The herald., 1897-07-08
TRIBUTE TO THE GOD OF GOLD
DULY PAID IN THE OPENING
ADDRESS
The Plenitude Of Gold Means the
Growth and Improvement of
Human Civilization
Associated Press Special Wire.

DTOdOWdy Inedter To-Day, Will lully SiA
hundred delegates in attendance and
two hundred more expected 1t was
called to order by the chairman of the
Executive Committee and after prayer
by Rev. M. A. Ellie, and the roll call
Acting Mayor Scobey welcomed the del
egates. He was followed by Governor
Alva Adams, who delivered an address
of welcome and explained the purpose of
the convention.
In the course Of his address Governor
| Adams said:
ITO increase the gold mining industry
Is the purpose of this convention. While
local selfishness may have inspired the
call, the Importance of gold production
reaches beyond the interest of the miner
who mines it, or the state in which it is
found, and becomes a question as wide
as human commerce and civilizatio
| Gold is the only deity before which uni
versal man has ever bowed. This con-
veption represents states which produce
one-fourth of the gold of the world, and
can, with the encouragement of capital
double that production. Our desire to
increase the production of gold is in
spired by patriotic and industrial senti-
ment and inspira tion. We want not gold
that is the god of conquest, not gold that
is the god of the miser. but that which
is the handmade of industry, the vehicle
of enlightened faith, the means of a
broader culture and education, that Will
liberate the people from the thraldom
of idleness; all in all, gold that will be
the agent of a higher and nobler civili-
zation than we have yet known.
What blood is to the human system,
money is to the worlds system of busi-
ness and commerce. AS it has been
scarce or plentiful civilization has ebbed
and flowed. While all other products
perish gold and silver remain perman-
ent contributions to the worlds wealth.
In their production you compete with no
one, injure no one, but promote the well
fare of all. The production of gold adds
to the value of every product of the field,
farm and orchard it gives work to the
laborer, mechanic and professions,
patronage to the merchant and manu-
facturer and support to every industry.
Just before the assassina tion of Lin
coin Schuyler Colfax left Washington
to cross the continent. AS Mr.. Lincoln
bade him farewell he said: I want you
to make a speech for me to the miners
you may find on your journey. have
said Mr.. Lincoln, very large ideas Of
the mineral wealth of our nation. 1 be-
lieve it practically inexhaustible. 1t
abounds all over the Western country,
from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific.
menced. Now that the rebellion is over
menced. ow that the rebellion is over
thrown, and we know pretty nearly the
amount of our national debt, the more
gold and silver we mine makes the pay
ment of that debt so much easier. Now
said he, speaking with emphasis, L am
going to encourage that in every pos
sible way. We shall have hundreds of
thousands of disbanded soldiers and
many have feared that their return home
in such great numbers might paralyze
industry by furnishing suddenly great
er supply of labor than there will be de-
mand for. 1 am going to try to attrac.
them to the hidden wealth of our noun
tain ranges, where there is room for all.
immigration, which even the war has
not stopped, will land upon our shores
hundreds of thousands more per year
from over-crowded Europe. I intend to
point them to the gold and silver that
wait for them in the West. Tell the
miners for me that I shall promote their
interests to the utmost of my ability
because their prosperity is the pros
perity of the nation, and said he, his
eyes kindling with enthusiasm, we shall
prove in very few years that we are, in
deed, the treasury of the world
'The message was delivered by MI.
ColfaX to the miners of Central City in
May. 1t was the last message, almost
the last public utterance, that came
from the inspired lips of Lincoln. Everts
have proven the truth of his prophecy
That the gold and silver mines are a
potent factor in our nation is as true
now as then. We have no hundreds of
thousands of disbanded soldiers but
we have a million or more of idle work.
men, and the wider development of our
mines will bring new era of prosperity,
employment for labor, stability TO our
finances added power and glory to our
flag.
"Since 1892 gold, silver and copper
mines are about the only industry that
has paid dividends. If this convention
can turn the attention of capital from
unproductive investments to legitimate
mining, it will have advantaged the
country and investor alike. Business
care and sense in mining will pay bet
ter than most lines of investment. Pros
pecting as road to individual fortune
may be an illusion; the pathfinder sell
dom enjoys his own discovery, as even
good mines require large expenditure,
but legitimate mining as vocation is
a profitable business. Many people act
and invest as though mining was eX-
empt from the requirements Of prudence
and judgment, which other investments
demand. If you invest in mines as you
do in hat pool at the races you might
as we'll try Monte Carlo; your chances
of gain are just as good, and there is
little difference in the moral aspect of
such investing.
Mining is legitimate business and
not a gambling venture. 1t is the mark
of the conservative to decry mining
as gamble, a risky speculation. Gen
orally these cautious, wise conservatives
invest in railroad and other securities.
If you could examine their list of stocks
today you would, perhaps, find Atchi-
son, Topeka and Santa Fe, Union Paci-
fic, Leather, Cordage and other similar
stocks which these wise men bought
at top prices and recommended to Wild