The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-01
MISSION OF DEMOCRACY
Opposition to Trusts and to the
Gold Standard
AND WAR ON PROTECTION
Judge Mcconnell Offsets 70 Instetence
on the Ratio OF 10 to I. Which He
Calls q Supsrstitiou-Brysn
the Logical Leader.

Chicago. Dec. 31-Ex-Judge S. p Nc
ConneT. one cf the Illinois delegates
at large to the national dem.crstic
convention In 1896. delivered an address
before the Monticello club to-day. which
caused a good deal OF talk among local
democrats. particularly in view Of the
fact that he has been a close political
associate of Ex Governor John p Alt
geld. The speaker began by quoting
these declarations Of the club:
I'VE oppose all trusts and monopolies
in order that wealth may not gain un-
due advantage and that competition
shall be free and unrestrained among
the people.
I'VE oppose the single gold standard
and favor the restoration Of bimetai-
lism. regardless of the action or desire
Of any other nation"
He said i'm part:
These declarations, in my judgment.
are expressive OF the great mission OF
the democratic party. / 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.
IL the contest Is to be waged inteIiigent-
\
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 COM
binations encroaching upon free COM
petition were called into existence.
| Even after all that has been said
against combinations. trusts and mon
| opolies, / am far from convinced that
! the body OF the people equally appre-
ciate the great peril to their worldly
welfare springing from these vast a&-
| gregations Of capital. which are grad
ually absorbing and controlling the In
| dustrial activity of the country.
| Thousands who voted for Mckinley
| in 1896 are ready TO join US In cam
paign to be waged against trusts. COM
binations and monopolies- They only
needed evidence that we will fght ef-
fectively. There is but one plank in
the platform of 1896 which prevents
these thousands being openly with Us
They do not believe In the re-nonettzfs-
tion OF silver at the ratio Of 10 TO 4
gold. They regard IL as even les oe-
fensible now than two years ago. The
question for us To consider is whether
we are showing an appreciation OF the
relative importance OF issues when we
seem to. be willing to run the peril Of
repeating the experience OF 1895 ratneI
than to modify our proposition regnru-
ing the ratio between gold ana silver
always savored something OF supersti-
tion and I have come to believe that the
best friends OF biu,etallism are not
those who refuse to have IL except on
this condition. I should begin to b
skeptical OF their value as opponents
of monopoly IL they persist that IL mus
be fought only in connection with thos<
| radical demands for the restoration ol
silver at the value IL had more than q
quarter OF a century ago. With aggres-
sive declarations In the platform OF 190(
against trusts and monopolies and
against their allies and supports-ths
gold standard and protective tariff
without insisting on a particular valu<
for silver in plan for its remonetfxa-
tion or a particular schedule for a rev
enue tariff. and with the same greai
leader, Bryan. for its candidate. the
democratic party will be assured Of
success and the people. through IL
victory will be assured Of the blesstngs
OF healthy competition. freedom In trad
and honest money"