The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-06-19

troll their own Affairs without dicta tiou
from Europe In the matter Of finance
or anything else. many delegates were
drawn into q display Of enthusiasm by
the wild tumult about it, but the Col
orado senator made no effort at dra>
matte effect He spoke In the clean
ringing tones which have so oftsd
echoed through the chamber Of the
United States senate. II was not TN
near the close Of his speech that he
became impressive and pathetic. Hid
review Of his long service In the party
visibly affected him. He drew himself
together for a-final appeal and declared
In earnestness that impressed all wh1
heard him that In his opinion. the mo.
raility. religion and salvation Of tha
follows:
HIS FiNAL PROTEST.
The Clear. Ringing, Impressive WerAs q
Senator Teller.
Gentlemen of the conventions I ~
not attempt to infiict upon you Q dr.
cussion Of the great financial queetioo
which II dividing the people not o0l0
Of this country. but Of the whole world
The few moments allotted M by thd
convention will not permit moro <hA1
to state briefly our objections to tna
financial plank proposed for your o0n-
sideration. I am q practical man an&
recognise the condition OF this country
foreshadowed as they are by the action
of the committee. This plank was pre-
sented to the whole committee and ~
II rejected. Loyalty to my opinion end
consideration for the great intereuo
which Ii felt In this country compel M
In the face of unusual difiiculti<s. %
present this for your consideration. MOI
with that bounding hops. or with thai
courage that / have presented this Il
other bodies with Q greAter measu1
OF success than I can hope for hnRa
The local and supreme importance G1
this question is alone my excuse no.
for the few words shall say to yoA
In connection with this subject y q
public capacity. have dealt with 4
for 20 years
IT represent q state that produces
silver. but I want to say 70 you hsse
and now. that my advocacy of ths
proposition 10 not In the slightest de-
gree influenced or controlled by that
fact. Applause and cries Of 20 on }
contend for u because believe there
can not be q sound financial system iu
any country nor IN the world that doe1
not recognize this principle. cons
tended for Vt In 1873 when II was ruths
lessly stricken from our statutes an4
since then there has been q continued
depreciation OF all products Of human
labor and human energy. i contend
for It because In this year 1896. the
American people are In greater dis
tress than they ever were In their his
tory. I contend for Il because this u
In my judgment q great incubus THAI
has struck down enterprise and Dc.
stroyed progress In this favored land
of ours. contend for II because bes
lieve the progress OF my country Is de-
pendent on It. contend for II because
I believe the civilization OF the world
Is 20 be determined by the rightful OF
wrongful solution OF this financial
question. ! am tolerant of those whe
differ with me. act from my judg.
ment enlightened as best l have been
able to by my study and BY years oe
thought.
I'm my Judgment the American peo-
pie In the whole line of their history
have never been called upon to settle
question OF as great Importance as
this. The great contest In which my
party participated-two states or one
was not more important to the people
than the question Of finance Is.
II have said enough to show you
think this Is not a question of policy.
but a question OF principle. IL Is not
a mere nothing but one on which hangs
the happiness. prosperity. morality and
Independence OF American labor and
American producers. (Applause.) Com
fronted for the first time In the history
OF this party Of ours. confronted. I say,
for the first time with the danger of o
financial system that. In my Judgment.
would destroy all the great interests
of this land, we are called upon to give
this provision OF our platform our adj
herence Mr.. President. l do not de-
sire to say unkind things and 1 win
touch only a moment upon why OBJ
ject to this provision of this platform
The republican party has never been
the party OF a single standard. ZAP
plause) II was a bimetallist HArty IN
its origin and all Its history.
"Mr. President. / promised you !
would not discuss the silver question
and | will not. except TO say that thin
platform Is such a distinct departure
from everything heretofore held by the
party that II challenges our republi>
canlsm TO accept II. The platform con-
tains some platitude about interna~
tional conferences. II provides that we
will maintain the gold standard OF thu
country until the principal nations a
the world shall agree that we may Dc
otherwise. This Is the first great gaths
ering OF republicans since this party
was organized that has declared the
inability OF the American people -
control their own affairs. Do you be-
neve the American people are too veal
10 actually maintain a financial sys-
TEN commensurate with the greatness
of the country OF their own fruition?
Gentlemen Of the convention. yoq
would have a blmetallic agreement
with all the great commercial nations
OF the world. and II cannot be obtained
This Is a declaration that the gole
standard Is TO be put upon this coun-
try and kept there for all time. Do
YOU believe Great Britain. that great
commercial nation OF the world. ou1
powerful competitor in commerce ana
trade will ever agree to open hef
mints 20 the free coinage of silver. %
consent that we shall open ours a.
long as she has the advantage OF low
er prices or declining values that heve
brought this country, by adoption a
the gold standard IN 1873 TO partial
demonstration? We are the grse4
debtor nation OF the world; Great Brit
ain Is the creditor.
II believe In a protective tartf. lAo-
plause) l have advocated N f~r Y