Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-08-26
Ei.PUBI.ICAN PLATFORM OF 1900.
Speech of Congressman Hartman OF
Montana in the National House
Money the Master, Everything
Else the servant.

money the Master, LvcfythlDS
Ilse the servant"
Nj. Chairman. a frw DAYS ago l COM
in-uc,,. he reading IL a PLATFORM TOR the
I;-it.I .., al Party IN I'm. tApplause and
l4'.S-..t..i It'r- Wa slight inGlSposi-
tioa on the part Of the House TO the COM
p.,-tiun Il The ro-Iiac Of that document.
Iu0,"5. il W. ra.,i our u order. l could
I.pr understand WHY. fer y" had naval
ann, r. 'icE ti,l ..uL.r CONSIDERATION. and
NY ,,. I'M :,a'f VIII u" Eirdt Repair
Ill: SHY. |: W-'it To- IL" consiruo ton
Of The l,---ei. II took is history from the
ri; 80 wh.eA !. Was orig naliT launched
clear t:ruJ,eh to its ultimate destination.
and paid especial attention 10 the great
master Of the vessel itself. However. as
always bow to the rules of the House,
] acquieSced in that decision. and am now
prepared to present the few remaining
Tlanks OF th2t Platform. on that occa-
sion | presented the following:
Mr.. Chairman, II VIII be observed by eT-
cry gentleman who does me the honor OF
listening TO my remarks that the plat
form which I am about 10 present TO sc
adopted by the Republican Party at Its
convention In 1900 IS an exact and accurate
reelection Of Republican sentiment. RepuD-
llcan thought. and Republican purpose, as
evidenced by the Republican papers and
by the gentlemen who represent that party
upon this floor and elsewhere. This Is ths
platform:
IN obedience TO the Instructions Of those
who dictate the policies and control the
actions of the Republican Party, We, their
representatives and delegates in national
convention assembled, renew our declared
allegiance to their interests. our acdui-
essence in their wishes. and our eternal
fidelity to their commands.
I'VE cordially indorse the Admtnistra-
ton Of our great leader Marcus Aurelius
Hanna. President de facto of the Repuo-
lie which has so sacredly kept faith with
the trusts and corporations by generously
reimbursing them with legislative and
executive favors for the enormous sums
so literally and periodically contributed
by them to the Republican Party in the
campaign Of 1896 to preserve the honor
and integrity Of the nation
I'VE specih -ally condemn the platform
Of the Republican national conven> ions OF
1858 and 1892 in opposition to all combina-
tons Of capital organized in trusts or
otherwise to control arbitrarily the condi-
ton Of trade among our citizens
I'VE heartily commend the Republican
national convention which met at st.
Louis in 1896 in declining to condemn or
criticise trusts, and we hereby declare it
to be the present and future policy Of the
Republican Party to foster and encourage
trusts to the end that further and greater
contributions may be secured with which
to enable US to purify the ballot and
nation
1.-THE Republican Party is unreservedly
for sound money We said so in 1896.
hut most of us did not know what we
meant by It then. But the bondholders.
creditors and bankers, who know all about
the science of money. have told US that we
meant the gold standard, greenback retire.
ment, and bank issue and control Of paper
money. We therefore, recognizing their
intellectual and moral superiority, declare
our complete and abiding confidence in
their wisdom and unselfish patriotism. and
cheerfuly obey their orders. announce our
perpetual loyalty to the plan of the Secre-
tary of the Treasury to commit the coun-
try more thoroughly to the gold Standard
retire the greenbacks and Treasury notes,
and give to the banks the exclusive right
to issue or refuse to issue paper money
to enable the people to transact their busi-
ness; and we further solemnly declare
that any man who dares question the In
fallibilty or perfection Of this financial
policy is an Anarchist "repudiationist,'
and personally dishonest and corrupt
TN unmeasured terms we express our
utter detestation and disgust with the Re-
publican national conventions OF 1858 and
1892 for the 'wild-eyed,' long-haired,' AN
archistic,. .Ponulistie,. .seeialistie.' teem-
munistic' language contained therein. as
follows:
""The Republican Party is in favor Of
and condemns the policy Of the Democratic
Administration in its efforts to demonetize
silver.'-Platform 1883.
1.-THE American people from tradition
and interest favor bimetallsm and the Re-
publican Party demands the use Of both
gold and silver as standard money, with
such restrictions and under such provis-
tons, to DE determined by legislation, as
will secure the maintenance of the parity
of values Of the two metals, so that the
purchasing and debt-payng power Of the
dollar. whether Of silver. gold. or paper.
shall be at all times equal.'-Platform
1892
I'VE would use harsher language in de-
nouncng this blatant nonsense OF these
two Republican conventions were It not
that one William Mckinley. who Is sup
posed by some ill-informed people to be
President Of the United States was chair
man Of the Platform Committee of the
convention Of 1883 and permanent chair
man Of the convention Of 1892, and we do
not desire to seriously embarrass him. We
further declare that the Republican Party
has not changed its platform or faith on
the financial question. and anybody that
says that II has IS a liar a footpad,' and
q border ruff1an.'
with our faces turned toward Wall
Street from whence all blessings flow, for
support and sustenance, we solemnly de-
clare that when the Republican conven-
hion at Minneapolis asserted that the
American people, from tradition and in
terest. favor bimetallism, and the Repub-
aican Party demands the use of both gold
and silver as standard money 1t meant
TO declare unequivocally for gold alone as
STANDARD money and any man who does
not understand 1t that way Is 'lunatic
and ought to be confined in an asylum
1--WE indorse the lofty and patriotic sem
fiment expressed so eloquently by our dis
tinguished ally, Hon. John NJ Palmer. in
A1,n 49,. - -
would rather live in monarchy than In a
Republic where the principles of the Chi
cago platform prevailed"
will now complete the reading Of that
platform:
Following the instructions Of those who
dictate our policies, control our conven-
tions, and manage our Administration,
we bow in worshipful alteration at the feet
of Grover the Fat
Oaughter)-
him who gave us wisdom and an honest
financial policy conservatism, and our
foreign policy: who taught us the patri-
otto and upselfsh lesson that the rights
of property are more sacred than the
rights of men: that money" ought to be
'the master; everything else the servant"
AS an official evidence of our profound
reverence for him. we shall write his name
on the roll of honor of our party, second
%SY to our other sainted hero, Marcus
Aurelius Hanna.
daughter on the Democratic side)
We view with serious apprehension the
growing disposition of the American peo-
ole to investigate public questions for
themselves. We believe that every true
and loyal Republican will contidincly
leave to our wise. prudent and magnani-
NOUS master. the de facto President, and
his philanthropic co-adiutors who furnish
the party both its money and its money
policy, the entire solution of all problems
OF state. 1t Is our solemn conviction that
the people OF the United States have not
sufficient intelligence to understand the
science of money, and in view of the fact
that the great bankers. oondholders and
gold brokers of the world have generously.
considerably and periodically offered TO
come to our rescue and manage the finan-
ces of the Government, and issue or re-
fuse to issue money with which to con-
duct the business Of our citizens, as In
their Judgment is advisable, we therefore
recommend that their offer be accepted
and that the heartfelt thanks of the
American people he extended to them as
the saviors "of the nations honor"
daughter ard applause on the Demo-