Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-11-26

sided.
! It was long past the appointed time
when President Orr arose and made the
introductory speech. The health Of
t"The President of the United States"
was then drank standing, with three
tousing cheers, while the orchestra
played 'vThe Land of the Free"
! Secretary Gage was fatteringly re-
Eceived when he rose to speak to the
toast, Currency Reform, Now or
iWhen?" The secretary read his speech
from manuscript. He said, among other
thingss
Secretary Cages Address.
your fathers had grave problems to solve.
Dur own are equally serious. They are
even more complex. The fidelity shown by
the fathers should fifty example our f1del-
lily. That is the price through which the
good we enjoy may be honorably possessed,
added to, and passed on to those who fol-
low us. We are met just now with one Of
those problems which must be bravely faced
and wisely solved. 1t is a question funda-
mental, in material sense, to the well
fare of every member of the mighty group
which constitutes our national life It
touches the humble and dependent more
closely than 1t does the strong and pow
erful, although in it's final determination
the far-reaching destinies Of all are in
wolved. For four years its Injurious shad-
pw has depressed industry and enterprise.
Thanks to the wise instincts of our people,
end to their declaratory voice uttered in
November last, assurances have come to
lift doubts, to Danish fears. to brace hope
and to lend courage.
/ "Thts happy reaction in enterprise now
Mitnessed-the stimulation to industry
which has followed this new assurance,
Ne conflrmatory evidence Of the blight
Ing influence of that fierce propaganda for
f'free silver" and semirepudiation that met
Ats just rebuke from the freeman's ballot
In 1885,
A Critical Period.
Speaking broadly, believe that the
shape and destiny of our national life, aa
1t may be affected by financial legislation,
10 to be determined within the next four
years. Four years is a period so short in
d peoples history as to bar out all idea
of futurity and to require in substitution
the more immediate. omnipresent now. The
forces and energies which found victorious
expression in the last election are as sig
Hifoant now as they were then Are we
Intelligent and courageous enough to take
the action their present warrant justif1es
and secure the future against the dangers
which have been for the present over
come?
at is said that under present conditions
At is impossible that obstructionists can
hinder and defeat the popular will; that
agitation on so delicate subject as the
money standard Is disturbing; that we
have the best of guarantees that for four
years the present. status will be main
Eained; that the revival of business will be
Best assured by the policy Of inaction.
agitation is not to be feared in Its effect on
Industry or business affairs II It Is to be an
Hgitation In behalf Of better conditions. We
have absolute security that for at least
Sour years no step can be effectively taken
DEGRADE
Bring dishonor to the national credit Agi-
Alton WILL threfore. result In nothing or be
productive Of good. Under such condl-
Mons agitation is the highest conserve
The One Thing Lacking.
stThe establishment Of our currency and
Banking system upon more secure founda-
Hons ID the one thing lacking to the things
Which make for permanent condition of
Reasonable prosperity. In securing this the
pioneer in the west. the laborer in the
mines, the toiler in the field, the mechanic
In his shop, the merchant and the banker,
are oil, whether they know 1t or not, each
III htb degree alike interested.
tf"The text to which was called to speak
III thus stated: Currency Reform-Now
~ When?' By implication 1 am absolved
from all obligation to discuss the how
or to SO into details Of methods to achieve
bbrre1lcy reform.
Various Kinds of Reform,
gEveryone favors reform-his kind Of re-
sofm. Many are willing to have reform.
Rnybodys kind, If 1t can be had without
struggle and free of cost Others. seeing
That the path of virtue leads to serene and
restful planes. are willing to walk in the
way of 1t, even at the cost of present pain
and sacrifice.
THE first group embraces the radicals
and faddists Of every kind who will toll
crate no method not individually their own.
THE second group, the Indifferent many,
pirate reform, but are fruitful only in OBJ
1eoions. You may retire the greenback or
ptherwise reduce the redundant issues Of
the national obligations payable on de-
fnand, but, strange Inconsistency, you must
not Issue bonds in time Of peace-not even
to discharge sacred obligations incurred In
Var These people ought to inform us as
to which of the two is the higher wisdom:
70 ayaii ourselves of conditions favorable
no the highest credit and lowest interest, to
put our financial house in order or to
WALT until another period shall come when
III In the unhappy days Of 1S6O-65 we may
6e forced to face dishonor or to recover
yourselves at double interest upon oblipa-
lions realizing to our treasury only Co.
6r 4o-per cent. of the face of the contract
Others of the same group tell us: You
shall not contract the currency, nor shall
t'ou permit any substitution in the form Of
bank note issues With all these limita-
tlons, restrictions and impossible condi-
lions they respectfully submit that they
afavor' reform.
"The third group. convinced Of the wis
dom of reform-and reform now-and per-
Geiving that In natures order every good
REQUIRED involves some sacrifice made
must stand together in patient persistency
And work along the line Of least resistance
Xfor this, too, In natures ordeD to secure
those high ends at which they aim.
Easy of Accomplishment.
SIN word, 1 commit myself to the follow
ing proposition: At a cost too contempti-
bic for serious consideration, the debata-
BILE condition Of our currency and bank
Ing system may be put upon clearly safe,
Il not theoretically scientific foundations
This may be secured without any neces-
6ary contraction of the circulating medium
or exchange and with no danger of an I'M
due expansion, and, best of all, this desira-
Die end may carry in its effect potential re-
lief to those districts In the south and
west, which, though rich in possibilities
Of soil and climate. have been held back.
Through the absence of banking capital and
Credit facilities.
Nor will permit myself to doubt that
In the councils of our nation a wise states
manship, supported and sustained by the
wisdom and value of a pure patriotism
among our people, will find the way to the
bnuch-needed result.
"How fair land! How infinite its posi-
bilities! What has 1t not done for the af-
tnioted and the unfortunate Of earth! With
bust laws with institutions conformable to
natural rights with honest regard for hon.
DsAble obligations with a common love for
The common veal, who can prophesy Its
future greatness and glory?"