Omaha daily bee., 1896-06-19

standard nolicy was a striking figure. Tall
and gaunt. he wore the old-tashioned frock
coat OF the old-time statesman. HIS race is
deep-furrowed with lines Of thought. and no
one who beheld him as he stood and sur
rendered all his old associations for a deep
conviction on a single topic, doubted his
honesty Of purpose. His face Is thin, his
eyes gray and his forehead high. Hts beard
and hair are iron-gray. the hair brushed
straight back from his forehead and falling
backward like a cataract. He was evidently
deeply aroused by the emotions that stirred
him, and his gestures at times were almost
fierce. But his general tone was one Of
sadness and regret. lie was given a most
respectful hearing by the delegates, but
except for those in sympathy. there was no
demonstration on the floor In the carly part
Of his address.
The galleries. however. were at times
vociferous, and when he vehemently as
serted the power Of the United States to
control their own affairs without dictatlon
from Europe. in the matter OF finance or
anything else. many of the delegates were
drawn into the display Of enthusiasm by the
wild tumult about them, but the Colorado
senator made no effort at dramatic erect.
He spoke in the clear. ringing tones which
have so often echoed through the cham
Der of the United States senate. 1t was
not until toward the close Of his speech
that he became both impressive and pa
thetic. His review of his long service In
the party visibly affected him. AS he real
lied the step he was ABOUT 10 take ne uTeW
himself together for a final appeal. and de-
cleared in an earncstness that impressed all
who heard him that in his opinion the
morality. the religion and the salvation OF
the country were at stake.
SENATOR TELLER'S SPEECH.
Senator Teller's speech in full was as
follows:
will not attempt to inAict upon you a
discussion of the great financial question
which is dividing the people, not only OF
few moments allotted to me by the con-
vention Will not permit me 10 more than
plank proposed for your consideration /
am a practical man and recognize the con-
ditions in this country, foreshadowcd as Iney
are by the action or the committee. This
minority plank was presented to the whole
committee and by It rejected. Loyalty to
interest which is felt in this country com
pei me in the face of unusual difficulties
10 present this for your consideration. not
courage that | have presented this in other
bodies with greater measure OF success
supreme Importance of this question is alone
my excuse now for the words that l shall
In connection with this subject in a public
capacity L have dealt with IT for twenty
years. l represent a state that produces
silver. but l want to say to you here and
now that my advocacy of the proposition
is not in the slightest degree Influenced, or
controlled by that fact. applause and a
/ contend for 1t because / believe that
there can be no sound financial system in
any country nor in the world that does
not recognize this principle. l .contendcd
for 1t In 1873, when Il was ruthlessly stricken
from our statutes, and since when there
has been a continued depreciation of all
the products of human, labor and human
energy. / contend for 1t because in this year
of 1886 the American people are in greater
distress than they ever were IN their
mis- i1igm ! GGn'f the t fqea ii G incubus ' that IS ha ia
struck down enterprise and destroyed
progress in this favored land of ours. !
contend for it because l believe the progress
contend for it because / believe the %civiliza-
ton of the world is to be determined by
am tolerant Of those who differ with
me. / act from my judgment, enlightened
as best / have been able by my study and
my years of thought.
the whole line of their history have never
been called upon to settle a question OF
g eonaesf i'm lmP %bieb nv man party yh. Should paFrti Ia.
pate. two states or one. was not more i'm
portant to the people than the question OF
/ have said enough to show you that i
think this is not n question of policy, but a
question of principle. 1t is not a mere moth
ing. but one on which hangs the happiness,
the prosperity, the morality and the indie
p%endence of American labor and American
Confronted for the first time in this party
of ours-confronted for the first time by a
financial system that WOuIO, IN my JuuS-
ment, destroy all the great interests in this
land, we are called upon to give this prin-
ciple in our platform our adherence.
WHY HE OBJECTS.
Mr.. President, / do not desire to say IN
kind things and l will touch only a moment
upon why l object to this provision of the
been the party Of a Single STANDARD. Ap-
plause) 1t was a bimetallic party in its
origin and AL Its history. In ISIS it declared
metallism. In 1896 IL declared for a single
gold standard. In 1855 we carried the state
that l here represent for the republican
nominees on a bimetallic platform. We car
ried with a majority that was equal, consid-
ering our vote, TO that OF any state in the
publican state from the hour of admission.
II has kept in the straight road and in the
house of republican members.
Mr.. President, / promised you that /
would not discuss the silver question. and
! will not, except 10 say that this platform
is such a distinct departure from every
thing heretofore held by the party that 1t
challenges our republicanism TO accept 1t
The platform contains some platitudes
about international conferences. 1t pro-
vides that we will maintain the gold stand
ard In this country. until the principal ma
do otherwise. This is the first great gath
ering of republicans since this party was
organized that has declared the inability
OF the American people 10 control their own
affairs.
All the silver delegates rose in a body
at this point and howled their approval OF
II StulillltlAs.
Do you believe that the American people
are too weak to actually maintain a fnan-
|. cial system commensurate with the great
ness of the country of their own fruition?
Gentlemen of the convention, you would
have a bimetallic agreement with all the
great commercial nations of the world, and
ton that the gold standard is to be put
upon this country, and kept there for all
time. Do you believe that Great Britain,
that great commercial nation of the world,
our greatest competitor in trade, will ever
agree to open its miuts to the free coinage
of silver, or consent that we shall open ours
ms long as II has the advantage OF lower
prices or declining values that have brought
this country. by the adoption of a gold
standard In 1873. 10 n partial demonetiza-
zion.
We are the great debtor nation of the
world. Great Britain is the creditor. We
pay her every year millions and hundreds
of millions of dollars as income on her in
vestments in this country on her loans.
And she buys OF us millions and millions
more than she sells. She buys upon a
gold standard at a lower and depreciating
standard. How long do you think IL would
be before She would agree to assist in
raising values In. this country?
II is a solemn declaration hat the repub-
and stagnate business for all time TO come.
Cheers from the silver states.) There is
a beautiful provision in this platform about
the tariff. subscribe TO that Cap
plause and cheers from all over the
house, believe in a protective tariff.
More applause) / have advocated il for
forty years. iApulauSe) But IL is my