The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
-ouid have been reached, .had'the bin become


to the coinage of the rupee In four days the
price of silver fell about 20 per cent Law
cannot regulate the quantity OF product LOT
which given weights of the precious metal
shall exchange but within very wide Inllts
1t can, by endowing both metals with full
money powers and opening the mints TO their
free coinage, absolutely fix their relations TO
each other and make them, thrown togetner,
practically o1esubstance, measuring all values
and equally flowing where they are needed.
debtor country, under the necessity OF
paying an enormous interest charge every
year, together with vast sums paid for treignt
carrying in foreign vessels ana DINER sums
spent by our peopIe abroad, we simply cannot
go indefnitely reducing the price OF our
farm products, in which we must carefully
pay these obligations, without paunging our
selves into National bankruptcy and under
such circumstances as 10 mean also Social
cateclysm.
Constantly exporting more bushels and tons
OF merchandise, but at prices that mean con-
stantly smaller return in money. our debt to
foreign sources must by and by come TO repre-
sent our total assets In 1869 we owed from
81, 200, 900 900 to 81 400, 900, 600 TO the rest
of the world. To-day it Is estimated that we
though in the meantime we have sent abroad
between 1000 and 5000 millions of dollars
worth more OF bullion and merchandise tnan
we have received. And this international
equation, constantly running against
people, is paralleled by internal experience of
much vaster proportions, whereby the auto
matte lengthening OF our money standard is
working gradual but certain enslavement of
our producing classes TO the money power.
We who advocate the restoration OF silver
believe in the supremacy OF the people and
the rule OF law. We do not preach reyolu-
ton. We propose, by arousing the people TO
realization of their condition. to open the
avenue to better things in the way contem-
plated by our institutions. We are the friends
Of peace. We are the true conservatives. The
gold standard advocate who proposes to de-
lude the people, to defeat their just wishes
and to balk their right impulses, is the real
fomentor of discomfort.
Isympathize with the feeling that actuates
some of our Peoples party friends in this mat
ter. That party has battled nobly for its prin-
ciples. Through reyilings and buffeting and
great trlbuletlon 1t has remained stead
fast, and it is natural disposition
that 1nelines many of its supporters,
now when success for its most
urgent contention seems within reach, to in
sist that it shall be accompanied by certain
concessions 10 II as an organization. But l
cannot persuade myself that such a disnosi-
ton will be allowed to prevail TO such an
extent a to imperil the union of all the
friends of bimetallism, in achieving for man.
kind the mighiiest political victory of all the
ages: Have the friends OF this great esnse
survived until now, only to lose the fruits of
their long saeritlce and service at the moment
OF success? The prevention of this consum-
nation would seem almost crime.
We are met in a temple of concord. Let every
strain OF selfishness be met and mastered by
some divine chord OF duty until all shall blend
in sublime symphony OF patriotism. Let
every voice in both these great conventions
attune itself to this high theme. and as our
mingled and harmonious utterance rises from
this fair city and spreads beyond rivers ard
mountains to the confines of the Republic
millions on millions shall join the chorus
which. swelling day by day, shall by Novem-
Der become nations song OF victory and
gratitude ike that of Miriam by the sea, when
she sang: praise be TO the Lord, for ne hath
triumphed gloriously.'
Towne's speech was frequently inter-
rupted by cheering and applause. When
he eulogized Senator Teller there was
great cheer from the delegates, but the
81
the outhurst that followed the mention of
Brysn's name. Cheer after cheer arose,
and it was a considerable time before the
speaker could continue.
When the applause had subsided ex-
Governor st. John of Kansas was called
for. When he made his appearance there
was another outburst of cheering. His
allusion to Cleveland was greeted with
laughter.
Then Mrs. Helen Cougar of Indiana
made rafting speech, which again
aroused the enthusiasm OF the members.
She charged that never since the days of
Belshazzar's feast had there been more
drunkenness known than was displayed
in st. Louis the night before the Repub-
liean convention adopted its platform last
month. In closing she took charge of the
convention. calling upon the band to
strike up America and asked the au-
dience to join in singing that grand old
hymn. But few in the nall, however,
could sing more than the first verse.
The next speaker was Judge Sheldon of
Connecticut, who spoke in favor of free
silver and of the Endorsement of Bryan.
Vice Chairman Towne then took the
chair and announced that Mrs. Lease Of
Kansas would address the convention this
evening. Towne also announced that the
subcommittee on resolutions had notified
him that it was not yet ready TO report.
a meeting of the full committee would be
held one hour after taking recess.
The following resolution was proposed
by Judge Hillyer of Washington, D. c.,
for the consideration of the delegates dur
ing recess:
Resolved, That in the present situation this
organization logically in the coming cam
paign must be representative of the indepen-
dent free-silyer Republicans; that the efforts
of the National convention should be chiefly
directed to combining and augmenting this
Republican element IS an independent force
cooperating with the others for the election
OF the candidates which this convention shall
name for President, Viee-President and mem
bers of free-silver congress-
Hon. R. A. Cole of Wisconsin addressed
the convention. He believed heartily in
free coinage, but he took issue with that
part of Mrs. Cougars address in which she
advocated prohibition, and he spoke in
defense of the brewing interests of Mil
waukee and st. Louis. He also protested
against her proposition for a combination
of forces upon the subject OF land reform
and direct legislation.
His remarks caused much comment
among the members, and the confusion
became SO great that the chairman was
obliged to rap for order and insist that the
speaker should be allowed to proceed.
Cole waited until quietness had been re-
stored, and then resumed his speech.
At 1880 the convention took recess
until 2:30 P. NJ.