Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-01-28

two oceans with a great canal. 1t can
do all these things and ought to do
them; but with all this accomplished
the result will still be Intellectual unless
supplemented by the energy, enterprise
and industry of the people. Il is they
who must build and operate the facto-
res, furnish the ships and cargoes for
the canal. and the river and the sea.
1t is they who must find the consum-
ers to obtain trade by going forth to
win it.
Much profitable trade is still unen-
joyed by our people because of their
present insufficient facilities for reach
ing desirable markets. Much of it is
lost because of lack of information
and ignorance of the condition and
needs of other nations. We must know
just what other people want before We
supply their wants. We must under
stand exactly how to reach them with
least expense If we would enter into the
most advan ia geous business relations
with them. The ship requires the ship
per; but the shipper must have assured
promise that his goods will have a sale
when they reach their destination. 1t
is good rule, if buyers will not come
to US, for us to go to them. 1t is our
duty to make American enterprise and
industrial ambition. as we'll as achieve
ment, terms of respect and praise. not
only at home but among the family of
nations the world over.
There is another duty resting upon
the national government-'To coin
money and regulate the value thereof
This duty requires that our government
shall regulate the value of its money
by the highest standards of commercial
honesty and national honor. The
money OF the United States is and must
forever be unquestioned and unassaila-
BILE. If doubts remain, they must be
moved. II weak places are discovered,
they must be strengthened. Nothing
should ever tempt us--rOthing ever will
tempt uS-to scale down the sacred debt
of the nation through legal technical
| ity. Whatever may be the language of
the contract, the United States Will dis
| charge all of it's obligations In the cur
rency recognized as the best throughout
| the civilized world at the times of pay
ment. Nor will we ever consent that
! the wages of labor or it's frugal savings
shall be scaled down, by permitting
pa yment in dollars of less value than
the dollars accepted as the best in every
enlightened nation of the earth.
| Under existing conditions our cHti-
| zenS cannot be excused if they do not
redoube their efforts to secure such fl
| nancial legislation as will place the
honorable intentions beyond dispute All
those who represent, as you DO, the
great conservative, but progressive bus
| mess interests OF the country, owe 1t
not only to themselves, but to the peo-
pie to insist upon the settlement of this
great question now, or else to face the
| alterna tive that 1t must again be sub
mitted for arbitration at the polls. This
| is our plain duty TO more than seven
million voters who fifteen months ago
Won great political battle on the is
sue, among others, that the United
| States government would not permit
doubt to exist anywhere concerning the
liability and Integrity of its currency
or the invioability Of its obligations Of
every kind. That is my Interpretation
| of the victory. Whatever effort. there
| fore, is required to make the settlement
of this vital question clear and conclu-
! sivc for all ltime. we are bound. in good
| conscience, to undertake and if posi-
| BILE realize. That is OUR commission
our present charter from the people.
1T will 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. Better
an honest effort with failure than the
] avoiding of SO plain and commanding
| duty.
The difficulties in the path of sat
| Gsfactory reform are, it must be admit
| led, neither few in numb nor slight
| IN degree; but progress cannot fail to
| be made with a 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
cusson. We are the last to avoid or
evade it. Intelligent discussion will
strengthen the Indifferent and encourage
| the friends of q stable system of fl
nance.
! Half heartednesS never won a bat
tie. Ma ions ana parties without add
| ing principles and stern resolutions to
| enforce them, even if it costs 4 contla-
! uous struggle to do so. and temporary
sacrifice, are never in The highest de-
| gree successful leaders in the progress
| of mankind For us - attempt nothing
in the face Of the prevalent fallacits
and the persistent effort TO spread them
| is to lose valuable ground already Won,
and practically to weaken tht forces OF
| sound money for their battles of the
| future.
! The financial plank Of the S.. 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 par. of the platform
has already been engrattt.i INFO public
| statute. But that other plank. not al
! ready builded into our constitution, is
| of binding force upon all of US. What
| is 1t?
| The Republican party is unresarvad-
| fy for sound money. 1t caused the en-
actment of the law providing for the re-
sumption of specie payments IN 1890;
since then every dollar has been as
good as gold.
I'VE are unalterab!y opposed to every
| measure calculated to depasa cur cur
| rency or impair the credit of our coun-
try. We are therefore opposed to the
free coinage of silver except BY inter-
| national agreement with the leading
commercial nations OF the world, which
we pledge ourselves to promote, ana un-
| til such agreement can ne obtained the
existing gold standard must be preserv-
| ed. All our silver and paper currency
must be maintained at parity with gold
and we favor all measures designed To
! maintain inviolable the obligations Of
the United States, and all our money,
whether coin or paper, at ;ha present
standard, the standard o. the most en-
| lightened nations Of the earth.
This is in reality a command from
the people who gave the administration
| to the party in power. and who are
| still anxiously waiting for the execution
of their free and omnpotent will by
those of US who hold commissions from
that supreme tribunal
Il have spoken tonight in a some
what serious strain, because l believe
1T is due both to the membership Of this
association and to THE conditions under
I