The record-union., 1899-01-01

CHICAGO, Dec. ol.-Ex-JuQge =. r.
Mcconnell, one of the Illinois delegates
at large to the National Democratic
Convention in 1896, delivered an adj
dress before the Monticello Club to-day
which caused good deal Of talk among
local Democrats, particularly in view
of the fact that he has been a close
political associate of Ex-Governor Alt
geld. The speaker began by quoting
these declarations Of the club:
1--WE oppose all trusts and monopo-
lies in order that wealth may not gain
undue advantage, and that competition
shall be free and unrestrained among
the people.
I'VE oppose the single gold standard
and favor the restoration OF bimetal-
ism, regardless of the action or desire
of any other nation"
He said in part:
These declarations, in my judgment,
are expressive of the great mission of
the Democratic party. I am inclined,
however, to believe that the first in
cludes the second, and that the war
against monopolies and trusts means
war against the single gold standard,
If the contest is to be waged intelligent
y WI
that the first declaration requires and
means hostility to protective tariff laws.
In fact, under the encouragement and
aid of these laws, the first trusts and
encroa chments upon free competition
were called into existence. Even after
all that has been said against the COM
binations, trusts and monopolies, am
far from convinced that the body Of
the people equally appreciate the great
peril to their worldly welfare springing
from these vast aggreg cations of capital,
which are gradually absorbing and con-
trolling the industrial activities of the
country
Thousands who voted for Mr.. Nc
Kinley in 1896 and ready to join us in
a campaign to be waged against trusts,
combinations and monopolies. They
only need evidence that we will fight
effectively.
There is but one plank in the plat
form of 1896 which prevents these
thousands being openly and aggres-
sively with US. They do not believe in
the remonetization of silver at the ra-
ito of 16 to 1 of gold. They regard it
as even less definable now than two
years ago.
THE question for us to consider is
whether we are showing an apprecia-
ton of the relative Importance of is
sues when we seem to be willing 20
run the peril Of repeating the expe-
rience of 1895, rather than to modify
our proposition regarding the ratio
between silver and gold. To my mind,
the 16 to l proposition has always sa-
vored something Of superstition, and I
have come to believe that the best
friends of bimetallism are not those
who refuse to have it except upon this
condition. I should begin to, be skep-
teal of their value as opponents Of
monopoly if they persist that it must be
fought only in connection with those
radical demands for the restoration Of
silver at the value it had more than a
quarter of a century ago.
With aggressive declarations in the
platform Of 1900 against trusts and
monopolies and against their great al
lies and supporters-the gold standard
and protective tariff-without insisting
on a particular value for silver in a
plan for its reconciliation or a par
ticular schedule for revenue tariff.
and with the same great leader Dry
am for it's candidate, the Democratic
party will be assured of success and the
people, through it's victory, will be as
sured of the blessings of healthy COM
petition, freedom in trade and honest
mOnevn