The Portland daily press., 1898-06-23
INDIANA DEMOCRATS.
Senator Turpie the Presiding Officer at
Yesterdays Convention.

United states Senator Oas1u
sided. State Chairman Martin cal4eu Tue
convention to order. Senator Tnrple' on
assuming the gavel, was received WIN
cheers. He spoke in part as folio"s'
A long series of lawless. + aggression
and outrages committed by the Kingdom
of Spain against the people of the unlteu
States and against the neighboring people
Of the Republic of Cuba, ending IN Vhe
destructioni of the battleshipsMaine anu
her gallant crew, moved CongressiVo ue-
clare war against that country. since
the 21st of April last, we have been en-
gagged IN forsign war and this changer
condition has imposed upon the Congress
and people of the United States new
duties connected with it's progress and
prosecution. A diligent, vigorous ana
energetic prosecution of the war is. all
this time, the wisest economy, not only
of life and treasure, but of effort IN
achieving the object and purposes OF our
appeal to arms, IN redressing the wrongs,
and in yindicating the rights of liberty
and humanity, so closely related to our
national prestige and honor, and to the
great cause of Justice which we have I'M
dertaken to espouse and to maintain.
The first thing needed for war purposes
is an adequate supply of revenue, and
at the very beginning of our labors to that
end we were notified by the honorable
secretary OF the treasury, notwithstand-
ing the romance Of arithmetic which he
issues as q circular daily, showing sur
plus of many millions that in fact we
had only available funds On hand suffic-
lent to deiray the war expenses up to July
], 1898; that from and after that date
Congress must provide therefore.
Ihls disclosure was not unexpected.
our present revenue law, commonly called
the Dingley bill, is not a war measure.
IL was very peaceful, quiet, exceeding
~ pacific spoliation of the earnings Of
LABOR, and the products of land for the
nenenG OF the clustered group of monopo
lies VINO dictated its rates and schedules.
1t Afforded its benefciaries unlimited
resources for pelf and pillnge, but it
ylelued q return of revenue scant as to be
lnsu1hclent, even in times of peace Its
authors in their care for the trusts, for
got the treasury. There was nothing
lerG TO congress except to look elsewhere,
for money with which to carry on the
war.
The war revenue bill passed contained
many Things worthy of approval, such
sfN S@A0-
silver In the treasury, the taxes levied
against the sleeping cars companies, and
against the Standard Oil company and
the sugar trust. The bill contained many
things grossly wrong. among these the
bond issue, but it carried supplies to the
army and navy engaged at the front
against the public enemy-supplies were
necessary.
The unwise and vicious methods resort
ed to by the Republican party to provide
revenue we can, and shall, change and
reform by an appeal to the justice, pru-
dence and patriotism If tue people
through the ballot. The grave questions
as to the just methods of the raising of
revenue, either for times of war or peace.
are not to be settled by single BILL or
in one enactment. They remain yet for
discussion and adjustment at the polls.
The question whether the paper currency
is to be controlled in Its volume and char
acter by Congress, the representatives of
the people, or by certain corporations en-
gagged in the business of banking awaits
also the action of the people. The question
as to whether the metallic standard
money of our country shall be coined from
gold alone, or from both gold and silver,
in the terms of the Constitution of the
United States, is also yet to be settled
All the political signs of the times indi-
cate that we shall elect in November next
House of Representatives in favor of a
measure that shall bring adequate revenue
for all the purposes of war and peace, in
favor of supply Of Currence that shall
add no interest or principal to our nations
al bonded debt, in favor of coinage law
that shall make no discrimination against
either gold or silver as standard money
of the United States.
The policy of the administration in re-
speot of the independence of Cuban peo-
pie is yet un-announced. There is a sort
OF cooperation, exclusively military.
so to speak, between our forces and those
of the Cuban revolutionists. This studied
silence and prolonged inaetion can give
rise only to grave suspicious in respect
to the Interior purpose of such sort of
management and breed questions of seri-
GUS responsibility in regard to the old
Spanish bonds and debt charged upon the
Cuban revenues. Why should we NOT
have the declared and plighted assurance
that Cuba Libre is TO be as a resI1It IF
our campaign one of the new nations of
the earth. In my Judgment, as strictly
war measure, this would give reinfoore-
ment to the fleets and armies, so the pres
tige and power of our country in ali Quar-
ters OF the world. Recognition is rein
forcement, reinforcement to the causa
and side Of iberty-it ought NOT 70 he
delayed for single day.
Concerning the disposalssof our military
dcq uIslIiouS, anu OI Uno SUBJECTS incident
to the close of the war. now pending, they
may we'll be remitted to the future to
which they belong, to the great future
rapidly approaching, fraught with high
questionings of the career and destiny Of
our beloved country. There we NAV
leave them to the full confident to the
American Democracy which win deal
with them in due season, as shall hest
subserye the national interest. and best
comport with the national horror
On the financial question, the Mat
form affirms with emphasis loyalty to the
platform adopted by the national Demo-
cratic convention in 1896 at CHICAGO. in
favor of free and unlimited COINAGE of
both gold and silver. The platform de-.
olares against the declared purpose of the
present secretary of the treasury to apply
the gold standard policy more thorough
ly and condemns the Dingley bill.
MT. Bryan was thus endorsed;
We express our undiminisI1ed conf
dence in William Jennings Bryan, our
peerless leader in the campaign of 1896.
and we note with much qualification his
patriotic course in leading to the de.
1ense or his country regiment of citi-
zen soldiers.''
u'hQ r1o tfor... 49,. oo,,-oa