The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1900-09-10

Washington, D. c., September g. 1900.
Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge, Chairman Nou-
fication Committee:
Ny Dear Sir-The nomination of the Re
publican National Convention of June 10,
1900 for the office of President of the
Emitted States, which as the official repre-
sentative of the convention, you have con-
veyed to me- is accepted. 1 have carefully
examined the platform adopted, and give
to 1t my hearty approval Upon the great
issue of the last national election 1t is clear.
1t uphoids the gold standard and endorses
the legislation of the present Congress, by
which that standard has been effectively
strengthened. The stability of our national
currency is therefore secure as long as
those who adhere to this platform are kept
in control of the government In the first
battle. that of 1885, the friends of the gold
standard and of sound currency was tri-
umphant and the country is enjoying the
fruits of that victory. Our antagonists, how
ever. are not satisfied. They compel us to
a second battle upon the same lines on
which the first was fought and won. While
regretting the reopening of this question,
which can only disturb the present salts
factory financial condition of the govern
business enterprises, we accept the issue
and again invite the sound-money friends
to join in winnig another and we hope d
permanent triumph for an honest financial
system, which will continue inviolable the
public faith.
AS in 1896 the three silver parties are
united, under the same leader, who inn
mediately after the election of that year,
A,11s &c -ntd
.vThe friends of bimetallism have not
been vanquished; they have simply been
overcome. They believe that the gold stand
ard Is a conspiracy of the money-changers
against the welfare of the human race and
they will continue the warfare against IT,
The policy thus proclaimed has been &C
cepted and confirmed by these parties. Ihe
Silver Democrats platform of 1900 continues
the warfare against the so-called gold con-
spiracy when it expressly says we reit-
crate the demand of that (the Chicago)
platform of 1896 for an American financial
system made by the American people for
themselves, which shall restore and main
tain bimetallic price level and as part of
such system the immediate restoration OF
the free and unlimited coinage of silver ana
gold at the present ratio of 16 to l, without
waiting for the aid or consent of any other
nation"
So the issue Is presented 1t will be noted
that the demand is for the immediate res
toration of the free coinage of silver at 16
to 1. If another issue is paramount this is
immediate. 1t will admit of no delay and
will suffer no postponement.
The Republican party remains faithful
to its principal of a tariff which supplies
sufficient revenues for the government and
adequate protection to our enterprises and
producers and of reciprocity which opens
foreign markets to the fruits of American
labor and furnishes new channels through
which to market the surplus of American
farms. The time-honored principles of
protection and reciprocity were the first
pledges of Republican victory to be writ
ten into public law.
The present Congress has given to Alas
ka a territorial government for which it
had waited for more than quarter of a
century; has established a representative
government in Hawaii; has enacted bills
for the most liberal treatment of the pen
sioners and their widows; has revived the
free homestead policy. In it's great finan-
Gal law it provided for the establishment
OF banks of issue with a capital of $4,000
for the benefit of villages and rural COM
munities, and bringing the opportunity for
profitable business in banking within the
reach of moderate capital Many are all
ready awaiting themselves of this privi-
lege.
During the past year more than nineteen
millions of United States bonds have been
paid from the surplus revenues of the
treasury, ana III ADDITION twenty-five mill
lions of per cents matured, called by the
government. are In process of payment.
Pacific Railroad bonds, issued by the gov
eminent in aid of the roads in the sum
of nearly forty-four million dollars, have
been paid since December 81, 1897. The
treasury balance is in satisfactory con-
dition, showing on September l, $135, 419, 900,
in addition to the $150,000,000 gold reserve
held in the treasury. The governments re-
lations with the Pacific railroads have been
substantially closed, $124,421 900 being re-
ceived from these roads, the greater part
in cash and the remainder with ample Sc
curities for payments deferred.
Instead of diminishing, as was predicted
four years ago, the volume of our currency
is greater per capita than 1t has ever been.
1t was PHO in 1896. 1t has increased to
s26.5O on July 1, 1900. and 1855 on Septem-
Der 1, 1900 Our total money on July l.
1896, was $1,506, 434 1866; on July 1, 1900 1t
was s2,O62, 425, 400, and 5000 6S3,042 on Sep
TENDER 1, 1900.
Our Industrial and agricultural condi-
tions are more promising than they were
been for many years-probably more so
than they have even been. Prosperity
abounds everywhere throughout the repub-
lie. I rejoice that the Southern as we'll as
the Northern States are enjoying full
share of these improved national condi-
tions, and that all are contributing so
largely to our remarkable industrial de-
AMaratime Canal
A subject of immediate Importance to
our, country is the completion of a great
waterway of commerce between the At
lantic and Pacific. The construction of a
maritime canal Is now more than ever
indispensable to that intimate and ready
communication between our eastern and
western seaports demanding expansion of
our influence and trade in the Pacific.
Our national policy more imperatively
than ever calls for its completion and con-
troll by this government and it is believed
that the next session of Congress, after
receiving the full report of the commission
appointed under the act approved March 3,
1899, will make provisions for the sure
accomplishment of this great work.
Trusts
Combinations of capital which control
the market in commodities necessary to
the general use of the people, by suppress
ing natural and ordinary competition, thus
enhancing prices, to the general consum-