The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-10

and for whom I speak-the sixteen
members of the minority committee
insist that we should not attempt the
experiment of fire and unlimited coinage
of silver without the cooperation OF
other great nations
1T Is not q question of patriotism.
1t is not question of courage. 1t Is
not question of loyalty. 1t Is not a
question of valor. The majority's plat
form speak of the subject as though
1t was simply question as to whether
we were a brave enough people to en-
ter upon this experiment 1T Is G. ques-
ton of business. 1t Is not question,
Notwithstanding. which man, ever go
brave, can solve.
II think that the safest, the best
course for this convention to have pur-
sued, was to take the first step forward
In the great cause of monetary reform
by declaring in favor of international
bimetallism. loud applause.) 1 am not
here to assail the honesty or sincerity
of a single man who disagrees with me.
(ApplauSe.) There are those around me
who know that in every utterance made
upon this subject, / have treated the
friends Of free and unlimited coinage
of silver at the ratio Of 16 to l with
respect. / am here to pursue that
course today. (Applause.) do not think
that we can safely ignore the monetary
systems of other great nations. 1t Is a
question about which honest men may
differ. I believe we cannot ignore the
attitude of other nations upon this SUBJ
ject any more than we can their at
titude upon the other questions of the
day.
81 know it Is said by enthusiastic
friends that America can mark out a
course for herself. I know that 1t ap-
5peals to the pride of the average
American, to say that 1t matters not
arrange this matter ourselves. But 1
beg to remind you, if that suggestion
is carried out to its
LEGITIMATE CONCLUSION,
you might as we'll do away with inter
national treaties: might as well do
away with all the provisions in your
tariff bills, that have relation to the
laws of other countries. In this great
age, when we are connected with all
portions of the earth by our ships, by
our cables and by all methods of in
tercourse we think that it Is unwise to
attempt this alone.
81 want to call your attention to this
single point. I think it is unwise
further for this convention to hazard
this contest, upon a single ratio. I
think it an unnecessary step, and I
think it will return to plague us in the
future. 1 think we have too many
close business relations with the other
great nations Of the world for us to
ignore their attitude.
II regret also to see that your plat
form reads not a single word in favor
of international bimetallism; not neces-
sarily inconsistent with this platform
and there is no declaration whatever,
that it is the policy of this government
to attempt to bring it about. The mi
nority platform declares expressly that
it is the policy of this government to
make steady efforts to bring this
about 1t would be safer to do it.; TT
would be wiser to do it. We run no
risk upon the great question of the
finances Of this republic. I assume
that this convention desires. as the
people Of this country desire, that every
silver dollar coined shall be the equal
of every other dollar coined. cloud
cheering.) l find no words in this plat
form in favor of the maintenance of the
parity of the two metals | find no
suggestion of what is to be done in
case the experiment fails. / find no
suggestion of how you are to brace up
this new deprecated currency. Every
thing is risked upon the mere fact that
it shall be given free coinage at the
minis. I beg to call your attention to
this fact; that in my humble opinion,
the very policy condemned by this plat
form, is the policy that has kept your
greenback and your silver dollar at
parity with gold during the past years.
We think that times and conditions
have been changed.
81 know it will be said that in some
particulars this platform agrees with
our Republican friends. It. to me, is
neither any better nor any worse for it.
I call your attention to the fact that
your plank upon pensions. that your
plank upon the Monroe doctrine, that
your plank upon Cuba, that your plank
upon territories, that your plank upon
Alaska that your plank even upon the
civil service are exactly like the Re-
publican planks.
ST said few moments ago, thought
the safest course for this convention
to have pursued was simply to have
said that this government should enact
statute in favor of placing
GOLD AND SILVER ALIKE
as the currency of the country, and
stop there. I do not think, I said, and
/ will repeat 1T, that 1t is wise to hazard
everything upon single number
Let me go further I object to
various provisions of this platform
What was the necessity for opening
up the question of greenback circula-
ton? What was the necessity for put
ting in this platform an implied pledge
that this government might issue the
greenback and make it legal tender?