The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-08-13


trous extortlon for individual and cor
porate emolument Opposition to the
Mckinley law was the dominant issue
Of that campaign. and the measure
was condemned by an overwhelming
majority OF the American people. But
Mr.. Chairman, I desire to say that. al
though the tariff was made the issue Of
1892. there were thousands OF demo-
Gratis who then believed that a reform
In our monetary system was OF far
greater Importance than reform In our
revenue policy. / was among those
who so believed. Those holding to that
belief did not In any degree underesti-
mate the Importance was fully appre-
ciated; but they believed nevertheless
that the control Of our fiscal affairs by
a mercenary combination OF Wall street
bankers. dominated by foreign influ-
ences, was more perilous to national
safety and more pernicious In its ef-
fects on the national prosperity than
all the tariffs the miserly hand OF glut-
tonous greed could write. However. we
acqulesced in the decision OF our party
convention. accepted the issues as
made, and as one man rallied with
loyalty and alacrity to the standard OF
revenue reform.
I'VE rejoiced in Mr.. Cleveland's cleo
ton and confidently expected. and we
had a right TO. that he would bring the
tariff question to a speedy settlement
and strip monopoly OF its opportunity
to plunder the people but this expecta-
ton was doomed to disappointment.
Instead OF devotlng himself to prompt
and wise solution Of the Importance
upon which he was elected he inconti-
nently thrust II aside and began. al
most at the threshold of his admins
tration, to exercise the great powers
of his office to commit the country to a
financial system inaugurated by the
republican party. and which the dem
ocratic party had time and again con-
demned in both state and national con-
ventions. In the beginning OF this at
tempt the masses Of the people were
disappointed and distressed, and looked
out In amazement. With absorbing in
terest and with constantly increasing
resentment. they watched the rapid
development Of events.
"As these events passed before them
one by one In quick succession, ana
when they came to understand their
full meaning and effect, resentment
turned to wrath and protest rose into
revolt. Then began within the demo-
cratic party one of the most remarka-
BILE struggles that has ever occurred In
the political history Of this country. II
was a struggle for mastery between the
national administration and the great
masses of plain people who constitute
the party which created the adminis-
tration. The prize they fought for was
the national convention. That conven-
- a. At. ttxA rhnth ths.r
democratic party should abide by the
tradition of the fathers and adhere To
it's ancient faith. or whether It should
obsequiously abandon the principles OF
true democracy and become plant
agent to advance the mercenary ends
Of an .ipsolent plutocracy. The people
| Hnn y gi0fiUus victory. TnefuTI signid-
c&nce OF their triumph cannot be estl-
mated at glance. Suppose they had
lost, what then? Suppose the Chicago
convention had followed the servile ex-
ample Of the republican convention
what then? II that had happened wfiaa
hue would the skies now reveal to the
uphfted eyes OF anxious millions
Would the star Of hope then have risen
luminous to the meridian or have fallen
with waning light upon a clouded hori-
zon? Upon what stan would the todl-
ing millions In field and shop then have
rested their tired hands? What bull
wark Of defense would have then stood
between the great industrial and pro-
ducing GLASSES, who constitute the solid
strength and safety of 'tlhe state agains,
the combined aggresslons OF foreign
money changers and Anglicized Ameri-
can millionaires? Upon what roch
would the defenders Of the constitution
the champions OF American ideas and
the friends of American institutions
have then anchored their hopes for ths
future? The paramount question be.
fore the country was and ls-shall thit
republic confess financial servitude 4
England or act Independently for It.
self? Shall this government follow, OF
shall 1t be vassal or a sovereignty?
1.-The republican convention declarec
for foreign supremacy-for American
subserviency. II upheld the British pol
Icy Of a single gold standard, fraudu'
lently fastened upon this country, anc
declared that we are utterly incapabl,
of maintaining an independent polio,
of our own. Confessing that the golc
standard Is fraught with evil to oul
people and that bimetallism Is best fo
this nation and for the world. II yet de
clared we are helpless-shat we mus
stand idle while our Industries ar,
Frustrated and our people ruined until
England shall consent for US to lift oui
heads In ur~defense. To this low stat,
has mamm0h brought the great part,
OF the immortal Lincoln. For year
plutocracy has been winding ITS slim,
and poisonous coils around the republl
can party and 1t will strangle II /,
death as the sea serpent's fold stran
gled Neptune and his sons. So also 4
laid its foul. corroding hand on tn,
democratic party-.;he party Of Jeffer
son and Jackson-and used all Its gian
strength to bend II to Its purposes
witlhn both parties there was a might,
struggle for supremacy between thos,
who believed In the sovereignty OF tn,
people and those who believe in the di
vinity Of self
Upon the republican party tn,
hand OF Marcus Aurelius Hanna ha
buckled a golden mail and sent II forel
dedicated to the service of plutocrac,
in this free land OF ours. But In Oh,
democratic party. ahank God, the peo
pie were triumphant. There the clutcl
Of the money power after a tremen
dous conflict. was broken. The priests
OF mammon were scourged from tn
temple and to-day. under the provi
dence of high heaven, the old party
rejuveuated. stands forth stronger an,
better than ever. the undaunted cham
pion Of constitutional liberty. popula
rights and national Independence. Tn
gage Of battle thrown down at 81
I,Gflis was taken nm at rhspapa