The Meeker herald., 1896-06-27
TELlER'So FAREWELL
HIs PLEA FOR THE SILVER
CAUSE.
HI Speech Includes Argument, Reproach
and Regret--An Impressive Address


not attempt to inflict upon you discus
sion Of the great financial question
which is dividing the people, not only of
this country, but of the whole world.
The few moments allotted to me by the
convention will not permit me to more
than state briefly our objections to the
financial plank proposed for your con-
sideratlon. l am practical man, and
recognize the conditions In this coun-
try foreshadowed as they are by the ac-
ton OF the committee. This plank was
pre- ,nted to the whole committee, and
by 1t rejected. Loyalty to my opinion
and consideration of the great interest
which Is felt In this country. compels
me, in the face of unusual difficulties,
to present this for your consideration,
not with that bounding hope or with
that courage that l have presented this
in other bodies with greater measure of
success than can hope for here. The
local and supreme importance of this
question is alone my excuse now for
the few words that l shall say to you.
In connection with this subject In a
public capacity, have dealt with 1t for
twenty years. l represent state that
produces silver, but l want to say to
you here and now, that my advocacy OF
the proposition is not in the slightest
degree Influenced or controlled by that
fact. applause and a voice "good.D
contend for 1t because l believe that
there can be no sound financial system
in any country, nor In the world. that
does not recognize this principle. con-
tended for 1t in 1873 when it was ruth
lessly stricken from our statutes, and
since when there has been a continued
depreciation Of all the products of hui
man labor and human energy. con-
tend for 1t because in this year of 1885,
the American people are in greater dis
tress than they ever were in their his
tory. / contend for 1t because this is
In my Judgment, the great Incubus that
has struck down enterprise and de
stroyed progress in this favored land Of
ours. contend for 1t because believe
the progress Of my country is dependent
on 1t. l contend for 1t because be-
lieve the civilization of the world is
to be determined by the rightful or
the wrongful solution OF this financial
question.
l am tolerant with those who differ
with me. act from my Judgment and
enlightenment as best / have been able
to see by my study and my years Of
thought.
In my judgment the American people
in the whole line of their history have
never been called upon to settle a qucs-
ton of greater Importance than this.
The greatest contest in which my party
has particlpated-two states or one,
{tpr mt To J,a In
than the question Of finance.
l have said enough to show you that
l think this Is not a question Of policy,
but a question of principle. 1t Is not a
mere nothing. but one on which hangs
: the haF,fise-ss-tsse-f rv-Ferity,- -tasr-ss'~s-
ality and the independence Of American
labor and American producers ZAP
plause)
Confronted for the first time in the
history of this party of ours; confronted.
say, for the first time with the danger
of financial system that, in my tudg-
ment, would destroy all the great Inter
ests of this land, we are called upon to
give this provision OF our platform our
adherence.
Mr.. President, l do not desire to say
unkind things, and l will touch only a
moment upon why object to this pro-
vision of the platform. The Republic
can party has never been the party of
a single standard. (Applause.)
1t was a blmetallic party in Its origin.
in all its history. In 1883 1t declared
for bimetallism, In 1892 it declared for
blmetallism, in 1896 1t declares for
single gold standard In 1888 we car
ried the state that | represent for the
Republican nominee; we carried 1t on
bimetallic platform; we carried 1t with
a majority that was equal, considering
our vote, to that of any state in the
Union. (Faint applause) 1t has been
n Republican state from the hour of Its
admission. 1t has kept the straight
road.
Mr.. President, I promised you that l
would not discuss the silver question
and l will not, except to say that this
platform is such distinct departure
from anything heretofore held by the
party that 1t challenges our Republ-
canism TO accept it.
The platform contains some platitudes
about international conferences. 1t pro
yides that we will maintain the gold
standard in this country until the prin-
ctpal nations of the world agree that
we nav do otherwise This is the first
great gathering of Republicans since
this party was organized that has de-
clared the Inability Of the American peO-
ple to control their owns affairs. fAll
ihe silver delegates rose in body at this
point and howled their approval of the
scntiments)
Do YOU believe that the American peo-
ple are too weak to actually maintain a
financial system with the greatness OF
the country of their own fruition?
Gentlemen of the convention, you
would have bimetall;c agreement with
nil the great commercial nations of the
world, and II cannot be obtained. so
this is declaration that the gold stan
dard is to be put upon this country
and kept there for all time. Do you be-
lIeye that Great Britain, that great COM
mercial nation of the world, our power
full competitor in commerce and trade,
will ever agree to open her mlnts to the
free coinage of silver or consent that we
shall open ours as long as she has the
advantage of lower prices or declining
values that have brought this country,
,,,, t,,a adoniinn of the gold standard In