Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-10-22
GEN. BUCKNER'S STATEMENT.

His Declaration That tho Republicans Are
Responsible for tho Existing Confusion of
the Finances.
Special Correspondence of Gazette and Journal
Chicago, ILL.,, Oct. IL. Gen. Buck
ner In his speech at the great Audi
torium meeting on the evening of the
9Th, touched on point which the
lesser lights OF the National Democrats
have been using TO much advantage.
Indeed it was the one argument by
which they were able to make be-
ginning toward the organization of
their movement in some communities
where the Sound Money Democrats
were strong, hut were tiocking TO Nc
Kinley. The point referred to is that
the Republicans, aot the Bryan psople,
are responsible for tho existing con-
fusion of the finances--thaf the country
10 indebted to John Sherman and his
followers and conductors not only for
our senseless silver coinage, but for
the existence of the treaoury notes
which have made the affiiction, caused
Ivy the decline OF silver, SO acute. Mr..
G, Vey Holman of Maine, member of
the National Committee Of the National
Democrats, thus summarizes the argu-
ment:
Such record of abdication Of the
duties and rights of craftsmanship as
the Republicans have made since they
undertook to reform our finances 81
years ago, is hard to find. Was ii not as
evident In 1875 as it is now that the
way TO retire the greenbacks was to
retire them? Was there ever a sane
business man, careful of his credit.
would interminably reissue his promis-
sorry notes which be had taken in. OF
course the men who framed the act of
1875 clearly foresaw that il either silver
or gold should go to a substantial dis
count, the reissued greenhacks would
be the means Of keeping that disparity
constantly in evidence, to the sore
affiiction Of the National Treasury.
The truth is the provision for the reis.
sue was put in by the men who had
| charge of the measure as a concession
to the fiat money element in the Re-
publican party. Leaders OF the so.
called sound money element of the
Republicans have often and in many
forms confessed as much. That act is
very mirror of John Sherman. 1t
was just the sort of trimming of which
BIO boasts in his book as becoming
| flhub III q StdbebluD.
" III this same set had had any sound
conscience about the coinage they would
| never have passed the act of 1890.
They saw in certain sections of the
country little craze for silver, and
they thought that by trafficking and
making terms with the spokesmen OF
that craze in Congress they might
make a few votes for the Republican
/ haf oil 4
matter that the currency of the country
was to be glutted with silver dollars
for which there was no demand.
1.-THE original Silver Coinage Act OF
| 1878 was confessedly an experiment.
supported at the time by many able
and patriotic men who have since
learned the fallacy of any coinage Of
legal tender silver at fictitious ratio.
Democrats and Republicans were both
responsible for its enactment. But
the Republicans were still in power
after its evils had become plainly ap.
parent, and did not turn a hand to cor.
rect them. II was left for Groyoi
Cleveland in lSS4-already elected, but
not yet inRugurated President-to in,
Weigh against the food of silver dollars
And the only corrective legislation thai
has been done in quarter of century
was done during Cleveland's present
administration.
Now that the Republicans are ou
OF power and trying to get back, the,
make a certain virtuous pretence o.
financial soundnsss; but even now the,
haven't word to say of the measures
they will take for the protection of thu
esteemed existing gold standard. No
one word does the platform vouchsaf,
about disposing of the pestiferoul
greenbacks and Sherman Act notes.
1.-The way in which that platform
was made was clear exposure of tn,
Republican habit Of thought. Th,
word and phrase pairing, the invita-
tions to competitive designers o
seductive phrases, that went on arount
the platform committee of that st
Louis convention, was unworthy of an,
great national organization bidding t
administer tho national government
The confessed aim Ut the currenc
plank in the platform was to cajol
! voters of all shades of opinion short o
absolute free coinage at 16 to |. o
course the major part Of the voters VIII
elect Mckinley (if he be elected) ar
going TO be deceived by this plank
but that is what is always intended b.
planks that promise no specific RENE
dies.
1T is platform of brute thunder
} 1t is record of pure empiricism-th
same spirit of empiricism which ha
determined all the Republican legisla
tion OH all important questions 70
the last 20 years. To keep tho ma
chinery of this great government i
, their hands, has been the one real in
stinct of the Republican leaders Of thi
generation. They have made rohus
professions enough Oh the better sid
of every important question, but whe
have they ever been willing to do tn
squarely right, tho scientificall
right thing! What important enact
ment of theirs can be shown whic
is not disfigured by concession 4
some clamorous clement supposed to b
potent at the polls? They have seeme
to be very tender of the sensibilities c
.. different classes. In reality they hav
been utterly reckless of the interest c
all patriotic CLASSES, If only they Nigh
continue TO make the laws for them
selves and their patrons, the tarI
J barons and the trusts.
1--WE snilingly condone the notion z
. mossback' assemblymen and aldermo
of third rate cities that the publ
offices are the one proper object of tn
4 lawmakers study. To some it ma
aa-Aaa