The times., 1898-01-28

assured promise that ms Boous N'i
have a sale when they reach their des-
Iination. 1t is good rule IL buyers ",i'
not come to us. for US to go to them. IL
is our duty to make American enter
prise and industrial ambition, as Wen as
achievement, terms of respect anu
praise not only at home, but among ,he
family of nations the world over
There is another duty resting upon
the National Government com
money and regulate the Value IIiefeoI-
This duty requires that our "oNein-
ment shall regulate the Value ol ils
money bv the highest standards OF
,onmarc,al honesty and national
bor,or y'he money of the united
States is and must forever be unques-
toned and unassailabie. If DOUBTS re-
main they must be removed Ill weak
nIaces are discovered, they must be
STRENGTHENED. Nothing should ever
tempt us-nothing ever VIII tempt US
to scale down the sacred debt OF the
nation through a legal techn1caht9,
Whatever may be the language OF the
contract. the United States will dis
charge all of its obligations in the cur
rency recognized as the best through
out the civilized world at the times OF
payment.
Nor viii we ever consent that the
wages of labor or its frugal savings
shall be scaled down, by permitting
navment i'm dollars of less value than
the dollars accepted as the best IN
every enlightened nation OF the earth
Under existing conditions our clu-
zens cannot be excused il they do not
redoubie their efforts to secure such
financial legislation as will place their
honorable intentions beyond dispute
An those who represent, as you do the
great conservative bur progressive BUS
mess interests of the country, owe 1t
not only to themselves but TO the peo-
,,le TO insist upon the settlement OF This
great question now, or else to face the
alternative that it must be again sub
nitted for arbitration at the polls.
This is our plain duty TO more than
seven million voters who fifteen
months ago won q great political oat-
tla on the issue, among others, that
T}a United States Government would
not hermit a. doubt to exist anywhere
concerning the stability and integrity
OF it's currency or the lnYioiaplllty OF
its obligations of every kind. 1hat IS
my Interpretation Of that victory.
Whatever effort. therefore, is required
to make the settlement of this vital 4
question clear and conclusive Tor All
time. We are bound in good conscience
to undertake and if possible realize
That is our commission-our present
charter from the people
ii win not suffice for citizens nova
days to say simply that they are IN
favor of sound money. That Is not
enough. The peoples purpose must De
given the vitality Of public law Het-
ter an honest effort with failure, than
the avoiding of 50 plain and command
ing a duty.
.The difficulties in the path Of a
satisfactory reform are, it must be ad-
mftted neither few in number nor
slight in degree: but progress cannot
fail TO be made with a fair and thor
ough trial An honest attempt VIII
be the best proof OF sincerity Of pur-
pose Discussion cannot hurt, ii VIII
only help the cause. Let as have run
and free discussion. We are the last
to avoid OF evade it. Intelligent dis
cussion viii strengthen the indifferent
and encourage the friends of stable
system of finance.
Half f-heartedness never Won a bat
de. Nations and parties without abid-
ing principles and stern resolution To
enforce them, even if it costs a contin-
nous struggle to do so, and temporary
sacrifice. are never in the highest de-
gree successful leaders in the progress
OF mankind. For us to attempt moth
ing in the faceiof the prevalent falla-
them is to lose valuable ground already
won. and practically to weaken the
forces Of sound money for their bat
ties OF the future.
The financial plank Of the st. Louis
platform IS still as commanding upon
Republicans and those who served with
them in the hast campaign as on the
day il was adopted and promulgated.
Happily the tariff part Of that pla form
int
statute. But that other plank, not al
ready builded into our legislation. is of
binding force upon all of US. What is
it,
The Republican party is unreserv-
edly for sound money. Ii caused the
enactment of the law providing for the
resumption of specie payments in 1879;
Since then every dollar has been as
good as gold.
We are unalteTably opposed to ev-
cry measure calculated TO debase our
currency or impair the credit OF our
country. We are, therefore, opposed to
the free coinage of silver except by in
ternatiOnal agreement with the leading
commercial nations OF the world which
we pledge ourselves to promote, and
until such agreement can be obtained |
the existing gold standard must be pre- /
served. All our silver and paper cur |
rency must be maintained at parity
with gold and we favor all measures
designed TO maintain inviolably the OBJ
legations of the United States. and all
our money, whether coin or paper. at
the present standard. the standard OF
the most enlightened nations of the
earth.
This is i'm reality command from
the people who gave the administra
ii9n to the party now in power, and
Nilo are still anxiaUsly waiting for the
execution Of their free and omnipotent |
ny those OF US who hold commits
si9ns from that supreme tribunal.
II have tonight spoken in a some
what serious strain. because / believe it
Is due Doth To the membership of this |
ASSOCIATION and TO the conditions under |
which this assemblage has met. The |
conferences and systematic efforts of |
such body of men as this are capable
Of infinite good To the respective com
IN which the members live
and 10 the nation at large.
The country is now emerging frora |
trying conditions. II is only Just begin
nlng TO recover from the depression in
certain lines Of business long continued
ana altogether unparalleled Progress.
therefore. win naturally be slow, buf
er US not be impatient. Rather let rs
exercise Just patience and one which
n time viii surely bring its own high
reward
I have no fear Tor the future of our
beloved country. While I discern in lis
present condition the necessity that al.
avs exists for the faithful devotion of
~ Its citizens, the history of its mast
: assurance to me that this viii be as
u always has been through every
s. tfusSie and emergency, sti1 onward
/. ma upward. 1t has never suffered
from any trial or been unequal to anv