Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-08

years he has devoted nine-tenths of all h.s speeches to the money question. Did any man ever hear him discussing state issue? Where one speech has been made Tn Alabama for sound money ten speech es have been made for the free coinage of silver. And now the executive committee has barred me from addressing the peo- pie on this question. I should be given an opportunity to uphold MT. Cleveland and his administration, a policy in which think a majority of you believe. 1 have been deprived of that opportunity by the executive committees
 T believe thatFgeur people recognize that free silver coinage would be fatal to Birmingham and Jefferson county. l shall discuss the subject for the benefit of the laboring men who are here and will Tot address myself to the business class es, who, I feel sure, are already in favor Of the gold standard. Many people call me gold monometallist. I am not am a bmetallist." Here the speaker be- gan a review of the governments mon- etary system from the first coinage act, pnrporting to show that Hamilton and Jefferson's idea of bimetallism was iden- tieal with the principle he is advocating. He stated further that no silver using country is on a bimetallic basis and that the opposite is true of all gold standard countries. The name of George s. Hous- ton brought forth loud applause in the midst of long list of dry statistics.
 MT. Clarke dwelt at great length over the report of the comptroller of the cur rency and closed his book with the asser- tion that if it should be evident that a silver bill will pass congress it would ere ate the greatest panic ever known. All our gold would be immediately with drawn. The free coinage of silver means the passing from gold standard to ab- solute silver monometal llism. The reason of our laboring men should be addressed upon this subject, but I have not time to go over the ground fully tonight"
 The speaker then devoted half an hour to the condition of Japan, silver using government, and stated that the same trouble existed in Mexico and all other countries where the free coinage of silver had been adopted.
 You have a president who has been struggling against great odds. Yet he is man who spoke in no uncertain tones to certain foreign power recently when a question of principle arose. No other man in half century deserves so much to be upheld by his people His policy on the money question is the wise policy. No reasonable man believes that the free coinage of silver will be adopted in this country. Do you not know that the very agitation of 1t drives capital away from the Birmingham district?
 This city cannot be truly great without capital and capital will not come as long as this agitation of the silver question Is kept up. Why do you do it? Because you have home man whose personal ambition you wish to see gratified? The nomination of Captain Johnston would be hailed by the advocates of his policy everywhere as triumph for free silver. It means platform in accord ance with his views. Yet it Is said that sound money men of Birmingham and Alabama generally will support him. How can you afford to do 1t? You who believe that Cleveland and his admins tration should be upheld must put down such candidacy. You cannot afford to support it.
 q have not discussed the question full Iy, but am willing to leave with what ' have said. The verdict of the convention in April will satisfy me, because it will be the verdict of the democratic party"