The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-06-23

first time i'll the history of this glorious
party of ours, confronted for the first
time with danger of a financial question,
that In my Judgment will be destructive
OF all the great interests Of this land. we
are called upon to give to this provision of
cur platform our adhesion or rejection
Mr.. President, / do not like to say
kipd or unfriendly things, and | will touch
Tor moment and only moment upon
tie object Of this provision OF our plat
form. The Republican party has never been
the party of a single standard. (Applause}
1t was himetallic party i'll its origin, in
all its history. In 1888 it declared for
bimetallism, in 1892 it declared for bimet-
allism. In 1896 it declared for a single
gold standard In 1888 we carried the state
that l here represent for the Republican
nominee we carried it OF a bimetallc
platform We carried 1t with majority
that edualled, considering our vote, that
of any state in the Union. 1t has been
Republican state from the hour of its ad-
mission. 1t has Kept in the senate Kepub-
lican senator's. and in the house Republi-
can members.
Do you believe that the American people
are too weak to actually maintain IA finan-
ciaI system commensurate with the bust
ness of the country or their own fruition?
Gentlemen of the convention, you will
have no bimetallic agreement With all
the great commercial nations Of the world
ana it cannot be obtained. So this means
a declaration that this country is to be
put upon the gold standard for all time.
Do you believe that Great Britain, that
great commercial nation of the world, our
powerful competitor in commerce and
trade will ever agree to open her minis to
the coinage of silver or that we shall open
ours? We are the greatest nation OF the
world. Great Britain is the great creditor.
We pay every year millions and hundreds
of millions of dollars as income on her
investments In this country on her loans.
The gold standard, iu my judgment,
lowers prices and decreases values. And
she buys of us millions and millions more
than she sells us. She buys upon a gold
standard, lower and depreciating stand
ard. How long do you think 1t will be
before she will agree to system of values
that raises the price of the products OF our
mines iii this country? 1t is a solemn dec
laratiom that the Republican party intends
to maintain low prices and stagnated bust
ness for all time to come.
The re is beautiful provision in this plat
form about the tariff. ] subscribe to that.
(Appause and cheers from all over the
house,. 1 believe in protective tariff.
OIore applause) / haVe advocated it for
forty years (applause) but it is my solemn
conviction that protective tariff cannot
be maintained on a gold standard. Under
existing conditions, we undoubtedly have
the gold standard. l do not deny that but
change it to the bimetallic system. l have
believed and yet do believe that when the
almighty created these twin metals, he in
tended that the world should use them for
the purposes for which they were created
(applause from the silver mem, and when
he blessed this land with more gold and
silver than any other country in the world
he meant that we should use them for the
purposes for which they were intended,
to wit: the use of them as standard money.
We to-day reverse the traditions of our
country and declare we will use only one.
If the American people are in favor of
that l have nothing to say. | must submit
to the majority vote and the majority
voice in this country Of ours. ! do not be-
lieve this party of ours, If it could be
poled, is in favor of the gold standard l
believe that fifty per cent of the people
are in favor of bimetallism of the old
fashioned system that existed in this coun-
try up to 1873.
My friends, I am sustained in my view Of
the danger that is coming to us and coming
to the world by the adoption Of the gold
standard, by the intelligence of the world.
Let me tell you that the best part of the
world is with the advocates of bimetallism
All the great political teachers Of Europe,
with the exception of five or six are the
pronounced advocates of bimetallism, I'M
restrained bimetallisn1. All of the great
teachers of political economy In the Euro
pean colleges without exception, are IN
favor of bimetallism. My own Judgment.
based, as l have said to you, on careful
preparation and careful study for twenty
years, bears me out and puts ME in accord
with them, and l would be truant to my
trust if l failed to protest here and if l
failed when the Republican party makes
this one of the tenets of its faith, to sever
my connection with that party applause
and cries of no.
Mr. President, 1 ask your perrnisson to
n fQw ihOVS DnrSOna1 n myself
and when / have said them, having told
you what my conscience demands that /
should do, | will leave this question for
your consideration. Do you suppose that
mySe-f or any of my associates who act with
me and take the same view of this dues-
ton that l do; do you suppose that we can
take this step without distress? Do you
suppose that we could take it for any per-
sonat advantage or any honor that could be
conferred upon us? We say it is a ques-
ton of duty. You may nominate in this
convention any man you choose; If you
nominate on the right kind of platform l
will vote for him. Y on may take any meth
DDS to nominate him that you see proper.
/ will defer to your judgment and support
him, If the platform Is right one; but
when you ask me to surrender to you my
principles, as an honest man, / cannot do
that / realize what it will cost us. |
realize that 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 l have advocated cause more I'M
popular than the silver cause | have stood
for the doctrine of free homes and free
speech I am used to detraction / nm
used to abuse and | have had it heaped up
on me, without stint. When the Republi-
can party was organized / was there. With
It's distinguished leaders, its distinguished
men Of forty years, / have been in close
al fpo p1c1ir
shared in its honors, and in its few defeats
and disasters. Do you think that we can
sever our connection with party like this
unless it be a matter of duty-a duty to