The record-union., 1896-09-17
From the Standpoint of Its Elementary
Principles.
Points Out the Absurdity of the Prop
OsitiOn That by the Government
Placing Stamp Upon a Piece of
Different Value From That in a
Commercial Sense.
Commercial Sense.

party, and Colonel John r. Fellows,
campaigner for the Sound Money
League. tonight addressed an audi
ence OF 1900 at the Auditorium.
General Buckner was the first speak
er, and at once took UP the financial
question. He discussed it from the
standpoint Of it's elementary principles.
He contended that if the stamp of the
Government by being placed upon a
piece of silver or of gold can give it a
different value from that in CONNER
clal sense, that stamp can give any
value it pleaSes, even to a thousand
times, so that the proposition is re-
duced to an absurdity. He cited history
in support Of his proposition that wher-
ever country had undertaken to in
fuse this value into the metal by coin
ing 1T the result had been commercial
confusion, CONSERVATION and strife
among the people and rebellion against
the Government. He denounced the
proposition to deceive, as do advocates
Of free silver, as no more than defraud-
ing the people
Touching the work of the Chicago
convention and it's power to bind the
Democratic party, General Buckner
said:
Last summer. under the regular
organization of the Democratic party
meetings were called in every county in
every State in the Union. Delegates
were appointed to State conventions,
and State conventions appointed dele
gates to the Chicago convention. What
We're those delegates instructed to do?
In nearly every county in the United
States the first resolution passed by the
county meetings was to reaffirm the
principles of Democracy. When the
delegates thus instructed to discharge
their duties as Democrats went to the
State conventions, those State conven-
tion almost without an exception re-
affirmed the instructions, and the dele
gates that they sent to Chicago were
obliged to adhere to Democratic prin-
ciples.
What did they do? They went to
Chicago, and they arranged a platform
from which the last vestige of Democ-
racy had vanished. / defy a man to
point to me a single article or single
line of that platform which enunciates
Democratic principles. 1t announces as
principles of the Democratic party
principles which we have combated for
hundred years, from the time of JEFF
ferson to this good hour. And yet, fel-
loW-c1tizens, they have placed upon
that platform a man for candidate who
mas declared that he is no Democrat.
And yet, fellow w-citiZens, they say that
we must support their candidate and
their platform because it was done reg
ularly
4 rarnin6c n n Hing cfy-0f finv
which my distinguished friend made a.
short time ago. He said under the claim
OF regularity that Benedict Arnold had
the right to claim the support of the
patriots of the Revolution. He was reg
uiarly commissioned by his Government
| IN the patriotic army. He was regularly
| commissioned under the principles of
| " est Point and the highlands by Gen
eral Washington. He issued orders
| through his staff regularly and in an
entirely regular way He issued orders
which disposed the army under his COM
/ mand and placed it in such a position
that the enemy could come upon it and
massacre the last man. 1t was all done
with perfect regularity. The only thing
wanting was a little matter of principle.
| Applause)
| Nor did it seem to be in the minds of
| those men assembled in Chicago pro-
Tossing to represent Democracy. They
said, what We have done was done reg
ularly. Under that theory George Wash
| 1ngton and the Continental Army were
| bolters, because they would not follow
Arnold in his treason. Because we will
| not follow these gentlemen at Chica go
in their detection from Democratic prn-
| clpleS We are to be called bolters.'
In the course of his speech General
! Buckner mentioned the name of the
Democratic Presidential nominee, and
no sooner had the word Bryan left
| his mouth than the house was the scene
| of the widest demonstration of the
evening. The cheering continued until
| the Chairman of the meeting was COM
| PEELED to ask the audience to give the
General respectful hearing.
At the conclusion of General Buck
ner's speech Colonel John r. Fellows
was introduced
That silver dollars and paper dollars
or this Government to-day were equal
to gold, he said, was due to the method
| of the Government by which they We're
exchanged for gold, and that the Gov
ernment kept enough reserve to make
| It's credit good before all the world for
pay its debts in gold. What if that
function should be destroyed? Oh, says
Mr.. Bryan, believe If you would give
US free and unlimited coinage at the
ratio of is to l the demand for silver
| by this new issue you have given it
| would raise 1t to a ratio on a level with
sold. It would be worth 81 % an ounce.
/ Well, we simply say, but suppose it
! should not. Mr.. Bryan, what then
| Suppose the commercial world refuses
to accept 1t at that value. Have you
| ever stopped to think what an awful
calamity would be precipitated upon
| this country? If that single belief of
| Mir. Bryan. in behalf of which he chal-
lenges the votes of his countrymen,
should not be realized as fact. not one
hour would your gold remain as a cir
| cu1ating medium in this country"
| General Buckner and Colonel Fellows
left at 11:10 p. m. for Louisville.