The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-15

ratio at which gold and silver should be
coined was a question of markets. Andrew
jackson made gold our standard of value.
Ell, strange to say. our free-silver friends
IN the State of Ohio a short time ago very
kindly permitted the portraits of these two
fathers OF Democracy to hang on the walls
OF their convention hall, but at the same
time, as | am informed had the picture
OF Mr. Cleveland. who has always adVo-
Gated the same principle, removed from the
room. Our first victory after the war was
won under the leadership of Samuel j.
T1lden, on a platform which demanded
steady steps toward a sound currency and
no steps backward. And our only other
presidential victories since were won under
the command of that man of destiny,
Grover Cleveland, on platforms which de-
manded the coinage of both gold and silver
at a ratio which would maintain the parity
OF the two metals.
DEMOCRACY REVERSED.
But the combined forces which met at
Chicago in 1896 reversed the declarations of
these three successful campaigns by declar-
ing for the free and unlimited coinage of
silver at 16 to /, without regard to con-
sequences. The advocacy of fiat money is
no new thing-the pages of history are full
of the vain and futile attempts of men
and of nations to flank the laws of God and
to create value by the fiat of legislation
The surprise is not that the same thing is
again attempted at the close of the nine
y,
sons or history and the teachings of pohtl-
cal economy are so easily in the reach of
all, put that any man who advocates such
thing should dare to call himself Dem
ocrat. Our free-silver friends seem TO have
lost entirely their powers OF determinations
they cannot discriminate between wealth
honestly obtained and wealth dishonesty
obtained. fIhe highest recommendation
that mar can possess for complete atfilia-
ton with tSlie PopulistDemocratic party is
that he is T. rolling stone has gathered no
moss, Is run down at the heel, has nothing
don't want anything and don't want any,
body else to have anything. Any man other
than the one just described who dares OPP
pose the free and unlimited coinage of sill
Yer has sold out body and soul to Lombard
street, Wall street, banks, railroads and
other corporations.
"Of course, there is not even a suspicion
that silver mine owners could or would
buy or suDSldize anybody. The demand OF
the hour is for brave and patriotic man
hood. The advocates of nat silver in an
uniucky hour surprised and captured our
party organization and brought ruin and
disaster on our party. By threats and
clamor and false pretense they have de-
ranged ali values, frightened all business
enterprises, paralyzed all industries and al
most brought ruin and bankruptcy on our
people. And they have added insult to in
jury by charging that their innocent VIC
Tins are the authors of the mischief. How
long is this thing to continue? How far is
it TO reach? Are we all craven towards,
to be inundated and buldozed, or shall
we put on our armor and acquit ourselves
like men? This delusion cannot last. A
brave, determined SldHQ Is all I-ldI Is ueCeS-
sary to prove its fallacies and thus con-
found it"
AS MIR Sims wound up his arrangement
of isms," ending with Organism the
convention burst into loud applause, which
was only exceeded by that which sanctioned
his glowing reference to Grover Cleveland.
The opportunity for laughter came when he
alluded to office holding as the chief end
of man. Hearty Endorsement was accorded
his views on the financial question The
peroration of Mr.. Sims was delivered with
an earnestness and solemnity which APP
preached eloquence, and was given an APP
plause in which the speaker had cause to
feel great pride. Immediately after Mr..
Sims's speech the routine work of the con-
Vention was taken up by calling the dis
tricts and the naming of committees.
When the several committees had been
named there suddenly broke forth a SEEM
ingly unanimous call for breckenridge,
Breckipridge!" which would not be sienced
until he came forward. Without attempt
ing more than few words of commenda-
tiOh for the purpose of the convention, he
appeased his hearers, who then in turn
raised their voices in calls for such favored
ones as Carlisle, Watterson, Lindsay and
others, but none of these responded at the
time as it would have delayed important
routine work.