Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-08-10
MR.. FINLEy'S FILBERT SPEECH.
What He Was Reported to Have
Said and What He Did Say.
Editor vorkvil1e Enuuirer

In your issue Of the 7th instant, CIV
ing an account of the addresses made
at the Filbert picnic on the 3rd Of Au-
gust, find that am incorrectly repor-
ted as to several questions discussed
by me.
am we'll aware that on account Of
the number and length of the speeches
made on the occasion mentioned, a
verbatim report was not made. In a
brief way, I desire to call attention to
the following matters as being the ones
as to which particularly wish to make
correction. AS to the pension plank,
I am reported as saying that the
Democratic party of the north had been
Socorrupted on this question, as to make
the plank necessary to keep it in line
What / did say was, that the people
of the north had been so corrupted by
the administration of the law in an
abusive manner, that northern Demo-
Gratis were on a par with the Repubi-
cans in pension grabs, and 1t is defen-
ded by many of them as being neceS-
Sary to keep the party in line.
1 am quoted as stating in reference
to the proposition to permit American
citizens and corporations owning ships
now sailing under foreign flags to come
in under the provisions of the ship
subsidy bill, as follows: II want to say
llldl luCiC 10 oliC NOiNSih eiS
American Sugar company-which has
ships enough to take one-half of these
millions, and all they will have to do
to get their money, is to change the flag
on their Ships" This is incorrect. In
the discussion 1 mentioned the fact
that there were a number of American
citizens and corporations owning ships
flying foreign flags, together having
sufficient tonnage to Jake up about
one-half the proposed Subsidy, and one
of these corpora tions was the American
Sugar company.
In discussing the financial plank Of
the Democratic platform, gave short
statement Of the history of bi-metalism
in this country and the fact that for u
hundred years it has been sound Demo-
cratic doctrine, and that the Republi-
can party. as late as 1896. held to BIZ
metalism in their party platforms. At
ter discussing the question to some eX-
tent, and in part, as reported, l called
attention to the fact of the greatly
increased production Of goil ami The
division inside the Democratic panty Cn
the question, and the reasons for it.
concluded by stating that all that any
sensible bi-metaliSt contended for was
that there should be sufficient amount
of money of final redemption and that
only gold and silver were used for this
purpose, that if there was not suffi-
cheney of one metal for this purpose,
then the other was needed. 1t there
was sufficient supply of one, then the
other was not needed. And there could
be no denying the proposition that to
the extent that the production of gold
has increased. the necessity for bi-met-
oliSm has been met. And that many
people inside of the Democratic party
not only believe that the present pro-
duction of gold will be maintained; but
also that it will be greatly increased,
and that if this be true, the issue will
be settled accordingly.
In the discussion of the supreme
court decisions in the inSular cases, l
am reported as follows: Here he re-
viewed the supreme court decision and
cited the greenback case. After the
Republicans got an adverse decision,
they increased the number Of justices
from six to nine. and appointed men
who would decide the question as they
wanted it decided"
What did say. after discussing the
decisions and giving it as the opinion
held by a majority of the lawyers that
the same was based on the political
necessities of the Republican party
rather than a proper construction of the
constitution, l called attention to the
fact that many times in the past the
court had been charged with making
decisions, having no other basis than
political eXigencies. In one instance it
is claimed that the membership of the
court was increased from six for the
purpose of obtaining a contrary de-
ciSion to one rendered, and judges ap-
pointed who would render a satisfac-
tory opinion. and in the legal tender or
greenback cases an adverse decision
was reversed by change of position
on the part of three of the judges.
D. +. FINLEY.
Yorkville s. G. August 9, 1901.