Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-10-04

Carl schuz on the Financial Question.

Carl Sehuz on the Financial question.
Carl Schurz spoke to great audience in
Cooper Union, New York, last Friday
night. No part of the great speech was
more trenchant and more conclusive than
in his consideration Of the financial ques-
ton as it has been projected by President
Mckinley into the campaign. He said
ssAs to the money question, my conyic-
tions have, of course, not changed in the
least, but while the money question was
the paramount issue four years ago, we
never admitted that it must remain the
paramount question always, OF that, how
ever important sound money is to the
economic interests, as well as to the
character of the nation, there may not be
other things of even more vital moment,
or that a party Representing sound money
may do things utterly obnoxious to good
morals or good policy and still rightfully
exact our support under all circumstances.
In my correspondence with Secretary Gage
have shown, think, that the dangers to
our present monetary system are by no
means as threatening now as jealous partl-
zanship represents them, and that we may
freely act upon the question of Imperialism
without serious peril to our standard of
value. | candidly believe SO. But l
frankly declare that even if the dangers so
luridIy depicted by the imperialists really
existed, my position in the present crisis
would be the same.
.sHe would not have been counted good
American patriot who, at the time of the
American revolution, had abandoned the
cause of liberty and independence on ac-
count of the disastrous viciousness of the
continental money, or who, during our
civil war, had given up the cause of liberty
and union because its defense brought on
the dangers of irredeemable paper dollars,
or other economic perils; Or who. at either
of those periods had forsaken either Of
those causes for the reason that the man in
position of leadership might hold obnoxious
opinions or be inclined to do unwelcome
things with regard to other matters. 1t is
still remembered in how little esteem John
Adams held the members of the Continental
Congress but how firmly he nevertheless,
as a patriot, stood for the cause of his
country.
And now sober, candid and conscien-
tious consideration of the circumstances
before US should convince you as it has
profoundly convinced me, that the present
crisis is fully as momentous as the reyOlu
ton which created the republic, and as the
civil war which held it together and purged
it of slavery. For now we find ourselves
confronted by powerful attempt, advanc
ing under seductive guises to fasten upon
the country policy essentially putting in
peril the best fruits of the great struggles Of
the past; policy synically disdainful of
the fact that it was the Declaration of
Independence, with its proclamation of
high principles, that made this republic a
really great and beneficient power in the
world; policy which at the very start
broke the moral force of our republic by
mean treaehery to its lofty professions; a
policy which, beginning with criminal
aggression, will need more and more
criminal aggression for its subsistence; a
policy which, living upon unjust rule by
force abroad, will inevitably tend to unjust
rule by force at home; a policy which,
making sport Of the vital principles OF our
organic law, cannot but run into more and
more despotic usurpations; policy which,
utterly demoralizing this democracy work.
ing through universal suffrage by the de-
struetion Of its ideal beliefs and aspirations,
viii leave to our children, instead of free,
happy and peaceably powerful common
wealth, a mere sham republic tossed and
torn by wild passions and rapacious ambi-
tions, and bound to sink in disorder, dis
aster and disgrace. To check this policy in
its growth, if possible without delay, |
believe it to be the very first duty of the
American citizen. Whatever it may cost
to check it now, that cost viii be far less
than the cost viii become if that policy be
permitted to continue"