The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-09-23
GOLD DEMOCRATS BEGIN /!



"The free coinage Of silver as inter-
preted by Mr. Bryan, means the advance
in the commercial value Of silver bullion
and coin, and, indeed, all the commercial
silver, TO AN equality in commercial value
to gold. The promise is that the Ameri-
can silver dollar, which it may be said is
worth fifty-thrce cents as compared with
the dollar Of gold, shall by the adoption
of this measure by the United States be
advanced to an equality with the dOllaro of
% $40 grains of standard gold, aud sim
liar promise is made with reference to all
the silver coinage of the civilized world.
"Nir. Bryan recognizes that commercial
law which makes a local value for u silver
dollar to be a myth. He says that the
silver Of the world would necessarily find
a common value. lie comedies that Ameri-
can silver would after free coinage be
supplemented by the bullion and coin Of
other countries until the silver of the
world would find common value. Mr..
Bryan's belief, therefore, that the adoption
of free coinage of silver by the United
States alone would advance silver TO an
equality in value with gold must be
assumed to be the official Interpretation
Of the Chicago platform, and unless that
belief has some foundation in the expert
ence Of mankind it must necessarily be
rejected.
1T may be admitted and confessed that
Mr.. Bryan and his supporters abound in
courage; that the assumption of this vast
undertaking is characterized by degree
of bOldness unparalleled in the political
history. 1t is assumed, and it may be
conveniently conceded, that the silver bull
lion Of silver using nations has today one
half the value of gold. The undertaking
! Is in n measure for free coinage of silver
with double the value of silver through
| out the world, and render the dollar of
! 4l2]9 grains of standard silver equal in ac-
! ceptability and value to the gold coin of
20 $40 grains of standard gold.
"Mr. Bryan and the more intelligent of
his supporters reject the shallow definition
of bimetallism, which demands no more
than the admission of both gold and silver
to the mints at a ratio of Is to l, but he as
serts that the free coinage of silver at that
ratio to gold will produce real bimetal-
| lism, double and equal standard of
value, the coins of both gold and silver
with equal power in the market and in the
| payment of debt.
| Let us consider the import of this
| startling proposition for one moment 1t
/ -
| United States alone would at once advance
| the value of the commercial silver of the
world to that OF gold 1t would in the
same manner affect the value of all the
silver coinage of all civilized nations. 1t
seems astonishing that in the light of all
human experience such proposition
should not only be entertained by some
men, but that upon its acceptance and
belief great party should demand public
confidence.
"The commercial law which controls
| this subject is familiar TO the country.
| Under its operation slight differences in
| the comparative value of silver and gold
led to the eXDOrtation of the American
coined dollar TO such an extent that few
or none of them were in domestic circu-
lation If the unlimited coinage of silver
dollars by the United States should cause
even n small advance in silver, either in
the form of bullion or coin, importations
would follow until prices were equalized
and imports of silver would become with
out profit.
''In my Judgment results as have de-
| scribed are impossible of accomplishment
by the measure proposed. l admit that
silver bullion may be advanced in COM
mercial value by its increased usefulness,
but no advance to parity with gold is
possible, and the whole result of the
measure will be the depreciation of the
value of the coinage, the ruin Of public
and private credit the disturbance of
business and the disturbance of values,
and the overthrow of all American in
dustries
Every interest is opposed to this ruin
Gus measure The Democratic party true
to it's principles an d traditions, is COM
PEELED to oppose it. 1t invokes the teach
ings and policies of its reverend sages to
arrest the destruction of that great party
and save the country from humiliation
and dishonor. The people must not be in
vited to repudiation. To thwart these and
other disastrous consequences, the Ma
tional Democracy invites the cooperation
of their bretheren and of all the people "
When Governor Flower introduced Mr..
Buckner the scene was almost dramatic.
Cheer upon cheer rent the air, the speaker
being for several minutes unable to begin.
General Buckner said:
I'VE remember well time when party
built upon sectional hatred sought to
crush us in the south to the earth We
had met on principles My distinguished
leader here and l had met in opposing
armies. We had fought out the issue, we
shook hands and were friends. A Demo-
crat once said on his deathbed there were
many persons in this broad land who did
not go mad until the war was over, and
they continued to agitate both sections in
order to incite mutual hatred in this coun-
try. 1t was then that this sectional party,
seeking rather to perpetuate its power
at all hazards than to maintain the good
Of the country, used the military force OF
this country to on st from legislative halls
the legislative bodies chosen by the people
Against that act of usurpation, against
that act of the Republican party, this
great city, followed by Boston and Phila.
delphia, protested in the loudest terms
and here in a neighboring hall, without
distinction of parties, Republicans and
Democrats alike met and protested against
the use of the power of the government tC
oppress the liberties of the people. That
voice was heard, and from that day until
a recent period the voice of sectionalism
has been stified in this land.
"And the Democratic party is built upon