The state herald., 1900-09-14
SENATOR TELLER ADDRESSES
THE SILVER REPUBLICANS

Denver, Sept. 11.-At the opening of
the state convention of the Silver Re-
publican party yesterday, Senator Tel
Ter delivered an address that aroused
great enthusiasm. He said
NO American citizen ought to be so
pressed with business or pleasure that
he cannot give time to public ques-
tlons. For more than twenty-four
years l represented Colorado In the
greatest legislative body in the world.
and l think this gives me the right 10
discuss public questions.
Il need not discuss to n Colorado au-
dience the Importance of the silver
question, for they have been bimetal-
lists since the commencement of this
controversy twenty-three years ago.
In 1876 | was selected to serve In the
United States Senate and four times
the Legislature has instructed me to
appear as one of your representatives
In 1877 the question of bimetallism
came actively before Congress. Then
an effort was made to rehabllitate sill
yer. In 1878 we crystallized the idea
into law. The finance committee of
the Senate, after passage of the bill
In the House, refused to report 1t, but
Bland-Allison bill, and IL became a law.
AT that time the Republican party was
not gold standard party The ma
Jority In the House voted for free
coinage bill. and In the Senate the ma
jority voted to give relief to the cpun-
try. The President vetoed the bill.
but the party was not n gold standard
party. Had an attempt been made to
1 ..f
would have left it.
Il was u free coinage man, not be-
cause my party was II free coinage
party. but because my examination of
these questions has convinced me that
the cause of bimetallism is the cause
of liberty, freedom and civilization.
lmbued with the sentiment that the
gold standard WAS II step to barbarism.
] have contcnded that free coinage is
necessary. II was left to the Phila-
delphia convention of 1900 to declare
for the gold standard alone and to ask
the people to put II in power because it
had discarded one of the money metals
of the world. This is great moral
question. oh, how sick | get when
hear men mix this question in one of
partisan politics All the great teach
ers of Europe have declared In favor
of bimetalllsm.
at is not matter of office. You
have honored me above my deserts.
and l have tried to return the favor"
You have"' came from the audience,
with cheers. 1T matters not whether
| remain in the Senate or return 10 the
quiet of my home. The question is.
where do the people of Colorado stand
upon this question: Are they going
back on their stand?'
''No, no." cried many.
ITO me this financial question IL the
greatest that has been presented TO the
country In hundred years. The slav-
cry question was not n greater ques-
ton than this. 1t concerned the free
dom of the blacks alone. This ques-
ton concerns the freedom of every
man who works.
II read this morning the Presidents
letter of acceptance, and | saw that he
had declared that the silver question
was the great issue. heard Repub-
licnn voter say that the Democratic
party was not for free silver. Why,
my friends. do yon know that thirty
nine Democratic state conventions
have declared for the free coinage of
silver at the ratio OF 10 to II
Every Democratic leader, with the
exception of n few in New York. have
declared FOR silver. Every Democratic
senator except two have been for sill
yer. and these two were defeated and
win bc replaced by silver senators.
There will not be a Democratic sena-
tor against free coinage.
Nnn htutn. mo far Stpn1tpps with,
the Democratic party; The Rcpubli.
can party Is great and has n great his
tory. If Il could live upon Its past rec
ord II should be eternal. but II 1t Is to
live upon Its record of this past four
years II ought To he politically damned.
We test party by what II Is going TO
do. II speak with some warmth II is
because have seen this great organl.
zatlon departing from the principle of
It's founders. II bring nn accusation
against this great party | bring It In
the Interest of truth and the interest
of the country.
III you are not treated by Democrats
with the generosity you may wish. that
does not justify you In keeping from
them.
II am not n worshlper Of men. have
been follower of principle. The man
to whom have given the greatest de
votion was Abraham Lincoln. | be-
lleve that sometimes Providence raises
up men To Ill II place. II seems TO me
In the histor OF mankind that such
men have risen. We found such a
man In Abraham Lincoln.
III there Is n man In the United
States to-day who comes near TO Abrn-
ham Lincoln that man Is William j.
Bryan. Let me tell you ! know this
man. saw him -four years In official
life. standing for principle. and four
years In private life. ! have seen the
attempt such Ms never before To cor
rupt him. Scores OF detectives and
spies on his trail hnvc not found u
weak spot In his nrmor, This man Is
OF unqucstloned character. Why
should he want 10 pull down American
government lie ls the man that pre-
scented to American politics n new con.