Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-10-08
Rockbridge Baths, Va;
October !, 1896.
vice-President Stevenson for Silver.

Vice-President Adlal b. Stevenson
made an earnest speech in favor Of free
silver last Saturday at the convention
of Democratic clubs in ST. Louis. We
publish the following extracts, which
we urge our readers to carefully con-
sider
believing, as | do, " said Mr.. Steven
son. that gold and silver find equal rec
IGNITION in the constitution of the United
States: that by their Joint use in etfect.ng
exchanges and performing the other
functions of money we have prospered
i'm the past, and that the evil days now
befallen us are in no small measure the
result of the demonstration of silver.
| have no hesitation in maintaining my
party allegiance and casting my vote Tor
| Bryan and Sewall, the n Ominees of the
| Democratic convention.
Il deeply regret that many of those
with whom | have been associated in
! former contests now oppose the election
| of the candidates nominated in accord
ance with the time-honored methods
I ana nSdRtS OIL lllt lDtlllOOldllC Bdl - o
| Without questioning their sincerity, the
| inquiry is significant. What is there in
! the attitude of the Democratic party
upon the monetary question to justify
! its abandonment by those who have long
| shared in its counselS and who have been
| the recipients Of its rewards and It's hon
orS! As the parting OF the ways has
been reached, it is well to inquire, is
their path or is ours the true one? Are
we recreant to Democratic faith and ira
ditions in standing by the historic or
ganiZation, or they in aiding directly or
Indirectly in the triumph OF its great an
! tagonisty
"As Democrats we believe in honest
money-the money of the constitution.
! We attach deep importance to the word dis
! of Thomas jefferson: i concur with you
that the unit must stand on both metals.
1t was during the administration OF
Washington that the great Secretary OF
the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, said
30 annul the use of either Of the two
metals as money is to abridge the guam
titv Of the circulating medium and Is
liza bic to all the objections that arise
from comparison of the benefits OF a
full with the evils of a scant circulation.
! Have we i'm the advocacy OF bimetalllSm
departed from Democratic teachings,
from the Democratic faith on this ques
tom"
Mr.. Stevenson then showed that every
Democratic national convention since
1880 had declared for both gold and silver
as standard money, and proved conclu
sively that the party had not deserted
its principles nor departed from the faith
of the fathers. 1t is the boilers who
have been recreant to Democracy. After
discussing the Republican position Oh
gold, and the influence of England III
American finance, the Nice-President
concluded as follows:
1--WE believe that much OF the evi
that has befallen us as people is the re
suit of the unwise unjust financial leglS
lation of the last third of a century, ano
for which the Republican party is solely
responsible. Wherein is there promise
for the future? Wherein is there hope
VIII relief come by the election of Nc
Kinley and the restoration to power OF
the party at whose doors lie the reSpon
! sibilitv of the ills that we endure, foT
the burdens that are upon us? by It's
platform, by the utterances of those
high in its counsels, it stands pledged tc
a continuance. not cure, of the ills that
are upon us. Itpromises nothing; hold,
out no hope, by words even, OF return
to the monetary policy of the founders
of the government-the policy that fol
so many years brought prosperity and
contentment to all of the people.
II am firmly persuaded that in the
present contest the interests of all the
people are bound up in the success of the
Democratic party, whose creed upor
the pending vital issue was the living
faith of the founders of our government
Now, as in the struggles of the past, its
appeal is to the judgment, the patriot
ism, the sense of Justice Of the Ameri
can people. It's candidate for the presi
dency is an able and eloquent statesman
whose words have cheered the deSpond
ent, giving hope and inspiration to his
countrymen, and whose inauguration
will be the earnest of better days to the
republic"