The advocate., 1896-06-24

that we should use them for the purpose
for which they were intended, to-wit; the
use Of the people as standard money.
We to-day reverse the traditions OF our
country and declare we will use only
one. II the American people are in
favor of that, I have nothing to say.
must submit to the majority vote and
the majority voice in this country Of
ours.
do not believe this party OF ours If it
could be polled, is in favor of the single
gold standard. l believe that 80 per
cent. of the American people arein favor
OF bimetallism of the old-fSshioned kind,
that existed in this country up to 1878.
Mr.. President and gentlemen Of the
convention, / promised you that l would
not take but q few moments, and |
believe / am allowed only few moments
In which l can rapidly address you. But
l want to say few things, and they
may seem to you to be personal, and that
they ought not to be introduced in an
audience like this. must beg your
indulgence If | seem to transcend the
properties of this occasion, if l shall
say something personal to myself.
have formed my convictions on this
great question after twenty years Of
study, after twenty years of careful
thought and careful reading. l have
been trained in school that it seems to
me ought to fit ME fairly we'll for reach
ing just conclusions from established
facts. have formed my conclusions to
such an extent that they become binding
on my conscience. | believe that the
adoption Of the gold standard in the
United States will work great hardship;
that it will increase the distress, and
that no legislation touching this tariff
can remove the difficulties that now all
admit prevail in this land. [ believe
that the whole welfare of my race is
dependent upon rightful solution OF
this question; that the morality, the
civilization, nay the very religion of my
country is at stake in this contest.
know and you know that men in distress
are neither patriotic nor brave. You and
know that hunger and distress will
destroy patriotism and love Of country.
If you have love Of country, patriotic fer
vor and independence, you must have
your citizens comfortably fed and COM
fortRbly clothed. That is what made me
Republican in in 1853, that ID what made
me Republican during all these years,
because / believed that the Republican
party was good for the great masses Of
men, that its legislation was intended
to lift up and elevate and hold up and
sustain the unfortunate and the dis
tressed, and give all American citizens
equal opportunities before the law. |
do not believe it can be had with the
gold standard.
You may doubt my judgment, and
many Of you will, but shall l doubt it?
l must act upon my judgment and not
upon yours. | must answer to my con-
science and not to my neighbor's; must
do my duty as it is presented to me, and
not as presented to you.
say to you now, that may hasten
my remarks, that with the solemn con-
viction upon me that this gold plank
means ultimate disaster and distress to
my fellowmRn, cannot subscribe to it,
and, il adopted, must, as an honest
man, sever my connection with the po-
liticsl organization that makes that one
OF the main articles of it's faith. | repeat
here what I ssidgesterday in the commit
tee, would not upon my own judgment
alone, carefully as / have attempted to
prepare it, take this step alone. My
friends, am sustained in my view OF
the danger that is coming to US, and
coming to the world by the adoption Of
the gold standard, by the intelligence Of
the entire world. They may say that
the silver question is craze Let nae
tell you that the best part Of Europe,
the best part Of the world, is with the
advocates of bimetallism. All the great
political teachers Of Europe, with the
i l.-o...L.-.. e ID. Ahn nArL,-