, 1899-12-26

ILLUSTRATION OF now the wrath OF men
may be turned to work out good ends,
for the pledge we did not specifically
give at st. Louis We have since given
on the stump and in local platforms in
answer to your declaration that we
intended to fix and declare the gold
standard. You threw down the gaunt-
let; we accepted the challenge, and
some of us have been surprised to find
that our people have been more eager
to accept it than we were.
During the entire period when a
most earnest and jealous effort was be-
ing made by the administration through
the medium of a commission of able
men of both parties friendly to the
double standard, the opposition were
discrediting the commission, and while
praying for its failure, belittling its
efforts. The commission rallied to ac-
complish the purpose for which it was
created, and with it's failure multitudes
of thoughtful men abandoned their
faith in the possibility of the establish
ment of a double standard by interna-
tional agreement, as they had already
begun to doubt the efficacy of such an
agreement, if entered into, to accom-
plish the objects sought.
Then came the campaign of 1898, the
campaign which resulted in the is
%suance of commissions under which the
members of this house are now serv-
ing their constituencies. The incidents
of that campaign are still fresh in my
memory. 1t began with lingering
doubts in my mind as to the wisdom
of finally fixing a single standard. The
opposition insisted IN a definite decla-
ration and they received it. My con-
stituency, men and women, have been
considering this question carefully for
years. / have never claimed a wis
dom superior superior to theirs with
regard to this question, which We all
studied alike, but the challenge of the
opposition cleared away all doubts on
the subject.
accepted the challenge and declar-
ed that, if in the wisdom of the repub-
lican party the declaration which we
now propose to write should be re-
quired to set at rest all doubts and
dangers of disturbance of our financial
system and divert the possibilities of
the disasters of a debased coinage and
%1uctuating standard, it would receive
my support and my vote, and my pres
ence here indicates that my constitu-
ents Endorsed hat declaration. Mr..
Chairman, the opposition, nervous lest
we exceed the definite obligations of
our commissions from the people, say
that we have had no command from
them to do this thing. AS for myself,
if there is any one thing above all
others which l have commission to do
it is this, and my commission comes
not from any class, not from any one
condition in life, but from the majority
of the people OF my state. of all classes
and conditions, and nom no portion of
our citizens is my commission SO clear
and unmistakable as from the wage
earners, for it was from the commun-
!, titles where they predominated that
received my largest majorities. They
understand this question, and l stand
as their representative to see hat the
dollars which they receive in payment
r for their toll shall be the best dollars
t in the world, sound, safe, and enduring
in value.
t Mr.. Chairman, l favor the bill be-
, cause it is the expression of an onward
!, step in the march Of monetary evolu-
ton, a definite statement that in the
, future there can be no doubt as to the
value Of our dollars anywhere or at
any time, and that all of them, silver,
, paper or gold, shall be equal in honor
!, and value. There are some provisions
of the bill relative to the redemption
Of our currency as to the necessity and
wisdom of which l have some doubts,
but as to these provisions, as they com
mend themselves to the judgment OF
the majority of my party, I accept them
as perhaps the best solution Of a some
: what difficult problem. With the pas
r sage of this bill the republican party
rounds out and completes the legisla-
, ton necessary to fulfill its promises
made to the American people for the
restoration of confidence and prosper
ity which it begun by the passage OF
, the Dingley tariff, and with the pass
age of this Measure l look forward con-
fdently to a continuation Of the growth
| and development of our country and
the betterment Of the condition OF all
our people under the guidance of that
great party whose enlightened and con-
structive policies have made us pros
: porous and contented beyond meas
e ureI at home and respected and honored
1 beyond precedent abroad. loud ap-
: plause on the republican side.]
Group is the terror of thousands oil
: young mothers because Its outbreak Ii
so agoniZing and frequently fatal.