The Savannah morning news., 1904-10-04
HOKE SMITH ON
CAMPAIGN ISSUES
SPOKE IN NORTH CAROLINA
TO AN AUDIENCE THAT FILLED
CHARLOTTE'S ACADEMY OF MUSIC.

Georgia Speaker COntrasted the
Work and Records of the Demo-
cratic and Republican Parties.
Democratic Party Is Prepared to
Terminate the FrightfuI Extrava-
gance of the Republican Admin
istratiOn-EffrOntery of Roosevelt
and His EgOtism.
Charlotte, N. c.. Oct. 3.-Hon. Hoke
Smith of Georgia, Secretary of the In
terror in President Cleveland's second
cabinet, spoke on the issues of the
campaign here tonight, his audience
entirely filling the Academy of Music.
Mr.. Smith. who is a native of this
state, was enthusiastically received. He
was introduced by United States SEN
ator Lee S. Overman, who made his
first appearance before a Charlotte au-
dlence since his election. Mr.. Smith
spoke as follows:
The Democratic party during the first
sixty Years of the last century was al
most continuously in power. It's rec
ord was not one of opposition, but of
construction.
In 1906 Thomas Jefferson preserved
the gold standard when it was first in
jeopardy. Under Democratic rule our
territory spread from ocean to ocean.
Our manufactures grew. Our COM
merce proSpered But our system of
taxation did not foster great monopo-
lies nor take money from the masses to
enrich the few. Our tariff taxation
was for revenue with only incidental
protection. We adhered to constitu-
tional government. We conducted no
wars of conquest. We regarded inter-
national law.
The masterful and patriotic service of
President Cleveland makes the only
break IN Republican administrations
for the past forty years.
COmpa risOn of Records.
We may well compare the record of
the Democratic party under Mr..
Cleveland with the record of the Re-
publican party under Mr.. Harrison.
Mr.. Cleveland left the treasury in 1889
with a surplus on hand of $500 1874, GIG.
He had paid on the public debt 1884,
34S, 499. When he returned to Office
in March, 1898, he found the surplus
squandered and appropriations already
made for the ensuing year exceeding
the revenue provided to the amount of
. $50, 600, 900.
The Republicans had already pre-
pared the plans for a bond issue which
their administration had rendered nee
eSsary. Roosevelts administration
has exceeded the expenditures of the
last Cleveland administration to the
amount of $SS3OO0,0OO.
During Mr.. Harrison's administra-
ton the Sherman purchasing act was
passed. Under this act four and one
half million ounces of silver bullin
were monthly, placed in the national
- -
the shape of silver dollars or silver
certificates. Before its passage men
of financial judgment had realized that
even the silver dollars provided by the
'Bland-Allision' act were jeopardiz-
ing the gold standard. The imitation
of our currency with deprecated sill
yer dollars came from a Republican
administration. This disorganized the
finances of the country and precip
itated the panic of 1898.
The Cleveland administration repeal
ed the Sherman purchasing act and
put an end to the coinage OF depre-
ciated silver dollars.
A thorough study of our country's
history need bring no fear to Demo-
Gratis.
ROOseveIt's Wanting Words.
The speech of Mr.. Roosevelt accept
Ing the nomination for President was
conservative. 1t might almost have
come from Judge Parker The letter
of acceptance was more like the
Trough Rider" In the first instance
he followed his policy of "speak-easy."
In the second instance he was car
rying the "big stick"
In his letter of acceptance, Mr..
Roosevelt sets the pace for Republic
can impudence in the shape of self
praise and self assertion, claiming
everything for himself and party,
charging anything against his oppo-
nents, which his fancy suggests.
He attacks the Democratic attitude
with reference to the gold standard.
He charges that the course of our
party as to the gold standard has been
one Of expediency, and he refers to
the silence of our platform on this
subject. He was forgetful in this of
his own declaration in 1896 when
speaking of the Republican platform
about to be adopted, he declared: RE
fusal TO be for free silver means that
the party Is resolutely against 1t. and
the party must rest content with this
state of affairs and spare the minority
humiliation by refraining from de-
nouncing in so many words the free
coinage of silver"
Many Were for Free silver.
He ignores the fact that only a few
years go the leaders of both par
TIES WITH "A rev exceptions, Favored
the free coinage of silver. Speaker
Cannon was one of the most extreme
free silver men. MIR. Mckinley, as
late as 1890. was an ardent advocate
of the. free and unlimited coinage of
silver The Republican platform of
1892 demanded the use Of both gold
and silver as standard moneys. The
Ohio platform of 1896, framed at the
instance Of Mr.. Mckinley, did the same
thing.
The maintenance OF the gold stand
ard should not be given as a credit
TO the Republicans. II belongs to the
administration Of Grover Cleveland.
] utterly repudate the charge that
the Democrats and Republicans stand
upon the same platform.
President Roosevelt IN his letter Of
acceptance puts the country on notice
that be is proud Of everything he and
the Republicans have done. He claims
that they have made no mistakes. and
aHNa..