Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-28

| iac'urers ana agriculturists the ports OF
o'ner nations. IL can enter into recipro-
car arrangements TO exchange our pro-
ducts with those OF other countries Il
can aid our merchant marine by en-
couraging our people 70 build ships OF
commerce. IL can assist in every lawful
\ manner private enterprise To unite the
| TWO Oceans with n great canal. 1t can
| DO all these things. and ought to do them
out with all this accomplished. the result
wiz still be Intellectual unless supple
1 mented by the energy enterprise. and in
dustry OF the people. IT is they who
must build and operate factories. furnish
the ships and cargoes for the canal and
the river and the sea. IL is they who
/ must ind the consumers. and obtain
trade by going forth 10 win IT,
Much profitable trade Is still unenjoy-
ed by our people because Of their present
| insufficient facilities for reaching desira-
bic markets. Much of IT is lost because
OF a lack of information anu ignorance OF
the conditions and needs of other ma
tons. We must know Just what other
| people want before we can supply their
wants. We must understand exactly how
to reach them with least expense If we
would enter into the most advantageous
business relations with them. The snip
requires the shipper. but the shipper must
have assured promise that his goods will
have sale when they reach their desti-
nation. 1t is a good rule II buyers will
not come TO us for US to go TO them. 1t
is our duty to make American enterprise
and industrial ambition, as well as
achievement terms Of respect and praise,
not only at home. but among the family
OF nations the world over.
DUTY AS TO MONEY.
''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 un-
| questioned and unassailable. II doubts
| remain, they must be removed; if weak
| places are discovered, they must be
strengthened. Nothing should ever tempt
up-nothing ever will tempt us-to scale
down the sacred debt of the nation
through a legal technicality. Whatever
may be the language of ine contract, the
| United States will dis .harse all Of its
obligations in the currency recognized 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 dollars of less
value than the dollars accepted as the
standard 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 in
tentions beyond dispute. All those who
| represent, as you do, the great conserva-
| tive, but progressive business interests
- hon
selves but to the people TO insist upon
the settlement Of this great question now,
or else TO face the alternative that 1t
must be again submitted for arbitration
| at the polls. This is our plain duty TO
/ more than seven million voters, who
| fifteen months ago won a great political
battle on the issue, among others, that
| the United States Government would not
permit a doubt TO exist anywhere concern
ing the stability and integrity of its
| currency. or the inviolability of its obli-
cations of every kind. That is my in
depreciation of that victory. Whatever
effort, therefore. it required to make the
settlement of this vital question clear and
| conclusive for all time, we are bound
in good conscience to undertake, and. If
| possible realize.
THAT is our commission-Our present
charter from the people. 1t will not
| suffice for citizens nowadays TO say sim
| ply that they are in favor of sound
| money. That is not enough. The peo-
/ pies 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 diff
] culties in the path of satisfactory re-
| form are, il must be admitted, neither
few in number nor slight in degree but
| progress cannot fail 10 be made, with "a
fair and thorough trial. An honest at
| 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 avoid or evade 1t. Intelligent dis
cussion will strengthen the Indifferent
and encourage the friends of a stable
| system of finance.
| "Half-heartedness never won a battle.
| Nations and parties without abiding prin-
ciples, and a stern resolution TO enforce
| them, even If it costs a continuous strug-
| gle TO do so, and temporary sacrifice are
never in the highest degree successfui
| leaders in the progress of mankind. For
us to attempt nothing in the face Of pre-
valent fallacies, and the constant effort
10 spread them, is to lose valuable
ground already won, and practically to
weaken the forces of sound money for the
battles Of the future.
ST. LOUIS PLATFORM.
"The financial plank of the st. Louis
piatform is still as commanding upon Re-
publicans and those who served with
them in the last campaign as on the day
IL was adopted and promulgated. Hap
pilv. the tariff part Of the platform has
already been engrafted into the public
statutes, but that other plank, not al
rcadv buided into our legislation, is OF
binding force upon all of us. What Is it?
"The Republican party Is unreserVedly
for sound money. 1t caused the enact
ment OF the law providing for the re-
SUMPTION of specie payments In 1919.
since then every dollar has been as good
as gold. We are unalterably opposed TO
e,,arv measure calculated TO debase our
currency or impair the credit OF our coun-
try. We are. therefore, opposed 10 tne
rree coinage Of silver, except by lnterha-
tsonal agrPement with the leading COM
mercial nations of the world, whlch we
nIedge ourselves to promote, ana until
s,,ch agreement can be obtained, the eH-
tstinp cold standard must be preserved.
An our silver and paper currency must
he maintained at parity with goio' anu
No favor all measures designed 10 MAIN
,atn ,nviolably the obligations OF the
limited States and all our money Wne'nel
coin or paper. at the present standard 'ne
standard of the most enlightened natiohs
of the earth s s-o,,, Tho
.,rhis is In reality a command from the
,aonie who gave the administration TO