The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-01-28

Nothing should ever tsmpt us-nothing
ever VIII tempt uS-to scale down the
sacred debt of the nation through q legal
technicality. Whatever may be the Ian
EuaSe or the contract, the United Stn.es
VIII discharge all of its obligations in
the currency recognized as the best
throughout the civilized world at the
times OF payment Nor will we ever
consent that the wages of labor or It's
frugal savings shall be scaled down by
permitting payment In dollars of less
value than the dollars accepted as the
best In every enlightened nation OF the
earth.
Under existing conditions, our citi-
HenS cannot be excused II they do not
'redoublc their efforts to secure such
financial legislation at will place their
honorable intcntiony beyond dispute.
All those who represent, As you do. che
great conservative, but progressive,
business interests of the country owe II
not only to themselves, but to the peo-
PIE. TO insist upon the settlement OF
his great question now, or else 10 face
the alternative thgd 1t mus. be again
submitted for arbitration at the polls.
This is our plain du;y TO more than
seven million voters who fifteen months
ago won great political battle on the
issue, among others that the United
doubt to exist anywhere concerning .he
stability and integrity of lis currency
or the inviolabiity Of its obligations
of every kind. That is my intcrprcta-
tion OF that victory. Whatever crfon:,
therefore, is required TO make the set
tlemcnt Of this vital question clear and
conclusive for all time we are bound in
good conscience 10 undertake and If
possible realize. That is our commits
,,l,s,
people.
The financial plank of the ST. Louis
rlr;form is 5till as commanding upon
Republicans and those who served with
them in the last campaign as on the day
1t was adopted and promulgated. Hap.
PLY the tariff part OF the platform has
already been engraftcd into public
statute. But that other plank, not al
ready builded into our constitution, is
OF binding force upon all of us What is
Il? The Republican party is unre-
servedly for sound money. II caused
the enactment of the law providing for
the resumption of specie payments in
1873; since then cVe"y dollar has been
as good as gold
We are unal;crahly opposed 20 evcry
measure calculated 10 dcbasc our cur
rency or impair the credit of our coun-
try. We are. therefore, opposed TO the
national agreement with the leading
commercial nations of the world, which
we pledge ourselves TO promote, ana
until such agreement can he obtained
the existing gold standard must be pre-
served. All our silver and paper cur
rency mus: be ma intained at parity with
gold. and we favor all measures de-
signed To maintain inviolablY the obli-
cations of the United States, and all
nm. ,,,,, It, -
the presnn; standard, the standard Of
the most enlightened nations OF the
earth.
1'he country is now emerging from
trying conditions. 1t is only just begin
ming 10 recover from the depression in
certain lines of business long continued
and altogether unparalleled. Progress
therefore. will naturally be slow, but
lt-: us not be impatient. Rather let us
exercise jus; patience and one which
in time will surely b:ing its own high
reward.
I have no fear for the future Of our
beloved country. While discern in its
present condition the necessity shat al
ways exists for the faithful devotion OF
It's citizens the history of its past is
assurance to me that this will be as it
always has been through every struggle
and emergency. still onward and up
Wa:d. II mas never suffered from any
:rial or been unequal To any test
Founded upon right principles. we have
nothing to fclr from the vicissitlIdes
which may lie across our pathway. The
nation founded by the fathers Tpon
principles Of viituc. education, freedom
and human rights; nodded by the great
discussions which established It's SOW
ereignty, tried in the cruciblc of civil
war, its integrity confirmed by the re-
suits of reconstruction with q union
stronger and better than ever before,
stands to-day not upon shifting sands,
but upon immovable founda tions. Let
uss resolve by our laws and by our ad-
minist.ati lion of them to maintain the
rights of the citizen, 20 cement the union
by still closer bonds, to exalt the stand
ards of American civilization. encourage
the promotion Of thrift, industry and
economy and the homely virtues which
have ennobled our people, uphold the
stability of our currency and credit and
illustrate the purity Of our national ana
municipal governments; and thcS
though the rain desccnds and the foods
come and the winds blow the nation
will stand, for it is founded upon rock.
MOST FIESDISII OUTRAGE.