The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-09
he

by retracting. These are the words ne
is said to have used:
g During all of Grover Cleveland's
years at the head of the government he
was dishonoring one of our precious
metals, one of our own great products.
discrediting silver and enhancing the
price of gold. He endeavored even be-
fore his Inauguration to office to stop
the coinage of silver dollars and after
wards has persistently used his power
to that end. He was determined TO
contract the circulating medium and
demonetize one OF the coins of COM
merce, limit the volume of money
among the people, make money scarce
and therefore dear. He would have in
creased the value of money and dinnin-
ished the value of everything elses
money the master, everything else the
servant
Following the same lines the Repub-
lican convention in 1892 at Minneapolis.
declared the people from tradition and
interest were in favor Of bimetalusm.
That is the language in 1892-that the
American people from their tradition
and interest are in favor of bimetal-
ism; have traditions changed in four
years? Have interests in four years?
No, my friends, and yet, forgetting the
platform of 1885, forgetting the denun-
citation uttered by this distinguished
leader in 1891, forgetting the platform
of 1892, the Republican party in con-
vention assembled declared that the
American people must forego the ad-
Vantages of the bimetallic system to
which tradition and interest entitled
them, until foreign nations should
bring those advantages to them. It
is not strange that men who had look
ed for bimetallism in the Republican
party should have given up hope and
turned elsewhere for relief. The Re-
publicans cannot be criticised for leaY-
ing the Republican party. They have
done what every American citizen has
right to do.
They have done better than our
Democratic advocates Of the gold
standard have done because the Repub-
leans when they left the party
Joined with those who had a chance to
succeed while our Democratic friends
have done just the contrary.
If you viii turn to a book recently
published entitled John Sherman's
RecOllections' you will find on page 112
Of the first volume a portion of a speech
which he delivered in congress in 1856,
let me read this extract: I am willing
to stand by the compromises of 1920 and
1850 but when our white brethren of
the south allow this administration to
lead them off from their principles by
which they abandon the position which
Henry Clay would have taken, forget
his name and achievements and de-
cline any longer to carry his banner.
they lose all claims on me. And I say
now that until this wrong is righted
until Kansas is admitted as q free
state, I cannot act in a party as one
with them
There was the distinguished senator
from Ohio asserting to the people Of
this country upon the floor of congress
that he was willing to accept com
promise, but the time had at last come
when he could go with them no longer;
that until certain things were accom-
pHshed he could not act with them.
The situation today is but a repetition
of history. Compromise after compro-
mise had been submitted to by the sill
yer Republicans in the hope the party
of their choice would at Last bring to
the people the relief they desired. But
the Republican party in 1896 has de-
serted it's traditions and it's platform
and the Republicans have a right to
say to their Republican assOciat ties, We
Will go with you no longer until this
nation is redeemed We do not ask
those who are present at this meeting
to pledge their future service to the
Democratic party. The same intelli-
gence which directs them to go ahead
in the discharge of their duty will be
with them four years from now to dl-
rect them in their duties. The same
patriotism that leads them today will
decide them in what they will do four
years from now. We trust them now;
we shall trust them then. The Demo-
cratic party has proven itself worthy Of
their confidence today and II reserves
their support. If four years from now
it proves unworthy it will not then
have their support.
We have to meet today a great mon
ey trust. We are confronted today by
the most gigantic trust that ever has
been formed amnOg men. Talk about
trusts in various articles which we pro-
duce My friends. all these trusts to-
gether are nothing compared with the
money trust which has its hands upon
our money. 1 believe that John G. Car
Isle did not exaggerate the truth when
ne said. The COnSuUnT1a ton of this
scheme means more of misery to the
human race than all the wars, pesti-
lences and famines that ever occurred
in the history Of the world
Who does not stand appalled, before
misery like that2 Who amnOg you IS
willing to be a partner, in a conspiracy
that has for its object the consumna-
ton OF that scheme? 1t is against the
contamination of this scheme eloquent
~ and so forcibly described hiatt silver
Republicans have arisen in a protest
1 respect the convictions which have
led them. 1 thank them for the sup
port which they have rendered and all
my promise is that Z shall to the best
of my ability endeavor to prove worthy
of their confidence