The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-01-28
PRESIDENT MCKINLEY delivered an
able address on Currency" at the Man
ufacturers' banquet held in New York
last night. He said in part:


There is another duty resting upon the
national goyernment-"to coin money and
regulate the value thereof" This duty re-
the value of its money by the highest
standards of commercial honesty and ma
tional honor. The money of the United
States Is and must forever be unquestioned
and unassailable. If doubts remain, they
must be removed. If weak places are dis
covered, they must be strengthened. Moth
ing should ever tempt us-nothing ever will
Of the nation through q legal technicality.
Whatever may be the language of the con-
tract, the United States will discharge all
OF its obligations in the currency recog-
nized as the best throughout the civilized
world at the times of payment.
Nor. will we ever consent that the wages
of labor or its frugal savings shall be
scaled down, by permitting payment in dol
lars 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 redouble
their efforts to secure such financial legis-
lation as will place their honorable inten-
tions beyond dispute. All those who rep
resent, as you do, the great conservative
but progressive business interests of the
country, owe 1t not only to themselves but
to the people, to insist upon the settlement
of this great question now, or else to face
the alternative that it must be again sub
United for arbitration at the polls. This is
our plain duty to more than 1000, 900 voters
who Is months ago won a great political
battle on the issue, among others, that
the United States government would not
permit doubt to exist anywhere concern
ing the stability. acd integrity of its cur
rency or the invIol@ ility of its obligations
or every kind That is my Interpretation
of that victory Whatever effort, there
fore, is required to make the settlement of
this vital question clear and conclusive for
all time we are. bound in good conscience
ito undertake and, if possible realize That
is our cOmmisSion-our present charter
from the people.
It will not sufflce for citizens nowadays
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 a duty.
The difficulties in the path Of a satisfac-
tory reform are, it must be admitted, nei-
Their few in number nor slight in degree.
but progress cannot fail to be made with
tempt will be the best proof of sincerity Of
purpose. Discussion cannot hurt 1t will
only help. the cause. Let US have full
and free discussion. We are the last to
will strengthen the Indifferent and encour-
age the friends of a stable system of
finance.
The financial plank of the st. Louis plat
form Is still as commanding upon Repub-
leans and those who served with them in
the last campaign as on the day 1t was
adopted and promulgated. Happily, the
tariff part of that platform has already
been migrated into public statute. But
that other plank not already builded into
our legislation Is Of binding force upon all
This Is In reality a command from the
people who gave the administration to the
party now in power and who are. still anx-
iously waiting for the execution Of their
who hold commissions from that supreme
tribunal