The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-23
And Ex-ConGressman w. ID. Bynum.
the Tall Hickory of the wabash"
Made the Opening Address.
SPEECHES BY THE NOMINEES
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM
REVIEWED BY GEN. PALMER,
And Reasons Given Why Good Citf-
zens Should Not Support Bryan
OvatiG n to General BucISner.

NEW YORK, Sept 22.--"Ths is one of
the peculiar meetings of peculiar cam
paign," said a man entering athe big audi
torium in the Madison-square Garden to-
night, and he spoke the truth for while the
Democratic State committee was busy two
blocks away, Strengthening out q tangle
| in an alleged endeavor to aid the Bryan
campaign. men who had grown gray in the
service of the same party argued against
Mr.. Bryan and his policies and begged for
the salvation of the country from alleged
threatened ruin.
Had the managers of this meeting set
out to make every incident of it at vari-
ance with the notification of William j.
Bryan, it could not have been more sue
cessful. The thermometer marked 1t cool.
in distinction to the fever heat at the Bry-
an meeting; the audience that filed every
nook and corner of an edifce that. par
titioned off as it was, accommodated fully
5000 people, remained in their seats until
the end of the session; the platform was
filled with representative men of the old
Democratic party. faces familiar to all, and
| a picture of President Cleveland held a
prominent place among the decorations.
The big hall was beautifully adorned with
the national colors and there were huge
pictures over the highly elevated stage OF
President Cleveland, Samuel j. Tilden.
Messrs. Palmer and Buckner, the candi-
dates of the party holding the convention;
Andrew Jackson and Thomas Jefferson. In
the center of the stage decorati ton was a
large picture of the National Democrat
ic partys emblem in this State full
rugged ship. A band furnished the usual
plea for enthusiasm by playing the national
airs, the audience heartily applauding each
effort.
The presence upon the stage OF
men like Roswell p. Flower w. d. Bynum.
Charles S. Fairchild, e. Z. Anderson, Rob-
ert Greer Monroe, in addition to the speak,
ers, gave dignity to the affair that was
carried out in the audience. At first 1t
was quiet, but the brief remarks Of Chair
man Flower seemed to awaken them, for
in a moment they were shouting their APP
| proval of the statement: I'VE not So
cent Democrats" The other pointed but
brief remarks of the Ex-Governor were also
vociferously applauded, and by the time Mr..
Bynum began his remarks they were very
receptive and hearty in their reception.
| The meeting was called to order by Rob-
ert r. Windeman, chairman of the Syra-
cuse convention State committee, who in
troduced Ex-Governor Flower as the pre-
siding officer. Mr.. Flower waited until the
hearty reception accorded him had sub
sided, when he said:
| Fellow citizens: We are met to ratify
| the nominations and the platform of the
National democratic convention held at In
dianapoiis. We are Democrats, and not
fopulsts; we are in favor OF liberty regu-
lated by law; we are not reyoIutlonlstS;
we believe in dollars of full intrinsic value,
measured by the markets of the world;
favor tarim for revenue only; de-
clare that the government should not en-
gage In the banking business; We are op-
/ tn Hat W. hn M ArTltF
istra ton of President Cleveland. Our prin-
cipes point the way TO stability, not doubt
ful experiment; to confidence in business,
not uncertainty; TO prosperity and not
panics.
tall hickory of the Wabash. my old col
league in Congress William ID. Bynum. OF
Indiana.
Mr.. Bynum's Speech.
Mr. Bynum said in part:
II have supported for thirty years DEM
ocratic platforms, but / cannot support the
Chicago platform and ticket (Applause.)
The political situation is somewhat unique.
and the condition of the political parties
many questions involved in the result OF
the election. one great question predomi-
mates all others, and that is the question
| TO whether this country shall maintain
sound financial system or whether IL
shall degrade its present volume of money
to the level of that of the semi-civilized
countries of the world. The magnitude OF
our trade and commerce, the development
demand that we should have the most
rapid transit, the quickest communication.
the most convenient form of exchange and
as sound a financial system as any nation
on the face of the earth. While our silver
dollar is worth not only 100 cents at home
and abroad. the Mexican silver dollar con-
tanning about six grains more silver than
ours, is worth and commands in the mar
kets of the world only about SO cents The
American silver dollar is worth two Mex
ican dollars in this country and in Europe
and will purchase two Mexican silver dol
lars in the government of Mexico. Why
is il that our silver dollar. containing only.
ll2is grains. the standard, is worth nearly
twice as much as the Mexican dollar con-
tanning about AIS grains of standard silver7
1t is because we maintain all OF our money
at the standard OF measurement of values
recognized by all the great civilized coun-
tries of the world. while Mexico il upon
a lower standard. While our silver dollar
is not by law redeemabe in gold coin, the
policy OF the government in accepting IL
in payment of government dues and In
making payment of its obligations In the
character of money which the creditor may
on an equality with gold While the mon
etary value of our silver dollar rs 100 cents,
its bullion price is only about 50 cents.
In all history there cannot be found a
single instance where the two metals have
concurrently circulated money except
when the coinage ratio was practically the
commercial ratio. In no country to-day
upon the face OF the earth where they
have the free and unlimited coinage OF
silver Is the monetary value of the silver
coined any greater than the bullion which
IL contains. In country ofthe world to-
day where they have free coinage OF silver
does their money possess any greater sta
biity than the value of the commodity
OF which IL liz composed, and 10 assume
that the United States single handed. and
alone. could by the mere force of law
brng the commercial value of gold and
the market ratio all over the world is
about 81 to l, is q bold assertion, ulisup-