Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-07-16

government justly upon the backs OF the peo-
pie am in favor of an income tax
When find man who is not willing TO pay
his share of the burden of the government
which protects him. find man who is I'M
worthy to enjoy the blessings of government
like ours He says that are opposing the
will read what Thomas Benton said you will
find he said that in searching history he could
find but one parallel to Andrew Jackson That
was Cicero, who destroyed the conspiracy OF
Catalin and saved Rome He did for Rome
what Jackson did when he destroyed the bank
conspiracy and saved America We say in our
platform that We believe the right to coin
money and issue money is function of gov
eminent We believe it. We believe 1t is a
part Of sovereignty. and can no more with
safety be delegated to private corporations
and individuals than we could afford to dele
gate to private individuals the power to make
penal statutes or levy laws for taxation
Mr.. Jefferson, who was once regarded as
good democratic authority, seems to have
different opinion from the gentlemen who have
addressed the part of the minority.
Those who are opposed to this proposition tell
us the issue of paper money is q function of
the bank and that the government ought to go
out of the banking business. I stand with JEFF
ferSon rather than with them, andtell them. as
he did, that the issue OF money is a function of
the government and that the banks ought to
go out of the government business.
They complain about that plank which de-
clareS about the life tenure in office. They
have tried to strain it to mean that which it
does not mean. What we oppose in that plank
is the life tenure that is being built up at
Washington which excludes from participa-
ton in the benefits the humber members of
our society.
Let me call attention to the two or three
great things. The gentleman from New York
says that he will propose an amendment pro-
viding that this change in our laws shall not
affect contracts already made. Let me remind
him that there is no intention of affecting
those contracts, which, according to the pres
ent laws are made payable in gold But if he
means TO say that we cannot change our none
tary system without protecting those who have
loaned money before the change was made,
want to ask him where, In law or In morals.
can he find authority for not protecting the
del tors when the act of 1873 was passed, but
now insists that We must protect the creditors
He says he also wants to amend this law and
provide that II we fail to maintain parity
within a year that we will then suspend the
coinage OF silver. We reply that when we ad-
vocate thing which we believe will be sue
ceSSful are not compelled to raise a doubt
as to our sincerity.by trying to show what we
will do if we can I ask him if he will apply
his logic to us, why he does not apply it to
himself. He says what he wants is for the
country to try to secure an international agree
ment. Why doesent he tell what he is 60
ing to do if they fail to secure an international
agreement? There is more reason for him to
do that than for us to fail to maintain the par
ity. They have tried for 80 years-for 81 years
to secure an International agreement, and
they who are waiting for it most patiently
don't want it at all
Now. my friends. let US come to thesgreat
paramount ISSUE If they ask US here%hy 1t
is we say more on the money question than we
say upon the tariff question, reply that if
protection has slain its thousands, the gold
standard has slain its tens of thousands. If
they ask why we did not embody all these
things in platform which believe,
reply to them that when we have restored the
money of the constitution all other necessary
reforms will be possible. and until that is done
Why is it that within three months such a
change has come over the sentiments OF this
country? Three months ago, when it was con-
hdently asserted that those who believed in
the gold standard would frame platform
and nominate our candidate. even the advo-
Gates of the gold standard did not think we
could elect president. but they had good rea-
sons for the suspicion because there Is scarce
| Iy a state to-day asking for the gold standard
| that is not within the absolute control of the
republican party.
But note the change. Mr. Mckinley was
nominated at St. Louis upon a platform that
| declared for the maintenance of the gold stand
ard until it should be changed into bimetal-
| lism by an international agreement Mr.. Nc
| kinley was the most popular man of the re-
publican party. and everybody three months
| ago in the republican party prophesied his
| election How is it to-day What-the man
| who used to boast that he looked like Napo-
i leon that man ShudderS to-day when he thinks
that he was nominated on the anniversary of
/ the battle of Waterloo.
Not only that. but as he listens he can hear
| with ever-increasing diStinctness. the sound of
| the waves they beat upon the lonely shores
| of st. Helena. Why this change? All. my
| friends. is not the change evident to anyone
| who will look at the matter. 1t is no private
| character. however pure; no personal popu-
/ larity, however great, that can protect from
/ the avenging wrath of indignant people the
| man who will either declare he is in favor Of
| fastening the gold standard upon this people.
or who is willing to surrender the right Of self
government and place legislative control in the
| hands of foreign potentateS and powers.
| We go forth confident that shall win.
| Why? Because upon the paramount issue in
| this campaign there is not spot of ground
| upon which the enemy will dare to challenge
| battle Why if they tell US the gold standard
| is good thing. point to their platform and tell
| them that their platform pledges the party to
i get rid of gold standard and substitute bimet-
/ ailiSm. If the gold standard is a good thing.
why try to get rid of it: If the gold standard
| and might call your attention to the fact that
| some of the very people who in this con-
syention to-day. and who tell you that we ought
to declare in favor of international bimetallisn.
| and thereby declare that the gold standard is
wrong. and that the principle of bimetallism is
better. these very people four months ago were
| open and ayowed advocates of the gold stand
/ ard and telling US that could not legislate
two metals together. even with all the world.
| I want to suggest this truth, that If the gold
| in favor of its retention and not In favor of
is a bad thing, why should we wait
/ 9TH nnr nil Inc ~