The Topeka state journal., 1897-07-05
AT LIBERTY'S CRADLE.
Bayard Talks Gold Monometallism in
Front of Old Independence Hall.

Philadelphia, July 5.-The 121st ami
versary of the signing of the Declara-
ton of Independence was celebrated to-
day in front of Independence hall. The
celebration was held under the auspices
of the Society of the War of 1912 of
Pennsylvania. The ceremonies con-
sisted in an address by Mayor War
wick, reading of the Declaration of In
dependence and singing by school chill
dren. Thomas F. Bayard, eX-minister
to England, was the orator of the day
Mr.. Bayard prefaced his address with a
brief history of the country from the
time of George Washington up to the
present day. In referring to the dec
laration of American independence he
said:
Never was the declaration of Ameri-
can independence in 1875 justified before
God and man as it is before the re-
Iations and condition of the two Eng
lish speaking nations which exist to-
day. And thanks be to God, never
were the international relations be-
tween the people of the two countries
in a clearer atmosphere of unmiStak-
able good understanding and more free
from ignorant suspicion or hostile in
tent than on this 121st anniversary of
American independence"
Mr.. Bayard concluded: To-day there
is among thinking men in this coun-
try a widespread and vague uneasiness
on a question which casts its shadow
over the outlook of business and be-
clouds the atmosphere of hope and en-
terprise.
Capital is one form of property and
is sensitive. 1t shrinks when confidence
is weakened. Such apprehenSiOns, eve
rywhere vague and underlined chill the
energies of men and check their enter
prise and labor waits for capital to re-
gain it's courage and smooth away the
objections and danger which impede
employment and to bring the energies
of individuals into cooperative action.
And while labor is waiting suffering
faces
low cheeks tell the story amid mutter-
ings of discomfort. All this can be re-
lieved for there does not seem much
doubt as to the true cause that dulls
the edge of enterprise and sicklies DER
with the pale cast of thought, the busi-
ness of our country.
rs it not the uncertainty in mems
minds as to what may be done with the
currency of the country which is the
very basis of commercial and industrial
life and runs through every artery of
"a arrangement of the currency of
the country is like unto poisoning of
the life blood of a man and no greater
danger can await US. disordered cur
rency will confuse and den1oralize eve
ry transaction in life greater and small
er from the payment of the daily wag
es of labor to the financial arrange
ments to carry out the vastest enter
prises.
mo contract can be safely agreed up
on and no business can be safely con-
Quoted under 1t, or prosper in it's COM
pany. To embark the business and
contracts of a country upon curren-
cy which is not firmly anchored upon
a stable standard measure of value is
to insure ruin and disaster to every
member of society. No elections are
now pending, but the time for decision
approaches with inevitable uncertainty
and from a full heart and in all earnest
ness and sincere affection, cOnjure
my fellow countrymen casting aside all
other differences of opinion to reject the
nostruTn and delusions of those RENE
dies which in seasons of popular dis
tress or excitement induce the foolish
and impious belief in the power of any