The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-12
.HOKE SMITH ON
 MONEY QUESTION Speak, to Great Crowd of Long
 4 island Democrats { % SCORES PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
Quotes From Platform to Show That In 1888 the Republicans Were In Favor of BimetaI-
 lism.

 present.
 MT. Smith said in part:
 This Is a great day for democratic rally Our candidate has spoken in re- sponse to the formal notification of his nomination. his plain, clear declaration in favor of obedience of law. his devotion to constitutional government his equal and just recognition of the rights of per- son and property give joy and hope to all who love their country.
 "The people of the United States nomi- mated him
 Hanging over them like dark cloud was the possibility of the election of man whose restless eg2tism placed the entire country in a state of uncertainty and about whom the inquiry with no feel ing of hope was constantly made What will he do next?'
 Has Violated Constitution.
 MT Roosevelt as president had over ridden the rights of congress. He had violated the constitution. The feeling of doubt and uncertainty produced by the administration of MT. Roosevelt had checked the prosperity made possible by the administration of Mir. Cleveland and realized under the administration of Mr. Mckinley. Conservative democrats every where sought candidate who would rep resent respect for the constitution and laws of the country, who would recognize the office of president to be one of no un- limited authorities WI not be be carried Into reckless activity by in- tense adulation of himself, who would pre- fer to exercise the legitimate duties of the office of president to startling the country continuously by sending warships to Morocco, or acting as agent for some European powers to force our southern neighbors to pay debts.
 Well may the republicans shrink from a comparison of the candidates. Adroitly did the secretary of the treasury en- deavor to present an issue which Is not involved in the political campaign.
 Reviews the Gold Standard.
 Speaking in this borough a few weeks ago he sought to give especial promi- hence to the financial question, and more particularly to the gold standard.
 Reviewing the legislation on gold and silver from the formation of the gov ernment. MT. Smith said the first legisla- tion under which the silver dollar, now a part of the coin of the realm went into circulation, was joint work of democrats and republicans The republican platform of 1888. he continued was presented to the convention by William Mckinley. Among other things 1t contained the fol- lowing language:
 o-A. f. l., Fa,F of both gold and silver as money and con- demns the policy of ,he democratic ad- ministration in it's effort to demonetize silver
 This became a part of the republican platform upon which President Harrison was elected, and the republican party was then criticizing the democratic ad- ministration of MT Cleveland for it's ef- fort to demonetize silver.
 "In 1890 the Sherman act providing for the purchase of 4.500,000 ounces of silver monthly, and the immediate introduction of this large volume of silver into our currency by coinage or by silver certih- cates, passed congress. This was a re- publican measure and received the ap- proval of a republican President. All the silver dollars and silver certificates in circulation in the United States have been placed there through these two acts. The first, the work of democrats and republicans, and the second pre-em- nently the work of republicans.
 Was Rendered Far Worse.
 '"The situation was bad underline Bland- Allison act; it was rendered far worse un- der the Sherman act.
 ''The republican administration going Into power under platform pledged to silver, and criticising MT. Cleveland for opposing silver. instead of protecting the gold standard, had by the passage of the Sherman purchasing act almost brought the country to monometalism.
 "The democratic administration under MT. Cleveland repealed the Sherman pur chasing act, put a stop to the imitation of our currency with depreciated silver dol lars and made possible the prosperity which followed.
 Not to the republican party but to MT. Cleveland and his secretary of the treas ury, Mir. Carlisle. more than to all others. is the county today indebted for the sta bility and prosperity which has come to pass under the gold standard.
 The world accepted the gold standard. Our political leaders. democrats and re- publicans, gradually learned that bi- metaliism is Impossible; that a single standard Is necessary. The nomination
 
 possible had not the delegates recognized In him a gold standard advocate.
 Confirmed Views of Minority.
 'rhe telegram of our candidate to the national convention only confirmed the views of the overwhelming majority of the delegates and of the voters they rep resented that the gold standard had been irrevocaby established. We should not allow the republicans to boast of what happened under the conservative and gen. tle spirit or President Mckinley and make claims thereon for the election of the present occupant of the White House. Has not the man in rough-rider cos- tune changed our treatment of foreign countries? Has he not disregarded our representative government? Mchinley declared the day he was murdered The problem of more markets requires our urgent and immediate att ] tentton. We cannot repose in fancied se-