The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-27
MIR. OvERsTREET CALLED.
The indianapolis Representative Ad-
dresses the Convention.

Ihe indianapolis Representative Ad-
dresses the Convention.
]. Harsen Rhoades moved that when the
convention adjourned finally that it adjourn
to meet again at the call of the executive
committee, which motion was carried unan-
imously.
At this stage of the convention, e. Q.
Stapard, of st. Louis, was called upon and
was invited by Chairman Shaw to the stage.
ostensibly to make a speech, but on arriving
at the stage Chairman Shaw surrendered
the gavel to Mr.. Stanard who presided for
the remainder of the meeting, and called
first upon Representative Overstreet of the
Indianapolis district in Congress. Mr.. Over
streets remarks were enthusiastically re-
ceived
After listening" said he, 'to the most
interesting and valued suggestions of the
gentleman from New York, who has just
concluded, l was reminded very forcibly of
an incident in English history when one of
the most famous of British orators had just
had fallen exhausted into the arms of Ed
mund Burke. Pitt, the great leader of the
House of Parliament at that time. arose and
said that it would seem to be uniting that
anything be said at that time, while such
an excellent impression rested in the arms
Of the members, and he therefore moved
that the House adjourn. Remembering the
customs that prevail now in the lower
House of Congress we might well separate
with the impression which we have just
received and the balance of us fellows
could .4 -Ss take I,9 leave to print. GLaughter2 o
tribute to those men who are responsible
for the origin of this commission and its
report, rather than to speak to the report
itself. l have never known in history any
movement which sprung, seemingly, so
spontaneously from the people, to receive
such approval at its beginning and such
manifest interest throughout it's progress.
/ have never known body of men who
| have either been appointed by Congress or
| by the executive committee, which has been
more nearly equipped for the purpose TO
| which its attention has been directed than
| has this commission, chosen at the hands of
a voluntary organization. l have never
| known a more harmonious or better round
| ed report, uniform in all its features, ever
given down to BODY from winch
| that movement has sprung. (Applause.)
It is well that we consider that
| in the adversely, from which has sprung all
| the better movements of our people. The
! evils of the currency of America became
manifest, and the lack of uniformity in our
| laws so impressed people that it be-
| came essential that some movement should
| originate, out of which should grow some
| law that would remedy those evils. 1t is
| with some degree of pride that realize
| city of Indianapolis. (Applause) Ordinarily
great movements are born in such obscure
stances that the future historian has diff
| Guilty in obtaining sufficient evidence to as
| certain the place of its birth. But in this
| instance every step from its conception has
| been marked by frankness, firmness and
| fortitude So that any Individual reading
the daily papers, was made quite familiar
| with every step of its progress. Those peo-
pie who have taken interest in this
movement for currency reform have moth
| ing to conceal but are open with all of their
arguments (Applause.)
BEYOND POINT OF DISCUSSION.
1t has occurred to me that after the ed
ucation which began in the early summer
| Of 1896, after the interest with which it has
! been received by the great mass of our peo-
/ pie, we have come to a point where it is not
necessary to discuss or argue what should
/ be a standard of value. 1 take it, my
| friends, that there is a very inconsiderabe
| number of intelligent people who any longer
! believe that have more than one
standard of value at a time. (Applause)
| No matter whether you take the position
among the people of the highest order of
| civilization or go into the confines of CEN
! tral Africa, amid the semi-civilized or half
barbaric tribes, you find those individuals
| following some line of barter and trade in
each instance based upon a standard of
value, acceptable at least to them.
Throughout the whole history of the world,
as rapidly as civilization has advanced,
from it's earliest beginning, the principle of
| value by comparison has always existed 1t
has been left for a people of one of the
most enlightened nations of the earth, at
the acme of business prosperity, al a time
when the people of the world would suppose
that the American people would believe in
the best principles of business, for a class
of individuals to fost upon the American
hearing and discuss the claim that you can
have half dozen standards at the same
time. 1t seems prepOSterous. But this has
been done. l believe, furthermore, that
the time is rapidly passing when 1t is neces-
sary to discuss number of the questions
which were brought up in that great cam
paign upon the money question. But let
me say that the report of this commission,
issued from this body, has given such a
plan, scheme, that an intelligent mind that
hQ he n nd rnfI "
discuss it's principles, is forced to the con-
cIusion that it is logical at every point of
the plan. Beginning therefore, with the as
sumption that the gold standard is the
proper standard of value at this time, you
must accept the conclusion of this report
| that the scheme of finance of this govern
ment should be based upon that standard,
and in accordance with the plan suggested
by this commission. The fact that you have
not heard a solitary complaint or criticism
against the cancellation or retire ment of h
treasury notes shows that as soon as you
eliminate the sentiment or supposed patri-
otic feeling relative to the greenback, that
there can then be no criticism concerning
the cancellation or retirement of the obiga-
tion. Am going over my time, Mr.. Chair
man?
Il have not called you yet" replied the
Il have been informed" said Mr. Over
street, continuing, because my recollection
does not go back to the beginning of the
war. that shortly after the issue Of the
greenbackS had been authorized, at the be-
ginning Of Abraham Lincolns administra-
to ask the conundrum, Why is the green
back like the Jews? The answer to this
was, They have Abraham for their father,
but they have no redeemer.' Haughter)
OF course that pleasantly lost it's force af-
ter specie resumption and there was given
by law method fer the redemption Of the
greenback. but that prayer for redemption
did so well, granting the greenback the
privilege of innunerable redemptions as
rapidly as it could make the circuit, that it
was given a favor which is not even ac-
corded to the Christian who is given but
one redemption. l believe, without going
into the trouble or time of discussing il,
that had the greenback obligation been ac-
cepted, as it was originally intended by the
trainers of the law, that the fiat principle
foisted upon our people in the later seven
ties and which yet exist to some extent
would never have occurred. (Applause.) BY
virtue of the circulation of paper money,
based apparently upon nothing the people
of this country became misinformed as to
what the true idea of the value of money
was. Ii was but a single step for a senti-
mentalist 10 believe that the mere stamp
of the government upon that paper gave TO
il value. while its constant and continued
circulation and its unending method OF re-
demption has impressed that principle upon
the uneducated and those who are thought
less. Just as soon as that obligation shall