The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-09-13
LACEY'S SPEECH
At BLOOMFIELD
ADDRESS BEFORE THE DAVIS
COUNTY CONVENTION.
THE WORK OF LAST CONGRESS.
Resume of the Fruits Of Republican
Principles, and the Necessity of
Supporting the Administra-
ton This Year.

JOnn r. Lacey the hepuDuCdu uOul-
nee for congress in this district, made
a rousing speech before the Davis
county convention here this after
noon. AS it was in reality the open
ing address of the campaign, it was
of more than usual Importance and
will no doubt be featured as a docu-
ment for Republicans to follow dur
ing the progress of the campaign. In
It Mr.. Lacey urged harmony in the
Republican ranks, and pointed out
the vital reasons why a Democratic
victory would be a disaster this year.
He gave a fine review of the work OF
the last congress and made clear ev-
cry point at issue in the coming cam
paign. In part Mr.. Lacey said:
Gentlemen of the Convention: 1t
has been my good fortune on several
previous occasions to speak to the
members of the Davis county Repubil-
can convention. Sometimes l have
met you when the prospects of our
party were gloomy, and again when
everything looked bright. But wheth-
er in sunshine or in storm l have al
ways found the Republicans Of this
county full of faith. The fact that
your efforts, locally, have not often
met with success, has not discouraged
you, but with each recurring year you
have proved your continued faith in
the good cause.
Home Markets the Gold Standard.
We are now in the enjoyment of the
full fruition of our party's policy.
From 1893 to 1894 our opponents, af-
ter many struggles, prophecies, and
promises without number, found
themselves in power, and ready to per-
form their pledges to give the country
a change. The promised change came
but it filed the nation with misery.
Those four years have been so often
described and so recently endured
that it will be useless to again go into
the unpleasant and narrowing de-
tails.
The Republicans entered upon the
campaign of 1896, ten years ago, with
the pledge of a gold standard, sound
money and return ta.the policy Of
protective taf tariff. our opponents OF
fered the attractive prospect of free
silver and free trade. There il
something fascinating about the word
free" wherever used; and the great
contest for. free silver and free trade
was fought out with an earnestness
and vigor never before equalled with
in generation. 49,.
The stake was national control
The promise by both parties was
prosperity. Our Democratic friends
won in the height of good times in
1892 in an attack upon the Mckinley
law. The good times went glimmer
ing, and they promised their return
through free silver, under the allur
ing name of bimetallism. Never was
there such a campaign Of education
Never were the voters SO anxious &c
be right--for they could not afford &c
be wrong.
We were assured by the Democratic
leaders in congress and on the
stump that continuation of the VIII
son act with free coinage of silver
would bring back good times. They
could not promise better conditions
than those which prevailed in 1892
when they elected Mr.. Cleveland the
last time. But they assured tie vot
ers that there could be no hope fol
prosperity under the eolJ standard
and protective tariff. The party
which this convention so vel. repre-
sents gave certain assurance mat with
protection and the gold standard We
might hope to again enjoy the bless
ings which gilddened the country in
1892. Both parties made their best
arguments and submitted the Issue to
the country. end each gave positive
assurance of their belief in the dec
trine for which they contended
Hope is a good breakfast but bad
dinner. The people wanted results
The country was under the Demo
cratic tariff law, drawn by Mr.. VIII
son, with the help of the other lead
ing Democrats upon the Ways and
Means committee, among whom was
Mr.. Bryan, new and rising star.
The country resounded with the
tramp of the marchers and halls echo.
ed with the arguments and counter ar
guments of the contending and ear.
nest hosts. Protection and the gold
standard won the day. Mr.. Mckinley
was placed in the white house. Both
houses of congress were in sympathy
with the great protectionist, and the
country awaited the promised relief
When the contest was decided our
warehouses were Immediately filed to
overlooking with foreign imports, in
anticipation of the change in our tariff
laws, and the relief promised by Mr.
Mckinley, ''the advance agent OF pros
perity." was delayed until these good;
could first be consumed.
But the Dingley law was enacted
the issue of the standard of value was
settled by the statute, and the coun
try began 10 assume its wonted lool
Of hope and confidence. These laws
were enacted TO change conditions
and there should be some better rea