Evening journal., 1898-01-28
MKINLEY'S ADDRESS.
The President Speaks at the
Manufacturers Banquet.
CURRENCY HIS PRINCIPAL THEME.
Declares That the Financial Plank of the
Sc. Louis Platform Is Of binding
Force Upon the Administration
and Republican Party.

annual convention of the National As
sociation Of Manufacturers which has
been in session during the week, closed
last evening with a banquet at the
Waldorf-Ast at which President
Mckinley was the honored guest. The
| principal address OF the evening waa
delivered by the president, who said in
part:
There is a duty resting upon the ma
tional government TO coin money ana
regulate the value thereof" This duty
requires that our government shall reg
ulate the value Of its money by the
highest standards Of commercial hon
esty and national honor. The money
Of the United States is and must for
ever be unquestioned and unassailable.
II doubts remain. they must be remov-
ed. II weak places are discovered, they
must be strengthened Nothing should
ever tempt us-nothing ever will tempt
/ us-to scale down the sacred debt of
the nation through a legal technicality.
| 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 will we ever consent that
the wages Of labor or its frugal saw
ings shall be scaled down by permit
ting payment in dollars Of less value
than the dollars accepted as the best in.
every enlightened nation Of the earth.
Under existing conditions our citizens
cannot be excused If they do not re-
double their efforts to secure such
financial legislation as viii place their
honorable intentions beyond dispute. All
those who represent as you do, the
| rfr 81
ness interests of the country owe it
not only to themselves, but TO the peo-
pie to insist upon the settlement Of this
great question now or else TO face the
alternative that Il must be again sub
mitted for arbitration at the polls This
ia our plain duty TO more than 100000
voters, who Is months ago won great
political battle on the issue. among
others that the United States govern
mert would not permit a doubt to eX-
list anywhere concerning the stability
and integrity Of it's currency or the in
volatility of it's obligations of every
kind. That is my Interpretation of that
victory Whatever effort, therefore, is
required TO make the settlement Of this
vital question clear and conclusive for
all time we are bound I'm good con-
science to undertake and. If possible,
realize. That is our commissioners
present charter from the people
1t win not suffice for citizens now
adays to say simply that they are in
favor of sound money. That is not
enough The peoples purpose must be
given the vitality Of public law Bet
ter an honest effort with failure than
the avoiding of 80 plain and commands
ing "a duty.
The difficulties in the path of a satis-
factory reform are. 1t must be admitted,
I neither few In number nor slight in de-
gree; but progress cannot fail to be
made with fair and thorough trial.
An honest attempt will be the best
proof Of sincerity of purpose. Discus
sion cannot hurt, it will only help the
cause. Let us have full and free dis
cussion We are the last to avoid or
evade II. Intelligent discussion will
strengthen the Indifferent and encour-
. age the friends of a stable system OF
! finance.
Il The financial plank of the ST. Louis
, platform is still as commanding upon
, Republicans and those who served witt
them in the last campaign as on the day
, 1t was adopted and promulgated Hap
! PLY, the tariff part of that platform has
already been ingrafted into public stat.
ute. But that other plank, not already
bullded into our legislation Is Of binding
force upon all Of us,
a This IS IN reality command from tn,
: people who gave the administration t.
o. the party now in power and who ar,
still anxiously waiting for the execu
8 tion Of their free and omnipotent viii by
/ those Of us who hold commissions from
4 that supreme tribunal.
The country Is now emerging from
trying conditions. IT is only just be.
ginning TO recover from the depression
= In certain lines Of business long con.
= tinued and altogether unparalleled
t Progress. therefore, viii naturally b,
/. slow. but let US not be impatient. Rath
II err let us exercise q just patience anC
one which in time win surely bring it,
own high reward.
I have no fear for the future OF oui
beloved country. While I discern in it
present condition the necessity that al
ways exists for the faithful devotion o
Its citizens, the history OF its past is as
3 surance TO me that this win be as
IS always has been through every strug
So gle and emergency. still onward an,
J. upward. IL has never suffered from an,
trial or been unequal to any test
m Founded upon right principles we hav
sr nothing 20 fear from the vicssitude
" which may lie across our pathway. tn
nation founded by the fathers upol
L. principles of virtue. education. freedom
and human rights, nodded by the grea
At discussions which established it's SOW
" oreignty. tried In the crucible of civi
war, its integrity confirmed By the re
X, suits of reconstruction, with a Unio
e stronger and better than ever before
stands today not upon shifting sands
H. but upon immovable foundations. lie
as resolve by our laws and by our ad
n ministration of them to maintain tn
rights OF the citizen. TO cement tn
a Union by stil closer bonds. 20 exalt tn
standards Of American civilization. eu
p courage the promotion OF thrift indus
~ try and economy and The homely VIII
tues which have ennobied our pcopl,
a. uphold the stability or our currency an
credit and Illustrate the purity OF on
M national and municipal government
So and then. though the rains descend an
g the leeds come and the winds blow. IA
nation win stand. for 60 is founded upo
@ rock.