Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-02-03
M'KlNLEY FOR GOLD.
Declares That Republican Party Must
Stand BY It's Platform.


which took place Thursday night a:
the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, was one of
the largest and most elaborate affairs
of the kind ever given in this city. One
thousand guests were seated at the
tables
Ex-United States Senator Warner
Miller was toast-master. At 10:30 D.
m. the speechmaking began. The wild
: est enthusiasm prevailed. When Presi-
dent Mckinley was introduced. Pres
ident Mckinley spoke slowly and was
plainly heard in every portion of the
hall. President Mckinley said in part:
National policies can encourage indus
try and commerce, but 1t remains for the
people to project and carry them on. If
these policies stimulate Industrial develop
ment and energy, the people can be safely
trusted to do the rest. The government,
however, is restricted in it's power to pro-
mote industry. 1t can aid commerce. but
not create it. 1t can widen and deepen it's
rivers, improve it's harbors and develop it's
great national waterways but the ships to
sail and the traffic to carry the people must
supply.
THE government can raise revenues by
taxation in such way as will discriminate
in favor of domestic enterprises. but 1t can
not establish them. 1t can make CONNER
cfal treaties, opening to our manufacturers
and agriculturists the ports of other ma
lions. 1t can enter into reciprocal arrange
ments to exchange our products with those
of other countries. 1t can aid our mer-
chant marine by encouraging our people
to build ships of commerce 1t can assist in
every lawful manner priva tie enterprise to
unite the two oceans with a great canal
1t can do all these things, and ought to do
them; but with all this accomplished the
raG will OF no ipnf
plemented by the energy. enterprise and
industry of the people. 1t is they that must
build and operate the factories, furnish
ships and cargoeS for the canal and the
rivers and the seas. 1t is they who must
find the consumers and obtain trade by
going forth to win it.
There is another duty resting upon the
national government-'to coin and regulate
the value thereof This duty requires that
our government shall regulate the value
of it's money by the highest standards of
commercial honesty and national honor
The money of the United States is and
must forever be unquestioned and unas-
sailable. If doubts remain they must be
removed. If weak places are discovered
they must be strengthened Nothing should
ever tempt us-nothing ever will tempt US
to scale down the sacred debt of the nation
through a legal technicality. Whatever
may be the language of the contract, the
United States will discharge all it's obli-
cations in the currency recognized as the
best throughout the civilized world at the
times of payment. Nor will we ever con-
sent that the wages of labor or it's frugal
savings shall be scaled down by permit
ting payment In dollars of less value than
the dollars accepted 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 inteil-
tions beyond dispute. All those who repre-
sent, as you do. the great conservative and
the progressive business interests of the
country, owe it not only to themselves but
to the people. to insist upon the settle
ment of this great question now or else
to face the alternative that it must be again
submitted for arbitration at the polls.
Whatever effort, therefore, is required
to make the settlement of this vital ques-
ton clear and conclusive for all time, we
are bound in good conscience to under
take and If possible realize. That is our
commissioners 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 vital
ity of public law. Better an honest effort
with failure, than the avoiding of so plain
and commanding duty. The difficulties
in the path of satisfactory reform are,
~
Der nor slight in degree; but progress can
not fail 10 be made with a fair and
thorough trial. An honest attempt will
be the best proof of sincerity of purpose.
Discussion cannot hurt, it will only help
the cause. Let us have full and free dis
cussion. We are the last to avoid or evade
It, Intelligent discussion will strengthen
the Indifferent and encourage the friends
of a stable system of finance. Half-heart-
edness never won battle. Nations and
parties without abiding principles and
stern resolution to enforce them, even If
it costs continuous struggle to do so,
and temporary sacrifice, are never in the
highest degree successful leaders in the
progress of mankind.
For US to attempt nothing in the face of
the present fallacies andthe constant effort
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 already builded into
our constitution, is of binding force upon
all of US. What is it?
THE republican party is unreservedly
for sound money. II caused the enactment
VI IIS Id" pIONlOlIS lOT The Resumption OIL
specie payments in 1879; since then every
dollar has been as good as gold
I'VE are unalterably opposed to every
measure calculated to debase our currency
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 pro-
mote, and until such agreement can be
obtained the existing gold standard must
be preserved. All our silver and paper cur
rency must be maintained at parity with
gold, and We favor all measures designed
to maintain inviolably the obligations Of
the United States, and all our money.
whether coin or paper at the present stand
ard the standard of the most enlightened
nations of the earth.
This is in reality 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
free and omnipotent will by those Of us
who hold commissions from that supreme
tribunal"
Addresses were also delivered by
Senator Frye, of Maine, and Charles
Emory Smith, of Philadelphia. After