The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-18

tions that does not declare for bimetal-
lism and condemn that which you have
put ia your platform and which you to-
day say you mean to make a cardinal
party. That is the gold standard.
The greatest teacher of New England
the man who commands more respect
than any other teacher in this cOun-
try or in Europe, the only AmeriC an
whose text books have become text
books of European colleges, has de-
clared the question of international bi-
metallism is question of civilization.
Mr.. Chairman, I believe this, and, be-
Ieving this as I do, I say that il is not
the prosperity of today or tomorrow
that depends upon it, but this is a ques-
tiOn which concerns civilization and
morality, that concerns not the people
of the United States alone, but the peo-
pie of the entire world, and on right
fu1 solution of which their prosperity
and happiness depends. Having thus
formed my conclusions, after many
years of public service and investiga-
tion, can I look any man in the face
and tell him I believe this and then
give my vote for a candidate who
stands on a platform pledged to the
support Of the gold Standard Would
you expect me to 90 it2 Would you not
despise me if L did it2 And what is
more, should I not despise MYSELF If I
am wrong, ana OF course may be, the
truth will sOme day be known. If I am
right you are entering upon a course
that wiu,, some day. and that, too,
disaster and dire distress. If partial ac-
ceDtance of this financial system has
brought this country to the condition
it is now in, what shall be its condition
when you have crystalized into laws
this declaration that you are putting
in this platform, that gold, and gold
only, shall be the standard money Of
this land.
do not intend to debate this ques-
ton. I am speaking now in explanation
of my conduct when I shall declare pub
hcly, as I shall when the platform is
adopted. that I can take no further
part in this convention and can no lon
ger act with the Republican party.
Mr. Chairman, it is not a small thing
for a man to break from his political
associations. No man would be iustf-
fed in doing this except upon principle.
No man would be justified in so doing
because of dissatisfaction with mere
methods or candidates. but when you
adopt a principle and ask me to sustain
it. make it one of the cardinal tenets
of the great political organization that
I believe to be destructive of the in
terests of the whole country, then COM
mon honesty calls for q. protest from
me I have been in this party from its
organization. I doubt whether today in
this body or in the convention there is
a man who has served more years in it
tT-an l. and I deny that there is any
with more enthusiasm than I have.
When the Democratic party to which
/ belonged, and in which I had been
reared. became a party of oppression.
that was destructive in my opinion, not
only to the black man. but to the white
man as well, I walked out of that par
tV and into the new party, which then
did not even have a name. a party that
was weak and small, condemned and
despised, out of which came this Re
publican party. But / did not then
break the ties Of more than 40 years. 7