The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1896-06-25
|auW SENATOR TELLER BolIED.
D7AnATtc SCENE AND euRkihs
WORDS OF 4 GREAT NAN lEAv-
ING MS PARTY.

Ctteyane<. That VIII Live ansr The
Name. ef Those wh~ ais..a Ths@
win be Tarssd Over to Utter onis,iea-
II. l.. ". in Washington Post
Mr.. Teller drew . long, deep breath
before he uttered . word. Then be
stood silent for 3 moment, as II on, oi
the fuliness Of his heart he knew not
where to begin. His first words came
in tremulous whispering, but the
Difference and eagerness %: tie crowd
WAS shown by the spontaneous hush OF
conversation and the quoting OF rest
less men. Ina moment his voice be-
gan To rise 10 hiP her key. There was
NOR. determi nStion in his manner.
caImer earnestnes in his tones, more
solemn impressiveness TO the words.
From this he passed to n passionate
delivery which made the words pour
like molten lava from his mouth as be
pictured the depreciation under gold
| standard of the values of the products
| of human energy. One could see his
| teeth grit together with tremendous
| force when he predicted the great
struggle that WAS impending over the
| currency an prophesied disaster If the
decentralization of silver was made
more complete. He was applauded for
many of his utterances, notably when
he asserted that the Republican Party
had never before accepted 4 single
standard, but he reached the limit
when, in referring to the suggestion
of an international agreement, he de-
clared that this was the first time the
Republican Party had ever acknow-
lodged the inability of the American
people to control their own affairs.
This fnnc Rod I no cnm"nn chord of
triOtism latent in every heart. Gold
men and silver men alike applauded
this sentiment with inconsistent har-
mony, and it was not until Chairman
ThurstOn had waved his hand over the
audience that the perturbed mass be-
came still again.
Several times Mr.. Teller seemed on
the verge of uttering the words which
placed him beyond recall outside of the
pale of the Republican Party. Like a
man who peers over the precipice be-
io-e he takes the fatal leap, the veneer
able Colorado Senator seemed to ap-
prOach, then shrunk backward, and
then once more nerved himself to make
the plunge. His voice grew weaker as
he came nearer 10 the expression of his
determination, and took u pat hetic, al
most mOurnful tone. HIS dark, deep
set eyes filled with tears and he clasp
ed his hands, as If in prayer, or swept
his Outstretched arm into his breast
again as if he would gather in the
whole world. lie pleaded with moving
tones, while thousands of ears were
strained to catch his words, for the
preservation of the civilization, the
morality, and the religion of the coun-
try. Then at last he surveyed for a
moment that vast assemblage, paused
in silence, and finally, with measured
words and deliberate emphasis, an
nounced that in justice to his con-
science and his convictions he must
sever his connection with the Repub-
lican Party.
Among the eloquent and forcible
remarks made by Mr.. Teller are the
following:
gold standard will produce hardships :;
it will increase the distress, and that
no legislation touching the tariff can
remove the difficulties that now all ad-
nit prevails in this land. | believe
that the whole welfare Of my race is
dependent upon rightful solution of
this question; that the morality, the
civilization; nay, the very religion of
my country is at stake in this contest.
| know and you know that men in dis
tress are neither patriotic or brave.
You and | know that hunger and dis
tress will destroy patriotism and love
of country. TO have love of country
patriotic fervor and independence, you
must nave your citizens comfortably
} fed and comfortably clothed. That is
what made me Republican; that is
what has made me a Republican dur
J ing all these years, because l believed
that the Republican Party was made
for the masses of men; that its legisla-
: ton was intended to lift up and elevate
and hold up and sustain the distressed
and give every citizen opportunity be-
fore the law. (Applause.)
| do not believe that it can be had
with the gold standard. You may
doubt my argument, and many OF you
5 will, but shall | doubt it? | mnst &C,
2 upon my judgment and not upon yours
| must answer to my conscience anC
= not my neighbors. | must do my duty
= as it presents itself to me, and not a!
I presented to you. l say to you now tina
5 with the solemn conviction upon me
that this gold plank means ultimat,
disaster and distress to my followers
r | cannot subscribe to it, and if adopted
!. | must, as an honest man, sever m!
connection with the political organiza
= ton which makes the gold STANDARD
s one of the main articles of its prin
: ciples." (Applause.)