The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-08-21
What Is Behind the Agitation for
Free Coinage, and Who Has
Carried on the Silver
Campaign.
Charges Made by a Prominent
Democratic Paper That Re-
main Unanswered.
An Object Lesson-The Mexican Dol
lar and the Present American
Silver Ccin.
of Mr. g. s. barrow, of
Chicago.


Madison, Wis.,, July 31.-The great
political campaign of 1896 was most au-
spiciously begun in the west to-day. In
the presence of nearly 5000 people Sem
ator John M. Thurston, of Nebraska,
and Clarence s. barrow, of Chicago,
presented the respective sides of the
currency question for two hours and
half. 1t was a great audience and a
great debate.
Senator Thurston was greeted with
long and continued applause, and twas
several minutes before he could make
himself heard. His voice rang out sharp
and clear. Every word of his eloquent
plea for sound and stable currency
could be heard. He spoke without
notes, calmly and clearly, laying the
currency question before his hearers
and asking them to decide it on its mer.
its as business proposition. He told
of the ruin and devastation which he
predicted would be brought by 80
cent dollar, and how the poor man
would be the one to feel its evil effects
most. He said:
"Mr. Chairman, Ladies' and Gentlemen,
My Fellow Citizens 1t Is most gratifying
to me to-day to come back here to the
scenes of my childhood; for so many years
ago that do not care to tell, I used to wan
der around this lake shore with q gun
In my hand, that my father trusted me
with, and with which think amused the
ducks and alarmed the inhabitants. love
to come back to dear old Wisconsin, for Il
W. q hn fdcfsN &c, 81, nDvNIa
that 1 grew to manhoods years. 1t was
here that 1 learned those lessons of duty
and of patriotism that have endeavored
to make the guide of all my life. love to
come back to dear old loyal Wisconsin, for
in the first regiment of her cavalry my ia
ther went out q private soldier to fight and
die for his country's flag. [Applause]
IT love my country and her free institu-
lions have no aim, I have no ambition,
I have no desire to win her people in this
great campaign to any action or to any
decision that shall not rebound to the
honor of the government, to the welfare of
the people. and to the prosperity OF all
the classes, whose prosperity In every
branch of development must stand side
by side, united and together, IL we are
to go on progressing and developing und
advancing as nation.
Desires to Speak Only Truth.
1T am an officer of the government of the
United States have something at stake
in this great campaign, and in those events
which are sure to follow 1t, for have an
ambition that the people of this country,
when the heat of this campaign is over and
established facts have demonstrated the
truth or the falsity Of the cause / repre-
sent-I have an ambition that the people OF
this country shall then say to me, after
the heat Of introduction time Is over: The
lessons that you taught to us were for
our benefit and resulted well for the coun-
FRY Il nnVQalf
instinct of Americanism If sought to
win a single vote for the republican party
unless felt deep In my heart, profound
ly in my SOUL that the success OF thatpa
Is the one thing upon which the welfare
of the American people must rest Zap
plause.]
my countrymen, we are met here to-day
to discuss more especially some OF the
financial views and theories which are now
disturbing our people. have no polished
gems of rhetoric, no studied outbursts Of
eloquenoe, with which to delight your ears
or WOO your senses. But come here, In the
Quietudo of this afternoon-out here, In
the clear air, come-for the purpose OF
speaking words to you that you will bear
home with you to the quiet Of your own
chambers, that you will recall by your
flresdes. where the Judgment of the Ameri- |
can people ought to be made up.
my countrymen, there is disturbance In |
the political world over the question of |
money. There have been disturbances in |
the political world in years gone by over |
other questions. We are meeting q new |
issue to-day, so far as presidential can |
vass is concerned, and yet, as look the |
forces over, find that arrayed upon one |
side is the same old stalwart patriotism, |
is the same old wisdom Of statesmanship,
Is the same security OF accomplished |
efforts, which has stood upon the statute |
books of the United States for the last 30 |
years, for that wonderful measure of pros |
perity and advancement which has como |
in all its fullness and all it's wonder to the |
people alone of the United States.
Successful Men as an Example.
II am not here to-day to attempt to In
fluence your judgment unfairly by any dis
of men and measures. and yet,
was brought up as boy to believe that
the judgment of tho men who had sue
ceeded in life was better to follow than the
judgment Of the man who has failed. ZAP
plause.] I was brought up to believe That
the promise of the man who had always |
kept his word was better than that OF the
man who had always broken II. Zap
plause.1 was brought up to believe that
the promise Of those men who knew had
In every emergency Of the nation stood for
better for me-ono individual-to follow
than the judgment of those men who had
never represented any Of the measures or
any of the things that had resulted for the
honor and the glory and the welfare Of the
American people. tApplause.1
II say to you to-day. in all sincerity and
'andor, believing II to be a legitimate argu-
nent and knowing that II Is entirely appro-
)riate to say, that II / had no other guide
20 light me onward In the right path of my
political duty, 1t seems to me that In justice
Ind honor to my country II would be safer
or me to turn away from the leadership
II Tillman and Altgeld and Waite to follow
he liberty OF Allison and Reed, and the
greatest among them an, William McKin-
cy. loud applause.1
-Four years ago tho opposition 70 the