The advocate., 1896-06-24

self, and when have said that, having
told you what my conscience demands
that / should do, / will leave this ques-
tion for your consideration.
Do you suppose that myself and my
associates, who act with me and take
the same view Of this question that / do
do you suppose that we can take this
step without distress? DO you suppose
that we could take 1t for any personal
advantage, or any honor that could be
conferred upon us? We say it is ques-
ton of duty. You may nominate in this
convention any man you choose; If you
will put him on the right kind of plat
form will vote for him. You may take
any methods to nominate him that you
think proper. I will defer to your judg-
ment and support him, If the platform
is right one; but when you ask me
here now to surrender to you my princt-
pies, as an honest man, cannot do that.
/ realize what it will cost us. | realize
the gibes and sneers and the Contumely
that will be heaped upon US; but, my
fellow citizens, have been through this
before-before the political party to
which you belong had being. have
advocated cause more unpopular than
the silver cause. | have stood for the
doctrine Of free men, free homes and
free speech. / am used to detrRction; /
am used to abuse, and | have had it
hesped upon me without stint
When the Republican party was or
ganized was there. It has never had
q national candidate since it was organ
lied that my voice has not been raised
in his support. It has never had great
principle enunciated in it's platform that
has not had my appreciation, until now.
With it's distinguished leaders, it's dis
tinguished men Of forty years, | have
been IN close communion and close friend
ships. have shared in it's honors and
in it's few defeats and disasters. Do you
think that we can sever our connection
with party like this, unless it be as a
matter Of duty, duty not to our State,
but duty to all people OF this great
land?
Mr.. President, there are few men in q
political party that have been honored
more than / have by the people OF the
State in which they live. There are few
men in this convention or anywhere else
that have been longer connected with
this organization than /. There are few
men in it who have been more active,
and none in it-no, not one-who have
been more attached to the great princi-
pies of this party than have been, and
I cannot 90 out of it without heart
burnings, and q feeling that no man can
appreciate who has not endured it; and
yet cannot, before my country and my
God, agree to the provision that shall
put upon this country gold standard,
and | will not
And do not care what may be the re-
suit; if it takes me out Of political life, !
will go out with q feeling that at least l
maintain my consistency and my man.
hood, and that my conscience is clear
and that my country will have no right
to find fault with me.
beg your pardon for saying things 80
personal, but yet il a personal act, that
to some implies perfidy and dishonor, is
about to be taken, think it but just to
myself and my associates that should
proclaim to you that we take this step,
not in anger, not in pique, not because
we dislike the nominee prospectively ly or
otherwise, but because our conscience
requires, as honest men, that we should
make this sacrifice, for sacrifice We feel
that it is.
Thanking you, gentlemen, for your
kind attention, retiring from you as / do,
perhaps never again to have an opportu-
nifty Of addressing a Republican conven-
tion, cannot do it without saying that
after all have in my heart hope-nsy,
| have an expectation, that better coun-
sells will prevail, and that il you should
be foolish enough to adopt this platform
and force us to leave the Republican
party, that better counsel will prevail