The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-13
THURSTON is HONORED
A Crowd Of Fully 5000 People
at Garfield Park
To Listen to the Noted Repub-
iican Statesman.
Senator Thurston Speaks Again in
the Evening at Hamilton Hall to
a Crowded House.

LAAC CLON0 WHICH greeted senator
John NJ. Thurston at Garfield park yes
terday afternoon would have been an
honor to any one. There were at least
5000 people there and they were inter
ested and enthusiastic.
Senator Thurston's voice was heard
by, everyone though he was at first
somewhat hoarse. Nearly his entire
address was devoted to the discussion
of the silver question. Senator Thurs
ton said
Now. you see, my fellow citizens. by
twenty-three years of actual exper-
fence that under gold standard we
have not discarded silver; we have
made great use of it. We have not dis
carded paper money; 1t has been our
greatest ally, and tOday-mark what I
tel you and think it over-every gold
standard country Of the world, every
one of them, has in circulation, side by
side, all equal in everybody's pockets.
just as good one day as another, gold
and silver and paper.
How is it in the free coinage coun-
tries of the world and-mark me we'll
how is it in all of them? There is not
J any circulation among the people of
in circulation among the people of
any gold. There is in circulation in
those countries nothing but silver of
the bullion value and paper redeema-
BILE in silver. So that the gold stand
ard countries of the world are the
countries which employ for purposes of
business and the use of the people all
kinds of money that civilization has
"a adopted for its use: and it stands true
upon the other side, that in every sill
yer country of the earth their none
tary system is absolutely silver mono
metaIism and gold and all its equiva-
Tents are banished from the walks and
the uses of the people.
Let me tell you another thing: All
Of the countries of the globe that are
foremost in civilization, in intelligence,
in manufacture. in business and in COM
merce, every one. without a single ex~
ceptiOn is upon the gold basis
Let me tell you another thing: Ev-
cry nation that is on the silver basis is
not advanced in civilization, has but
little manufacture, does but little bust
ness, engages in but little commerce
and their people are the poorest and
poorest paid, of all the people of the
whole globe.
Let me tell you another thing. be
cause this is no new problem 1t is
one that civilization has already prac-
tically wrought out. In every gold
standard country in the world on an
average there is at least Ave times as
muchs money per capita in circulation
among the people as there is in any or
all of the silver nations of the world.
Let me tell YOU another thing: In
every country of the world where hui
man toll is adequately or decently paid,
people live in comfortable homes, where
they have for the most part the neces-
saries of life-fn all these countries
they are and have been sor many. many
years upon the gold standard. And in
every country that is on the silver
standard people are only partially en-
ployed, are all inadequately paid, and
they live. for the most part, in the most
abject condition of any of the people
of the world.
Now for my part, trusting to the
best judgment Of progressive civiliza-
tion believe that we can better afford
to stand with the great nations of the
world, with those of great manufac-
ture, of great commerce, of great learn
ing. of great advancement, rather than
to stand with those of other govern
ments of the world, which as yet are
in but a partial state of civilization
and where the efforts of mankind are
without any adequate opportunity and
where their conditions are pitiabIe in
deed.
Let me tell you another thing: 7
can go into any country of the civil
lied wOrld-Or at least I could before
this free silver agitation could go
there with greenbacks, I could go there
with that silver dollar and in every
country Of the civilized world, could
buy from its people just the same, just
as much as the fnha bitants could buy
with the best dollar they had at home.
Not only that but I can go into every
silver country of the universe-every
one of them-with those moneyes in my
hand, and I can buy twice as much for
one of my dollars in those countries
themselves as the inhabitants can with
the silver dollar or paper dollar of their
country.
Now, my countrymen. if there were
nothing but mere Americanism and pa
triousm in this question want to trav-
el around the globe where I am not
ashamed to pull an American dollar out
of my pocket under any flag that floats
the breeze.
And, again, there is not an inhabi-
tant of a silver country on earth who
can come into the United States with
his dollar in his hand and buy any
more than you with q silver cent piece.
CLaughter.)
Now why is it they wish to change
this entire standard of our money and
put US on par with the half-barbaric
nations of the earth? Stop and think a
little. What is the opening of our
minis to free and unlimited coinage
OF silver? Why, Mr.. Bryan said the
other day-and it seemed to me neces-
sarlly for the purpose of deceiving-
that all they asked is to permit the
silver bullion Of the world to come TO
our minis and have it marked bv this
government to attest its fineness and