Omaha daily bee., 1896-06-19

81
the hand, and Senator Proctor of Vermont
! walked to the door with him, expressing
regret as he went and shaking the Dakotiaf
by the hand as he Joined his silver friends
on the sidewalk. He walked with the other
! boilers TO the st. Nicholas hotel, spending
the afternoon in conference with the leaders
He was seen by an Associated press mar
at the hotel, where he gave out the following
authorized statement in explanation of his
; course:
PETTIGREw.s PECULIAR POSITION.
81 loft the convention because / believe
the financial question to be the only vital
question in this campaign, and as / could
not support or advocate the single gold
standard, | thought / owed ii 10 the con.
vention not TO longer participate in its pro-
ceedings. / believe the maintenance of the
gold standard will result in a further de
cline in prices to the utter ruin of all pro-
! ducers of wealth. and that our adoption OF
that standard in the past is the cause of the
present panic. enforced idleness and misery
among our people. l believe the gold OF the
world is cornered by the professional cred
itors of the world.
Last winter congress adopted the Wilson
bill as a basis and simply raised rates in
certain particulars upon its value as an
increase of supply. 1t is for the interest
of the people Of the United States who
are debtors 10 make no more promises to
pay in gold. II We should do this gold
would gradually decline in value and this
doctrine would be shown in a rise OF
prices of all commodities and tab the
burden off the shoulders of the producing
and enterprising American people.
Tariff is the only issue of importance for
which the republican party contends, and
that is no longer an issue between the
parties, for tariff for protection has be
come the settled policy of this govern
ment. The only question at issue between
the advocates Of McKinleyism and those
of the Wilson hill is OnP nf rates Of dury
and the difference in average between the
two measures is very slight indeed. This
is conclusively proven by the fact that the
republican party in passing a tariff measure
through the house OF representatives last
winter adopted the Wilson bill. A vital
issue that is essential TO divide men into
great political parties cannot be founded
on the question whether the duty upon a
certain article shall be II or IS per cent.
| think the time has come when it is the
conscientious duty Of every man who be-
lieyes we Cannot continue TO prosper with
gold monometallism to exercise his whole
strength to prevent a continuation Of this
policy.
Il believe a majority Of the people OF my
state are with me on this question. II ]
am mistaken with the issue. they will APP
prove or condemn my course at the polls
next November. / have felt impelled 10
this course by my sense of duty. by a deep
conviction that the welfare OF my con-
stitutents depends upon a proper solution
Of the question, and ] could not listen 10
any argument OF personal comfort or in
terest which might be presented to turn me
from the course which ] believed myself TO
be impelled 10 by duty"
THERE WERE TEARS THERE.
The silver men demeaned themselves
bravely as they walked away from the hall.
They were given encouraging cheers by the
crowd on the outside as they passed 10 the
sidewalk and turned their backs upon the
hall which contained the chosen representa-
tiyes of the party with which many Of them
had been affiliated all their lives and perhaps
during the life OF the party Itself. Not one
of them looked back. Remarks were, how
ever, few and newspaper men were kindly
but firmly discouraged from asking ques-
tions as TO purposes or opinions.
We have only done what We had made
up our minds TO do in this emergency. and
what our consciences approve" they said in
unison.
Our reasons have been clearly set forth
on the floor Of the convention, and we have
nothing 10 add.
Regret 1t. Of course We do. but why
speak of that? We had a duty to perform
and We performed it."
There were tears in the procession. but
among the followers and friends, and not
among the departing delegates themselves.
Il shed mine weeks ago, when ! first de-
clded upon this course" said one OF them,
'and have done with that part Of it,"
During the afternoon the majority OF the
boilers gathered al the Dubois quarters az
the st. Nicholas hotel and talked the matter
over. They appeared 10 have recruited their
stock Of cheer 10 a certain extent, and most
Of them assumed. II they did not feel II, an
air Of yiYaeity. There were many exchanges
Of handshsking and expressions OF congratu-
lations. Every time The name OF the leader
vas mentioned he was cheered to the echo,