Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-10-03


it would have been to the party's
great advantage TO have frankly ac.
knowledged the wisdom of the estab'
lished republican policy Of sound
money, as they have been reluctantly
compelled to do in respect to other
policies of the republican party time
and time again.
There has been plenty of democrat
ic heroism manifested upon this ques.
ton of sound money, but it was by
the heroes of '96 and 1900. who pre-,
ferred rather to be right than regu'
lar.
! would like to conclude with a
word relative to the money question,
Futile attempts are now being
made to show that the republican
party is not justly entitled to the
credit of establishing by law the
present sound money policy of the
government. This Is sought To be
proven by reference to party decla-
rations preceding 1896 and by refer.
ence to legislation enacted during
the dominance of the republican party
bearing more or less upon the sub
1ect. The republican party
is denounced Tor the Sherman Pur-
chasing Act. and Mr.. Cleveland is
now highly commended for securing
its repeal.
Now the facts are these. There
was great difference of opinion in
the judgment Of the leaders of both
parties upon the question of our
money standard Both parties had
declared for silver coinage at differ
ent times prior TO 1896. The best
minds of the country were busy with
the problem and the business of the
country was constantly feeling the
disturbing effects of the want of a
sound and fixed policy. Like all i'm
portant issues which materially af-
feet national prosperity. it was grad
ually evolved and became gradually
understood. The minds of some
were o swift to grasp the situa-
ton in its political congratulations
and economic details than the minds
of others. However. by 1896 the
questions involved became so general
ly understood and their bearing upon
the public welfare so thoroughly APP
preciated that the people demanded
a declaration of the parties upon
the vital question of what should be
the foundation upon which our
money should rest. In other words
the people demanded to know if they
sold a days labor or a bushel { pro
what the token called a dollar
represented which tey were bound
by law to take in payment.
The republican party replied that it
should represent a dollar in gold and
nothing else, thereby making its value
fixed ard certain.
The democratic party replied that
the dollar should rest upon a double
standard-gold and silver-and that
the law should provide that silver
should be freely coined in unlimited
amounts and its value, irrespective
Of the supply of other metals, should
be as to gold sixteen to one.
Upon this issue the parties went
TO the country and President Nc
was triumphantly elected.
Tens of thousands of conscientious
and Intelligent democrats contributed
their influence and vote 10 bring
about this result. They were men
who regarded duty to their country
superior TO duty to any organization
1obi"iicu NltHiH It's DOGuPrS. InpY
democrats and sons of demo-
Gratis who fought and voted against
the declaration of the democratic
in 1864. that the war for the
preservation of the Union was a
The men who voted for The silver
ieresy in 1896 may have done SO not
eomprehending its radical vice. The
man who voted for 1t again in 1900 did
80, either avowing that he preferred
the success Of his party to the well
fare of his country. or confessing his
inability to comprehend the bearings
Of a comparatively simple economic
problem.
AS | said in the beginning. the PEG.
BE are nov engaged In the solemn
business of considering where they
shall choose. In my Judgment, they
will choose wisely. because the rea.
Continued on Page g.