The state herald., 1898-02-04
MIR. M'KINLEY SPEAKS
ATrENpsAnEw YORK BANQUET
The President Tolls the Manufacturers
That Government Obligations Should
Be Paid in Gold.

| Kew York, Ian. 2S.-Thc third an
nunl banquet of the National Assoc'
alton of Manufa cturcrs of the United
States. which took place tonight at
the Waldorf Astor hotel, was one OF
t..a largest and .lost elaborate affairs
of the kind ever given in this city. one
thousand guests were seated at the
tables.
rhe fact that President Mckinley
wculd be present caused rush for
tickets.
The President was driven from tho
Waldorf-Astor a G:30 p. m. by the
committee of merchants and ut once
taken TO 'Thc Royal Chambers" Half
an hour later he appeaed in the re-
ceptlon room, where he held n levcc
for more than an hour.
The banquet hall was magniicently
draped with silkon banners. The Pres
idcnts ilag was suspended over the
head of the table from the President S
box. Seven long tables extended the
length of the room, and sixteen small
tables We're placed on either side of
the rows of long tables. In the Astor
gallery annex We're thirty-thrce other
tables.
When being introduced President
Mckinley spoke hopefully of the in
dustrial outlook. thcp turning TO the
financial question, he said.
"Therc is another duty resting upon
the national government-'to coin
money and regulate the value thereof.
This duty requires that our govern
ment shall regulate the value of its
money by the highest standards of
commercial honesty and national hon
or. The money of the United States
is and must forever be, unquestoncd
and unassailablc. If doubts remain,
they must he removed. If weak places
are discovered they must be strength
ened. Nothing should ever tempt us
nothing ever VIII tempt us-to scale
down the sacred debt of the nation
through a legal teclnicality. What
ever may he the language of the con
tract, the United States will discharge
all Its obligations in the currency
recognized as best throughout the
civilized world NJ the time of payment.
Nor will we consent that the wages Of
labor or its frugal savings be scaled
down, by permitting payment in dol
lars of less value than the dollars ac-
cepted as the best In every cnlightcn.
ed nation of the earth.
Under existing conditions our clti-
zens cannot he excused if they do no:
redoublc their efforts to secure such
financial legislation as will place
their honorable intentions beyond dis.
putc. All those who represent. as you
do, the great conservative and the pro
grcssivc business interests of the
country, owe 1t not only TO themselves
but 10 the people to insist upon the
settlement of this great question now.
or else face the alternative that Il
must be again submitted for arbitra-
tiOn at the polls. This Is our 1lail
duty TO more than I,OOO,OOO voters.
who fifteen months ago Won Il great
political battle ON the issue, among
Others that the United States govern.
mcnt would not permit n doubt TO
exist anywhere concerning the sta.
bility and Integrity of its currency or
the nviolability of its obligations OF
every kind. This is my Interpretation
of that victory. Whatever effort there
fore, is required TO make the settle
ment of this vital question clear and
slll tilllfs We H1t
In good conscience 10 undertake. and
II possible realize. That is our com.
mlssion-our present charter from the
people.
''lt will not suffice for citizens iowa
days TO say simply that they are IN
favor of sound money. That Is not
enough. The peoples purpose must he
given the vitality of public law. Bet
ter an honest effort with failure than
the avoiding OF 50 plain and command
Ing n duty. The difficulties In the path
of satisfactory reform are, II must
be admitted, neither few In number nor
slight la degree. but progress cannot
fail to bc made with. u fair and thor
Ough trial. An honest attempt viii he
the best proof of sincerity of purpose.
Discussion cannot hurt, II win only
help the cause. Let us have full and
free discussion. We are the last Ia
avoid or cvadc II. Intelligent dlscusslon
Will strengthen the indifferent and On.
courage the friends of n stable system
OF finance.
llalf.hcartedncss never won bat
tie. Nations and parties without abd-
Ing principles and stern resolutions Ia
enforce them, even IL II costs contln.
uous struggle to do 80 and temporary
sacrifice. aIe never In the highest de.
gree successful leaders In the progress
Of mankind. For MS 10 attempt moth.
Ing In the face of the present fnllncies
and the constant effort to spread Them
Is to lose valuable ground already won
and practically 10 weaken the forces
Of sound money for their battles Of the
future.
The financial plank Of the 81. Louis
platform Is siill nS commanding upon
Republicans and thuHc who served with
them In the last campaign rs on the
day II was adopted and promulgated.
Happily. th" turin part Of the plat.
form Inns already been cngrnftcd Into
public statute. but that other plank.
not already hulldod Into our constltu.
tion, il Of binding force upon nll OF us.'
STOCKMTN ADJOURN.