The Portland daily press., 1900-08-24
Ills address was in part as follows;

amount Importance and the allies in that
campaign united In the demand for the
immediate restoration of silver by the
independent action of this country at le
to 1, the ratio which had existed since
1884. They were defeated, but that did
not end the discussion. The Democrats
were defeated in 1888 but that did not
put an end to the tariff reform. The Re-
publicans We're defeated in 1899 but that
did not permanently overthrow the pro-
tective tariff. Defeat at the polls does not
ne cessarily decide great problem. Elk
perience and experience alone settle ques-
tions.
If an increase in the volume of the
currency since 1896, although unpromised
by the Republicans and unexpected, has
brought improvement in Industrial con-
ditions, this improvement, instead of an
swering the arguments put forth in favor
of bimetalism only confirms the conten :
tion of those who insisted that more
money wouls better times.
tThe kepuOn-aA party, however, while
claiming credit for the increase in circu-
lation, makes no permanent provision for
an adequate supply of standard money.
lit denies the necessity for more real
money while it permits national banks to
expand the volume of paper promises to
pay money.
eff the Populists felt Justified In oppos-
ing the Republican party when it sought
to conceal its gold standard tendencies
under the mask of international bi-met-
alism, the opposition should be more pro-
nounced in proportion as the Republi-
can party more openly espouses gold mon
ometallism.
In 1896 the reform forces charged the
Republican party with Intending to retire
the greenbacks. This charge, denied at
the time, has been confessed by the finan-
cial bill.
If Populist opposed the Republican
party when its hostility to greenbacks
was only suspected, that opposition
should be greater now. since no one can
longer doubt the purpose of the Repub-
lican party to substitute bank no ties for
greenbacks.
''The vital question at this time, so
far as paper money is concerned, is
whether or not our government banks
shall issue it.
Democrats and Popuists agree that
Chinese and other oriental labor should
be excluded from the United States.
Democrats and Popunsts desire to so
enlarge the scope of the interstate COM
merce act as to enable the commission to
protect both persons and places from dis
elimination and the public at large from
excessive railroad fares.
1.-THE Populists approve the demand set
forth in the Democratic platform for a
labor bureau, with cabinet officer at it's
head. Such an official would keep the
in close touch with the
wage earni ng portion of the people
and go far toward securing such remedial
legislation as the toilers need.
SIN the early sixties, when we We're en-
gagged in a contest which was to deter
mine whether we should have one repub- +
lie or two. questions of finance were lost
to sight. Silver was at a premium over
gold and both gold and silver were at
premium over greenbacks and bank
notes, but the people could not afford to
divide over the money question in the
of a gre alter issue.
And SO today we are engaged in a con-
troyersy which win determine whether
we are to have a republic in which the
derives It's just powers from
the consent of the governed, or an empire
in which brute force is the only recog-
nized source of power.
''1n government where the people
rule every wrong can be righted and ev-
cry evil RENE led, but when once the
doctrine of elf-government is impaired
and might is SUI bstituted for right there
is no certainty that any question will be
settled correctly.
"A colonial policy would so occupy the
people with the consideration Of the ma
ton foreign policy that domestic ques-
lions would be neglected. who will
haul down the flag?' or Stand by the
President, would be the prompt response
to every criticism of the administration
and corruption and special privilege
would thrive under the cover of patriot
ism.
ut is not strange that the Populists
should oppose militarism and imperial
ism, for both are antagonistic to the prin-
1iples which Populists apply to other
questions. Looking at questions from
the standpoint of the producer of wealth
rather than from the standpoint of the
5pecuiator, the Populist recognize in mil
ltarism constant and increasing bur-
len. The army worm which, occasionally
destroys field of wheat is not nearly so
an enemy to the farmer as a
large standing army, which invades ev-
'ry field of industry and exacts toll from
every crop.
If 100, 900 men are withdrawn from the
'anks OF the producers and placed as
burden on the backs OF those who remain
t must mean longer hours, harder work
md greater sacrifices for those who toll
md the farmer, while he pays more than