The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-26
And Old-FashiOned Democracy
is What We Want,
Says Secretary Carlisle in His
Address
TO MANHATTAN CLUB.
He Regrets the Differences of
Opinion in the Party,
But Declares That His Views
Are the Proper Ones.

NEW YORK, Feb. 26.-Many men dis
tinguished in political and financial
circles assembled in the rooms of the
Manhattan club last night to meet
Secretary Carlisle. The occasion of
the gathering was the reception of
the club to the Secretary of the Treas
TRY.
When Secretary Carlisle arose to
address the assemblage he was greeted
with loud applause. After thanking
the club for its hospitality and for the
cordial reception it had extended to
him, he said: 81 wanted to be here
tonight because 1 knew that your
halls would be thronged and your
tables surrounded mainly by old-fash-
Toned Democrats who have never re-
pudiated, and l am sure never will
repudiate. the principles of their par
ty-sound money, just taxation, econ
omy in the expenditure OF the public
moneys, honesty and fidelity in the
discharge of Official duty, and the
preservation of individual liberty and
the rights of the States. Those are
old-fashioned Democratic doctrines, it
is true; but they were good enough for
our fathers, and they are good enough
for us-or they are for me.
~ Unfortunately many distinguished
with US upon all these subjects, and
we are rapidly approaching the time
when our differences of opinion must
be finally settled by the majority. But
there is but one position upon which
there is any serious difference of opin-
ion among our Democratic friends. 1t
is a most important one, for it in
wolves, in my judg ment, not only the
credit and honor of the country, but
the good faith and material welfare
of all our people. 1t cannot be dis
cussed here. but only stated. If there
was any economic policy to which the
Democratic party adhered with more
tenacity than to any other in the old
days, it was that the currency used by
the people in the transaction of their
business should always be on a sound
and stable basis; that all notes issued
by banks should be redeemable in
specie on demand, at par value, and
that nothing but specie should be
made the legal tender for the pay
ment of debts.
Now, it is proposed to condemn
this ancient Democratic policy at
least, SO far as it relates to the main
tenance of a sound and sta BILE cur
rency-by authorizing the free coin
ing of silver at a ratio which shall
make the legal tender silver dollar
worth about one-haIf as much as the
legal tender gold dollar. In other
words, it is proposed that, instead of
continuing the monetary system based
on gold standard, where it was
placed by Democratic legislation dur
ing the administration of Andrew
Jackson, and where it has been prac-
tically ever since, it shall be so
changed as to conform to the none
tary system of China, South America
and the small South American States.
Honesty is the best policy IN poll
tics. For my part, the last ambition
of my life is to see the Democratic
party, to which 1 have always been
attached, retain the position which
naturally belongs to it, in favor of the
maintenance of the public credit at all
times and under all circumstances, in
favor of maintaining a monetary sys-
tenn which shall secure to all classes
of our citizens-the laborer as we'll as
the capitalist, the best money in the
world.
Gentlemen, the Democratic party
is not dead (Cheers.) The time is
not at hand to dissolve its organiza-
ton and distribute its assets among
the POpulists at large. (Cheers.) I
hope the Democratic party will enter
upon the coming political contest on a
perfectly sound declaration of princi-
pies. If it does, it will come out of it
with unimpaired strength. with un-
blemished record and with courage
for the right.