The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1896-07-22

They complain about the plank
which declares against the life tenure
in office. They have tried to strain
it to mean that which it does not
mean. What we oppose in that
plank is the Life tenure that is being
built up in Washington which ex,
cludes from participation in the ben
efts the humber members of our
society. cannot dwell longer in
my limited time. (Cries of go on!
Go on!")
Let me call attention to two or
three great things. The gentleman
from New York says that he will pro-
pose an amendment providing that
this change in our laws shall not af-
feet contracts already made. Let
me remind him that there is no in
tention of affecting those contracts,
which according to the present laws,
are made payable in gold. But if he
means to say that we cannot change
our monetary system without Pre-
tecting those who have loaned money
before the change was made, I want
to ask him where, in laws or in NOR
ais, he can find authority for not pro-
tecting the debtors, when the act of
1873 was passed, but now insists
that we must protect the creditor!
He says he also wants to amend this
law and provide that if We fail to
maintain a parity within year that
we will then suspend the coinage of
silver. We reply that when we a'-
vocate thing which we believe will
be successful we are not compelled
to raise doubt as to our own sin
cerity by trying to show what we will
d. if we can. I ask him. if he will
apply his logic to US, why he does
not apply it to himself? He says
that he wants this country to try to
secure an international agreement.
Why doesn't he tell US what he is 60
ing to do if they fail to secure an in
ternational agreement? There is
more reason for him to do that than
for US to fail to maintain the parity.
They have tried for thirty years.
for thirty years-to secure an inter-
national agreement, and those are
waiting for it most patiently who
don't want it all. Cheering. Laugh
ter, long continued.)
Now, my friends, let me come to
the great paramount issue. If they
ask US here why it is that we say
more on the money question than we
say upon the tariff question, I reply
that if protection has slain it's
thousands, the gold standard has
slain it's tens of thousands. If they
ask US why we did not embody all
these things in our platform which
We believe, we reply to them that
when We have restored the money of
the Constitution, all other necessary
reforms will be possible, and until
that is done there is no reform that
can be accomplished. (Cheers.) Why
is it that within three months such a
change has come over the sentiment
of this country? Three months ago,
when it was confidently asserted that
those who believed in the gold stand
ard would frame our platform and
nominate our candidate, even the ad-
vocates of the gold standard did not
think we cold elect President, but
they had good reason for the suspi-
cion, because there is scarcely a State
here today asking for the gold stand
ard that is not within the absolute
control of the Republican party.
Loud cheering.)
But note the change. Mr.. Nc
Kinley was nominated at St. Louis
upon platform that declared for the
Of the gold standard
until it should be changed into BIZ
metallism by All international agree
ment. Mr.. Mckinley was the most
popular man among the Republicans,
and everybody three months ago in
the Republican party prophesied his
election. How is it today? Why,
that man who used to boast that he
looked like Napoleon-Qaughter and
cheering)-that man shudders to-
day when he thinks that he was nom
mated on the anniversary of the bat
tie of Waterloo. Not only that, but
as be listens he can hear with ever
increasing distinctness the sound of
the waves as they beat upon the
lonely shores of st. Helena. (Cheers.)
Why this change? Ah, my friends,
is not the change evident to any one
who will look at the matter? It is no
private character, however pure, no