Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-07-15


that which it does not mean. What we
oppose In that plank is the life tenure
that is being built up in Washington
which excludes from participation in
the benefits the humber members OF
our society. I cannot dwell longer in
my limited time [Cries Of "Go oni
Go onl'l
Let me call attention to two or three
great things. The gentleman from New
York says that he will propose an
providing that this change
In our laws shall not affect contracts al
ready 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 II he means to say that we cannot
change our monetary system without
protecting those who have loaned money
before the change was made, want to
ask him where, in law or In morals, he
can find authority for not protecting the
debtors when the act Of 1878 was
passed, but now insists that we must
protect the creditor. he says he also
wants to amend this law and provide
that IL we foil to maintain parity
within a year we will then suspend
the coinage Of silver. We reply that
when we advocate a thing which we be-
lieve will be successful we are not COM
pelled to raise doubt as to our own
sincerity by trying to show what we
will do II we can. ask him, If he will
apply his logic to us, why he does not
apply it to himself? he says that he
wants this country to try to secure an
international agreement Why doesn't
he tell us what he is going to do if they
fail to secure an international agree
ment? There is more reason for him to
do that than for us to fail to maintain
the parity. They have tried for SOyears
for 80 years-to secure an interna-
tional agreement, and those are waiting
for 1t most patiently who don't want 1t
at all
Now, my friends, let me come to the
great paramount issue. If they ask Us
here why it is that we say more on the
money question than we say upon the
tariff question, reply that If protection
has slain it's thousands, the gold stand
ard has slain its tens of thousands. II
they ask us why we did not embody all
these things in our platform which we
believe, we reply to them that when we
have restored the money Of the oonstitu-
ton all other necessary reforms will be
possible and that until that Is done
there is no reform that can be accom-
plished. Why is 1t that within three
months such change has come over the
sentiment Of this country? Three months
ago, when it was confidently asserted
that those who believed In the gold
standard would frame our platform and
nominate our candidate, even the advo-
Gates Of the gold standard did not think
that we could elect a president, but they
had good reason for the suspicion, BE-
cause there is scarcely state here today
asking for the gold standard that Is not
within the absolute control Of the Re.
publican party.
But note the change Mr.. Mckinley
was nominated at St Louis upon plat
form that declared for the maintenance
Of the gold standard until 1t should b
changed into bimetallim by an inter
national agreement Mr.. Mckinley wa
the most popular man among the Re
publicans, and everybody three months
ago in the Republican party prophesiet
his election. How is 1t today! Why
that man who used to boast that h'
looked like Napoleon-that man shud
ders today when he thinks that he wa
nominated ON the anniversary Of thu
battle of Waterloo. Not only that, bu
as he listens he can hear with ever IN
creasing distinctness the sound OF th'
waves as they beat upon the lionel!
shores Of st. Helena
Why this changer Ah, my friends, Il
not the change evident to any one whe
will look at the matterp 1t is no private
character, however pure, no persona
popularity, however great, that can pro
tect from the avenging wrath of an In
dignant people the man who will eithe'
declare that he is in favor Of fastening
the gold standard upon this people O
who is willing to surrender the right q
self government and place the legisla
tive control in the hands Of foreign po
tentates and powers
We 20 forth confident that we shal
win. Why2 Because upon the para
mount issue in this campaign there 4
not a spot Of ground upon which tn
enemy will dare to challenge battle
Why, If they tell US that the gold stand
ard Is good thing, we point to thei
platform and tell them that their plat
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