Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-11-05

when the national convention OF the
Republican party convened IN 81.
Louis. There was a quite prevalent
feeling that the free silver menss'were
| i, tho saddle. and it was freely as
serted, even by gentlemen who were
radically opposed to their movement
that inevitable defeat awaited any
Marty that dared antagonize their well
organized scheme of national dishonor.
MANY timid members of the convention
were disposed to favor some policy of
Cancellation; but much larger ele-
ment under the leadership of strong,
earnest men, asserted that the parting
of the ways had been reached, and
that the Republican party could not,
with honor, compromise with a move
ment designed to bring about de-
based currency and a general repudi-
alton of honest debts. They asserted
that no party that in any degree con-
doned what was wrong in public policy
could long hope to retain the favor OF
the American people and insisted that
the convention should take square
ground for the maintenance of the ex-
listing gold standard. They declared
that even if the following of this course
entailed defeat in the election, it was
the right and honorable one, and that
the party must eventually be the
stronger for it. Their views prevailed
and the plank embodying them was
sustained in the convention by an over
whelming majority.
Then followed the dramatic with
drawal of the radical free silver men
from the convention under the lead of
Senator Teller of Colorado. When the
convention had completed it's work,
all knew that the Republican party
had a great fight on its hands. 1t was
becoming evident that the POpulistic
element would control the Chicago con-
vention, and that the free and unlim-
tied coinage of silver, at a ratio of 16
to !. must inevitably be one of the evils
it would advocate. The maintenance
of the great cause of sound money and
national honor must devolve upon the
Republican party. The members of the
silver trust must be met upon their
own ground. The people must be fully
=, e;.rr
issues involved. 1t was a gigantic |
work, but the Republican party did not
shrink from it. 1t was powerfully as
sisted in its great work by thousands |
of patriotic Democrats all over the
country who refused to be led into the
camp of anarchy and reputation. The |
battle was fiercely fought. Nothing |
like it was ever before known to Amer |
lean politics. Every inch of the ground
was stubbornly contested. The result |
has exceeded the most sanguine eX-
pectations of the friends of good gov
eminent. The free silver movement
has been met and utterly routed 1T
will never again regain it's former
strength in this country for the Amer
lean people have been pretty thorough
ly educated on the subject, and full
ly understands the evils involved
in this movement.
The thanks of the country are due
the strong and steadfast men, who
stood resolutely in defence of the ma
tional honor at the St. Louis conven-
ton. 1t is an occasion for thanksgiv-
ing that the free silver heresy has
been so promptly met and so deeply
buried. The country is now ready for
the adoption of the needed measures
that will insure to it long season of
prosperity.