The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-06-27

must submit TO the majority voice in
this country of ours do not believe
this part of ours, If IL could be polled.
is in favor of a gold standard. / believe
80 per cent Of the people are in favor of
bimetallism of the old fashion that exist
ed in this country up to 1873
Personal Explanation.
Mr.. President and gentlemen of the
convention, 1 promised you that 1 would
take but a few moments, but 1 want to
say few thing that may seem to you to
be personal and ought not to be intro
duced in an audience like this. l must
beg your indulgence If I seem to trans
cend the prescribed limit of this occasion,
and say something personal to myself. L
have formed my convictions on this ques
ton after 20 years study; over 20 years
careful thought and careful reading.
have been trained in a school that, it
seems, fits me well for reaching a just
conclusion, and l formed my conclusions
to such an extent that they have become
binding on my conscience.
! believe the adoption of the gold stand
ard in the United States will work a
great hardship; that 1t will increase the
distress and that no legislation touched
upon the tariff can remove the difficulties
that now prevail in this land; believe the
whole welfare of my race is wrapped
up in a rightful conclusion of this ques-
ton; that morally, civilization, nay, every
religion of my country is at stake in this
contest. l know. and you know. that men
in distress are neither patriotic nor brave.
You and 1 know that hunger and distress
will destroy patriotism and love of coun-
try. To have love of country, patriotic
feeling and independence you must have
your citizens comfortably fed and COM
fortably clothed. That is what Meecham
said in 1856; that is what has made me
a republican all these years because 1 be-
leve the republican party was made
for the great masses of men. That its
| legislation was intended to lift up and
elevate, and hold up ana sustain the for
tune of our people and give all an equality
before the law. (Applause) l do not be-
lleve 1t can be had with the gold standard.
You may doubt my judgment, but shall
| doubt it? I must act upon my judg-
ment and not upon your. ] must answer
to my conscience, and not to my neigh
bors' I must do my duty as it is pre-
scented to me. and not as to you.
Can Not Subscribe to 1t.
1 say to you now that, with the con-
victon upon me that this plank would
mean ultimate distress and disaster to my
followers, can not subscribe to it, and II
adopted. l must, as an honest man, sever
my connection with the political organiza-
ton which makes that one of the main
articles Of its faith prolonged applause
l repeat here what l SAID yesterday-I
was not acting upon my own judgment
alone, but carefully as l have attempted
I to prepare it, l dare take this step alone.
My friends. 1 am sustained in view of
the danger that is coming to us and com
ing to the world by the adoption of a
gold standard; by the intelligence of the
world.
They may say the silver question is a
/ craze. Let me tell you the best part of
Europe, the best part of the world, is
| with the advocates of blmetallism. All
! the great political speakers of Europe,
with the exception of five or six, are pro-
| nounced advocates of bimetallism, unre-
stricted and unrestrained bimetallism. All
of the great teachers of political economy
| of the Europe colleges, without exception,
are in favor of bimetallism. My own
| judgment based as l have said to you,
on careful preparation and careful study
! for 20 years. bears me out and puts me In
accord with them. And 1 would be
| recreant to the trust given me by my
constituents if 1 should fail to protes
here when the republican party makes
this one of the tenets of its faith to seve.
my connection with that party. CAP
plause and cries of MOI
Not for Personal Advantage.
Mr.. President, I ask your kind permits
sion to say a few things, and when
have said them, having told you wha
my conscience demands that l should,
viii leave the question for your consider
alton. Do you suppose myself and my as
sociates who act with me and take thu
same view of this question that l do, d
you suppose that we can take this stel
without distress? DO you suppose w
could take it for any personal advantage
or any honor that could be conferred upol
us? We say it is a question of duty. IOl
may nominate in this convention an.
man you choose, if you win put him Of
the right kind of a platform l will toi
for him. You may take any methods {
nominate him that you think proper, an
l will abide by your judgment and sup
port him if the platform is right, bu
when you asked me to surrender to 20
my principles as an honest man, l ca
not do that. ! realize what it will cos
us. / realize the gibes and sneers an
contumely that Will be heaped upon Us
but my fellow citizens, have bee
; through this before, before the politics
party to which you belong had being
| have advocated a cause more unpopula
than this. l have stood for the dOctrin
OF free men, free speech. l am used I
detractions, l am used to abuse and
/ have had II heaped upon me withou
stint.
When the republican party was organ
lied l was there. 1t has never had na
, uonal candidate since it was organize
, that my voice has not been raised
! his support. 1t has never had until no
a great principle enunciated in its pla
form that has not had my approval. wit
p its distinguished leaders, its men of
years, / have been in close cOmmunics
tion and close friendship. 1 have share
in its honors and In its few defeats an
d disasters. DO you think we can sew,
I our connection with a party Ike this III
til 1t becomes a duty. a duty not to OF
q states, but a duty to all the people
/ this great land? (Applause)
e Concluding Remarks.
r Mr.. President, there are few men
r. any political party that have been mo-
T honored than l have by the people of Il