Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-07-12
THE KEYNOTE SPEECH.
Address OF Temporary Chairman

THE KEYNOTE SPEECH.
Address OF Temporary Chairman
Thomas at Kausas City.
Kansas City. July 4.-Governor
Charles S. Thomas, of Colorado, the
temporary chairman, said:
We meet under most suspicious in
duenccs. On the nations birthday,
in great central city of the repub-
lie. at the close and opening of cen
fury, we come together to reaffirm
our allegiance to the principles of
Thomas Jefferson and our loyalty to
their greatest living exponent. We
have been selected by the farmer and
chanic, the producers of wealth in ev-
cry state and territory of this mighty
nation. to register n decree they have
candidate they have already chosen.
the people. Our declaration of faith
and purpose given to the world four
years ago has been strengthened by
the passage of years, and is enshrined
today in our hearts and hopes.
1.-THE close of President Harrison's
administration found the country
face to face with conditions of the
greatest moment. A deficiency in the
public revenues, through the reckless
legislation and profiigate extrava
gance of the Fifty-frst congress, had
become apparent in the preceding Oc-
tober. A bond issue, prepared in Feb
ruary, was postponed as q legacy to
the incoming administration. Trade
and industry, long stimulated by UNI
equal tariff laws, were staggering to-
ward a crisis. Monetary conditions,
disturbed and uncertain, threatened
early disaster. The storm came in
June, when the elements long pent up
and long accommodating burst in fury
upon the continent. It shook the
foundations of our commercial tabric,
overwhelmed every branch of trade
and industry and spread bankruptcy
and desolation everywhere. It's sub
vidence was the work of years. The
misery and ruin it inflicted are fresh
In the minds and hearts of the peo-
pie. The country slowly emerged
from the receGiing flood. the stricken
nation struggled to it's feet and pain
fully began the work Of economic re-
construction, while statesmen dis
russed the causes of our calamity. In
the agony of our suffering they clear
ly perceived and freely acknowledged
it's primal source. vicious and indie
feasible monetary system. Men diff
fered as to the method of it's reforma-
ton not as to the necessity for a
change. They wrangled over the mer-
it's of standards. but united in con-
tlemning an unsound and artificial
financial system. the logical outcome
of whose operation was inevitable dis
aster.
"The line of division between politi-
cal forces became, therefore, sharply
defined in 1896 upon what was called
the money question. That question
involved, as we then asserted and as
we now know, every other economic
problem. 1t embraced within it's wide
Limitations the issues of labor and
capital, of combination and compete
ton, of production, transportation
md distribution. 1t was predicted
that the defeat of bimetallism would
be followed by the retirement of all
forms of government currency, by the
dedication of the power of note issue
tion. the practical consolidation of all
sequent domination of every CONNER
ciaJ pursuit by score of colossal
monopolies. These predictions have
in general been verified.
Democratic defeat had scarcely
been recorded when the march of con-
solidation was resumed. Every pur-
suit that engages the attention of
man has been exploited, capitalized
and appropriated. The earth and the
waters round about it have been eX-
,plored for subjects of monopoly, and
those who have thundered against un-
sound money have used the printing
press and the engravers' art to turn
out thousands of millions Of fictitious
values, to whose profit the toilers and
consumers pay constant tribute. Ev-
cry avenue of industry is closed to
the competitive energies of the citi-
zen, hrs been listed on the stock eX-
change and rises and falls with the
turn of the gamblers card. Console
dations succeed consultations. and as
they lessen in number they enlarge in
the volume of their real and fictitious
accumulations, and their more despot-
&c sway over all material and politi-
cal interests. These evils, startling in
their magnitude and inevitable in
their consequences. must either Gull
inmate in one immense aggregation,
all powerful and all absorbing, or be
arrested and dissolved by the force
of an aroused public opinion finding
expression at the polls in support of
the nominees of this convention.
"The party in power carried the last
election by and through the support
of the influence we now criticize.
Having purchased the right To pursue
their various objects. the government
has been at all times their powerful
ally. Hence the onward march of or
ganized wealth to absolute power and
the exnltation of the dollar above the
rights and the welfare of the multi
tude. Hence the crisis in our CONNER
cia1 affairs. whose issue, presented in
acute form to the voters OF 1900, is
that of industrial despotism as
against the liberty of the citizen.
No War Against NNenlth.
Democracy wages no war against
wealth. Under her beneficent rule its
creation and amusement have ever
been among the most worthy objects
of human effort. The desire for ma
terial comfort and wellbeing is the
very handspring of progress. The
wealth that comes as the reward of
honest industry and thrift commands
and must receive the encouragement
and protection of all. But the wealth
that come through partnership with
the government, which usurps its pre-
negatives and perverts it's agencies.
which absorbs the resources and
blasts the opportunities of the indi-