right. But when asked to sur
render to you my principles as an hon
est man, | cannot do that. / realize
what it will cost U.S. realize the gibes
ar1
heaped upon us, but my fellow citizens,
have been through this before, before
the political party to which you belong
had being. l have advocated a cause
more unpopular than this | have stood
for the doctrine of free men and free
speech l am used to detractions l
am used to abuse and l have had it
heaped upon me without stint
When the Republican party was or
ganized 1 was there. It has never had
a national candidate that my voice has
not been raised in his support. 1t has
never had, until now, a great principle
enunciated in its platform that has not
my approval. With it's distinguished
leaders, its distinguished men of forty
years, l have been in close commune
cation and close friendship. / have
shared It's honor, and in its few defeats
and disasters. Do you think we can
sever our connection with a party like
TINS until 1t becomes a duty, a duty not
to our States, but a duty to the people
of this great land? Applause)
Mr. President, there are few men in
a political party that have been more
honored than | have by the people in
the State in which they live. There are
few men in this convention, or any
where else that have been longer con-
nected with this organization than 7
There are few men in it who have been
more active, and not one who has been
more attached to the great principles of
this party than have been, and I can
not go out of it without heartburnings
and a feeling no man can appreciate
VINO has not endured it, and yet 1 can
not before my country and my God,
agree to the proposition that shall put