Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-06-19


on resolutions was in continuous session
today from 10 this morning until 3 this
afternoon. The report of the committee
declaring for gold standard was adopt
ed by a vote of Al to 10.
The feature of the day was the action
of Senator Teller and other silver mem
bers of the committee on the financial
plank. Senator Teller opened his oppo-
sition to the financial plank by referring
to his amendment for the free and indie
pendent coinage at a ratio of I6 to l..
At the defeat of this amendment Teller
offered another providing for the coin
age of the American product which
met like fate The Colorado senator
then took the floor to announce that he
could not act With the party if the gold
plank was placed in the platform. His
speech was most affecting.
TELLER's SPEECH.
Mr.. Chairman The importance of
this question must be my excuse for de-
tanning the committee few moments.
have given this financial question the
most careful attention that any man can
give it. have given it great study and
the best thought of mature years.
have been engaged all my life in service
which | think fits me to judge rightly
and correctly and to draw proper con
illusions Under such circumstances l
have formed my convictions of the i'm
portance and character of this coRtro-
versy. Ny convictions are Of such char
acter that upon me thev force conclu-
sions that amount almost to verify. 1
admit may be wrong in every propo-
sition touching this question that l MAJ
submit here today, but, as have said,
have formed my own judgment and
have tried to reach an intelligent judg-
ment on this financial question; and af-
ter such deliberation and thought I say
here now, that in my judgment this
Question is the greatest question that
has been presented to the American
people in many years Right or wrong,
have convinced my judgment, and L
have done that, TOO, not from partisan
standpoint, not because the state of Col
orado produces silver. but after a most |
careful investigation and palnstaking
research. If I had only my own judg-
ment 10 depend upon | should be afraid |
TO make such a statement to an intelli- /
gent committee like this, but 1 have
back of me and agreeing with me and
advocating bimetallism, as against the
gold standard, the Intelligence of the
world Every political economist of
Europe, with five or six exceptions, who
is worthy to be named political econ
omist, is a pronounced and open advo
cate Of bimetallism There is no pro-
lessor Of political economy in any of
the great European nations that does
not declare for bimetallism and con
denim that which you have put in your
platform and which YOU today say you
mean to make the cardinal feature of
faith of the Republican party That is
a gold standard. The greatest teacher
of New England, man who commands
more respect tn n any other teacher
in this country or in Europe, the only
American whose text books have be-
come text books of European colleges,
has declared the question of interna-
tional bimetallism is a question of civil t
zation. /
NJ TLa;-,,,a, 7 baIisva this and he / I
ieying this as do say it is not the
prosperity of today or tomorrow that I
depends upon it, but this is question q
which concerns civilization and moral {
.ty; which concerns not the people Of q
he United States alone, but the people r
,f the entire world, and on a rightful So !
ution of which their happiness and g
prosperity depend Having thus ]
ormed my conclusions, after many n
rears of public service and investiga- b
ion, can look any man in the face and t
ell him believe this and then give my c
-ote for a candidate who stands on P
'latform pledged to support gold stan b
arda Would you expect me TO do it, a
Would you not despise me if did, And n
What is more, should | not despise my
elf If am wrong land of course I
nay bel, the truth will some day be IL
nown- If am right, you are entering Il
pom a course that will, some day, and 4,
hat too speedily, bring to this country "
reat disaster and dire distress. If a c.
artial acceptance of this financial sys N