The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-17
WORK AT ST. LOUIS
[Concluded from Page IL
At the close Of the chaplain's prayer,
Chairman Carter said:


This convention is assembled In COM
pliance with the terms of a call issued
by the national committee on the 1ith
Of December. 1895. which call the Sec
retary will now proceed to read"
The secretary did so, in a voice which
was inaudible at ten feet distant. and
amid frequent cries Of louder" Chair
man Carter then said: Gentlemen OF
the convention. by direction of the ma
tional committee j present for your ap-
proval for your temporary chairman,
Hon. Charles W. Fairbanks, of Indi-
ana"
Mr.. Sutherland. on behalf of the New
York delegation. moved that the selec-
tion of the committee be approved, and
this was carried without a dissenting
voice.
Mr.. Fairbanks, a tall and very slim
gentleman, with a dark. close-cropped
beard and moustache. came forward
and In a clear and distinct tone. with
only one occasional reference to his
notes. delivered the following address,
which was frequently applauded:
FAIRBANKS SPEECH.
The Republican party is the party of
convictionsand it has written its con-
victlons in the history OF the republic with
pen and sword. With it the supreme
question has always been not what is
merely polite but what is everlasting
iy right. The great men We have given
to the nation and to history, the mighty
dead and illustrious living, are our inspir,
alton and tower of strength. If We ara
but true to their example we cannot be
false to our countrymen, Fairbanks re-
ferred to the prosperity of the country
under the laws enacted by the Repub-
iican party during its control of the gov
ernment. saying that on Nov. s, 1892 there
was work for every hand, gread for ev-
cry mouth. We had reached high water
mark. Labor received higher wages than
ever and capital was profltably secured.
The national revenues were sufficient to
meet our obligations and leave sur"
plus In the treasury. The foreign and do
mestic trades were greater in volume aud
value than they had ever been. The for
agn balances were largely In our favor.
European gold was flowing toward us.
But all this Is changed. The cause Is not
hard to Seek reaction began when 1t was
known that the legislative and executive
branches Of the government were to De
Democratic. The Democratic party at
Chicago condemned the protective tariff
principle as unconstitutional and solemn
ly pledged itself to overthrow to destruc-
tion the Mckinley law and to the adop-
tion OF free trade as the policy of the
United States.
THE WILSON BILL.
Before the work of demolition actually
begun a run was started upon the treas.
ury reserve which the Republican party
had wisely accumulated for the protection
OF the government credit. The drain upon
the reserve for the redemption Of green
backs and treasury notes greatly sur
passed all prior experience and empha-
sized the dscredit into which the Dem
ocratic administration had fallen. An ut
ter want of confidence in the administra-
tion possessed the people. He reviewed
the conditions that have prevailed since
the incoming Democratic administra Con,
the passage of the tariff law which Cleve-
land was unable to approve and that fails
to provide sufficient revenue resulting in "a
daily growing deficiency leaving the treas
ury and public credit in constant peril.
We are now sending aboard millions of dol
lars for wool, which were paid our arm-
ers under the Mckinley law. The recip-
rocity which the Wilson bill struck down,
was one Of the highest achievements of
American citizenship. No measure was
ever enacted which more directly ad-
vanced the interests of American farmers
and manufacturers. The substitution of
ad valorem for specific duties has opened
| the way for systematic wholesale frauds
| upon the treasury and producers and EN-
ployes of the country. Thus we lost mill.
| ions of dollars In revenue and foreign pro-
ducers have been enabled to unfairly pos
sess our home markets. The Democratic
party's revenue legislation has been q
great and original factor in breaking down
| confidence, checking progress. emptying
the treasury, causing continued deficits
and enforced idleness among millions of
willing workers.
Having attempted to reverse the tariff
policy of the United States with the Ia
mentable result that the Democratic party
now proposes to reverse the currency
| policy. 1t turns to the currency as the
parent of our ills. Its effort to ship the re-
| sponsibility will deceive no one; it's record
of inetiiciency and insincerity is part
of the unfortunate history of the repub-
| lie. The present currency system Is fruit
of Republican wisdom. 1t has been equal
| to all our past necessities and IL incOr-
| rupted will meet our future requirements
| Our greatest prosperity was attained when
the Republican currency laws We're In
full operation. When the Republican par
| ty was in power our currency was good
| 1t was made as good as the best on the
| globe. We made sound money and we also
made an honest protective tariff go with
| 1t. Sound money and honest protective
tariff go hand in hand together, not one
before the other The very foundation OF
| the sound currency system Is a solvent
| treasury. II the people doubt the integ.
rity Of the treasury they will question the
soundness of the currency. Recognizing
| this fundamental fact the Republican par.
| ty always provided ample revenue for the
treasury. The Democratic party hadn't IT
| fifty years advocated financial policy that
was the best for the American people.
USE OF SILVER.
The Republican party has not been un.
friendly to the proper use of silver and has
always favored and favors today the use
| of silver again as u part of our circulat
| ing medium, but 1t favors that use under
such provisions and safeguards as not tc
| impair the present national standard. The
policy OF the party Is to retain both. Tn"
policy of the free coinage of silver leads
to certain immutable law that two moneys
Of unequal value will not circulate to.
gether and the poorer always drives ou
the better. Those who profess to believe
that this government can independently
Of the other great commercial powers
open its mints to the free and Independent
| coinage of silver at ratio of 16 to l, wher
| the commercial ratio in all great market!
| Is 30 to l and at the same time not drive
| every dollar of gold out Of circulation
but deceive themselves. Great and spleI
did and powerful as our government is, i
cannot accomplish the impossible. 1t can