The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-28
THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS
CONTINUED from LIST page.)


II will not suffice for citizens now
odovs TO say simply that they are in fav-
or ~ sound money. That is not enough
Tba neoDle's purpose must be given the
vitolitv of public law. Better an honest
effort with failure than the avoiding of
so plain and commanding duty.
The difficulties in the path Of salts
factory reform are, it must be admitted,
neither few in number nor slight in de-
gree; but progress cannot fail to be made
with a fair and thorough trial. An honest
attempt will he the best proof OF sin
cprity Of purpose. Discussion cannot
hurt, it will only help the cause. Let us
have full and free discussion. We arc
the last to avoid or evade it. Intelligent
discussion will strengthen the Indifferent
and encourage the friends of stable
system of finance.
Half-heartodness never won a battle
Nations and parties without abiding
principles and stern resolution to enforce
them. even if it costs n continuous strug,
gle to do so, and temporary sacrifice, are
never in the highest degree successful
leaders in the progress of mankind. For
MS to attempt nothing in the face Of the
prevalent falaciPs and the constant eff
fort to spread them is to lose valuable
ground already won and practically to
weaken the forces of sound money for
their battles 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 last campaign, as on the
day it was adopted and promulgated.
Happily the tariff part of the platform
has already been engrafted into public
statute But that other plank. not al
ready builded into our constitution is
of binding force upon all of us. What
is it?
The Republican party is unreservedly
for sound money. It caused the enact,
ment of the law providing for the re-
sumption of specie payments in 1879;
since then every dollars has been as
good as gold.
AGAINST FREE COINAGE.
We are unalterably opposed TO every
measure calculated to debase our cur
rency or impair the credit of our
country. We are therefore opposed to
the free coinage of silver except by
international 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 design
ed to maintain inviOlably the Obliga
tons of the United States, and all OuI
money, whether coin or paper, at the
present standard, the standard of the
most enlightened nations of the earth.
This is in reality q command from the
people who gave. the administration to
the party now in power. and who are
Stil anxiOusly waiting for the execution
of their free and 0mnipOtent will by
those of lis who hold commissions from
that supreme tribunal.
/ have tonight spoken in a. some
what serious strain, because | believe
1T is due both to the membership OF
this association and to the conditions
under which this assemblage has met
The conferences and systematic efforts
of such a body of men as this arc ca
pable of infinite good to the respective
communities in WHICH the members live
and to the Nation at large. ,t.., I'D
The country is now emerging from
trying conditions. 1t is only just be
ginning to recover from the depres-
sion in certain lines of business long
continued and altagether unparalleled.
Progress, therefore, will naturally b.
slow, but let us not be impatient.
Rather let MS exercise Il just patience
and one which in time will surely
bring its own high reward.
/ have no fear Of the future OF our
beloved country While l discern in its
present condition the necessity that al
WAYS exists for the faithful devotion
g L.. fla nf itS ia =
is assurance to me that this will be aA
it always has been through every strug-
gle and emergency. still onward and
upward. 1t has never suffered from
any trial or been unequal to any test.
Founded upon right principles. we have
nothing to fear from the vicissitudes
which may lie across Our pathway.
The nation founded by the fathers up
on principles of virtue. education. free
dom and human rights; nodded by the
great discussions which established its
sovereignty, trad in the crucible of
civil war. it's integrity confirmed by the
results of reconstruction, with union
stronger and better than ever before,
stands to-day not upon shifting sands
but upon immoyable foundations. Let
us resolve by our laws and by our adj
ministration of Them to maintain the
rights of the citizen, to 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 ana
illustrate the purity of our national ana
municipal government; and then though
the rain descends and the floods come
and the winds blow, the Nation will
stand, for it is founded upon rock.
New York, Jan. 27.-AmOng others
who responded to toasts were Senator
VIM. F. Frye, of Maine; Charles Emory
Smith, of Philadelphia, and Henry e.
Rowland. After midnight President
Mckinley held an informal reception,
leaving the hotel at / o'clock p. m. for