The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-09-16

I .
ton, they yet seriously propose that we
shall risk this hazardous experiment. Yer
| mont has said in tones that cannot be mis-
understood that she will have nothing to
do with that fatal experiment. Great APP
| plause and cries OF Good good.")
Indeed they are urging us to attempt by
| legislation to make fifty cents worth OF sill
| yer pass current as a legal tender one hum
dred cent dollar, good for all public and
private obligations. The mere statement of
the proposition ought to lead to its instant
| rejection.
| We cannot by law make every man hon
est but we certainly will never make
law encouraging them to be dishonest
| (Applause)
To me the question of free trade il ques-
ton of humanity, the voice of labor plead
ing for its own; and the question OF free
silver question of public morality honor
and good faith, and its success would be q
blot on our hitherto spotless national credit
(Applause)
Obscure the real issues and It finally re-
solves itself into that, but will It prevail?
No / answer, forever no. (Cheers) The
American people as a nation, like those Of
the state of Vermont, are entirely above so
unworthy an imputation. (Appause) A
people that could, az weak and struggling
confederacy Of less than 100000 inhabi.
tants, emerge from an eight years war of
blight and destruction and proceed imme-
diately to gather up and pay off its enor-
nous Revolutionary debt, including the in
dependent debt of all the states aggregat-
ing Sl35, 100000, or S27 per capita at the
time of its assumption, will not falter at the
present temptation. (Cheers and cries of
THAT'S rightly
A people who could tax themselves most
heavily to equip and maintain the armies
and navies Of the Union and continue the
most extensive and expensive war in his
tory will not turn their backs upon the
soldiers of that war, nor seek to pay their
pensions in dollars worth only half their
face value. Great cheering and cries Of
"Good")
people who emerged from that war with
an interest-bearing debt of 81, $50 900 900, or
$40 per capita for our entire population in
1865, will not now, after having honestly
paid three-fourths of that great debt, ever
seek, directly or indirectly, to repudiate
one dollar of it or cheaper the coin of pay
ment. Applause and cries OF Good,
Major.")
people, say, who proceeded in good
faith to pay off that debt with such un.
paralleled rapidly, which, it was estimated
in 1888, up to that time they had paid S123
for every minute of every day of every year
from 1865 to 1888, will not now palter bar
gain or scheme to defraud any creditor Of
the government whoever or wherever he
may be. tremendous applause and cries
of Hurrah for McKinley.")
A people who had the satisfaction of see
ing that debt reduced to S585,000, 600 on
March g. 1898, at the close of the splendid
administration of President Harrison Zap
plause) will readily and quickly meet both
the remainder of the old debt and all that
has been made since. Laughter.) And it
paid off principal and interest in the best
money of the world, and recognized by the
civilized nations to be the best at the time
of payment Cloud applause), just as Presi
dent Jackson paid off the last of the Revc-
lutionary debt, sixty ears or more after the
nj hl ar nnFa trpf tod
This, my fellow-citizens of Vermont is
the faith that the election in your state in
spires in me; but that is not all
In that verdict l see the unalterable de-
termination of the people of the United
States, for whom she had the honor first 10
speak, to restore the protective tariff sys
TEN once more to our statute books. Great
cheering)
Vermont is an agricultural state, but her
keen, sagacous and honest farmers know
full well the value of protection and its
twin sister, reciprocity. (App!ause) They
have protited by experience. They have
examined both their stock books and their
store books, and they had plenty of time to
do it Qaughter) in the last three years, and
have learned that their products have been
worth less than at any time for long Sc
ries of years The farmers of this country
want protective tariff (cries Of That's
right, they do y, and they mean to have it.
(Cheers) So, too, will our farmers every
WHERE ueClue. Iney are naturally con-
sentative, and their unerringicommon sense
and common honesty will lead them quickly
to detect the fallacies of free silver, just as
they have learned the falsity of the fallacies
of free trade. (Appause)
Citizens of Vermont, | congratulate you
on the example and courage of the Green
Mountain Boys who fought at Bennington
and Gettysburg. (Applause). The long
line OF eminent and worthy men who have
contributed to the national galaxy, the
great worth of your present distinguished
public servants, both in state and national
councils; the many great names you have
given to literature, arts and sciences, and
especially to mechanics and Inventions.
But, above all, | congratulate you upon the
high character, not only of the population
you have sent to other states, but of that
which you have kept at home. (Applause).
Your devotion to your best interests,
your love of liberty and the enlightened
principles of free government, your love Of
social order and respect for law, come to us
OF the newer states most gracious inspira-
ton and positive strength. No poor woros
OF mine could express the debt Of gratitude
L feel so richly due you in the pending con-
test. Your acts speak louder than words
and point the way to grander results You
have set the pace; you have lifted up the
standard of public honor. l appreciate most
mighty your call upon me at such discon-
fort and trouble; but value far more the
proud services you have rendered your
country in this emergency in our history.
Great applause)
Fellow-citizens, / assure you that it gives
me pleasure to welcome you here TO my
home. L cannot find words to express my
appreciation of the courtesy and cordiality
OF this call; and it will afford me sincere
pleasure to greet each one Of you personally.
tremendous cheering, and cries of 80 HuI-
rah for Major McKinley.'O