The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-05-03

that In 1890 was a critical time for
the republican party of this state and
of this country. was with the REL
publican rarty then as l am now. II
do not remember of meeting the gov
ernor in that campaign. daughter
and applause). Why, you remember
some of you at least viii remember
that In 1890 this state of Iowa elected
only five of the Congressman out OF
the eleven, six democrats went to
Congress from the state of Iowa. Can
call the districts-1st, End, 4th, 9Th
9Th and 9th, in that year of 1890. In
that convention in Sioux City which
was held only a little while before
the act of July 14th, 1890, which pro-
vided for the purchase of 4,500.000
ounces of silver bullion, manifestly..
which was to be given out in the
place of treasury certificates-in
1900. The republican party at that
time was making one of its great COM
tests against-what? Against the free
and unlimited coinage of silver, and
that platform of 1890 was the compro-
mise we were obliged to reach. We
stopped short of the great mischief!
We elected a Democratic house that
year. Two years later, Grover
Cleveland was elected for the second
time, and in the spring of 1s93-in4
deed before he had been sworn into
office, the black plague. spread over
this country. We were without in,
dustry. The banks were falling.
Factories were closing and in the
midst of that real great calamity,
Cleveland called his Congress to-
gether and the act of the 18th Of
August, 1898, was put into operation
to save the treasury of the United
States; to repeal the purchase clause
of the Sherman act. The democratic
Congress introduced a new coinage
act and finally, after two months OF
that sort of stress, the republicans OF
either, house of Congress acted with
the democrats who were faithful to
Cleveland and repealed the purchase
clause of the Sherman act. l have
here Just a modest little speech made
by me in Onawa in Monona county on
the 9th of October, 1894, reviewing
these conditions. l think even
might, with fair means, be justified
to this day for some of the things
set forth here which have not time
to read. But in that Sherman act Of
1890 was written the republican plat
form upon which the party stood then
and has ever since. 1t being the
policy of the United States to main.
tain the two metals on parity with
each other upon the present legal
ratio, or such ratio as may be pro.
vided by law. The republican party
in its platform when IL has said a
word upon that subject has stood like
rock on that proposition. There
should be no legislation that should
interfere with the parity of these
metals in the circulation of the ooun'
try. But we were not out of the woods
by long shot. In 1898, the figure OF
Cummins appeared. There was a
United States senatorship in sight
Interesting History.
That was in 1898. Therefore, mind
you, in the midst of the record of
this country in Congress
in session wrestling with this great
problem-in the midst of all this, he
writes, Therefore, l am in favor Of
the free coinage of silver, not only
for American silver but Of all silver
being absolutely sure''-as the gov
ernor generally is-"that it will not
be and cannot be coined to excess"
AS an Offset to that, the republican
| platform in this state of 1899 is quot!
ed. OF course, there were eleven
members of the committee. I shared
the responsibility. There was a con,
vention that accepted the plank II
lodges against the republican party
of this state. That is what l CONT
plain Of at this time. They all camd
to that conclusion. SO much for that
platform. And yet, not enough, how.
ever, can be said of that time and of
| the frightful condition comparatively
that existed then. And now, in the
midst Of this Astounding prosperity
such prosperity as this country has
never known, when we ought to be-
| giving thanks rather than filing IN
dictments, we are disposed to return
to politics and the conditions which
! lead up to the great campaign Of
1896. No such campaign as that was
ever waged in the United States.
like to revert to it for it fills me to
overlooking with pride in the citizen
ship of this great country. Cap
| p!ause). Never was mortal man
tempted to wrong as men were tempo
ed in 1896. Out Of their poverty and
distress, walking the streets and
seeking employment; anxious for
friends, family and children; farm
ers in the slough Of despond every
where. But when that great question
was submitted to the American peo-
pie, who at first, possibly, would
have elected Bryan, but when the
moral aspects of the case we're pre-
scented and the campaign OF educa-
ton went on, they raised above all
their trial and with their eyes upon
the flag of our country they said we
will stand by the integrity of the
United States. CONTINUED applause)t
1t is well for us to think of those
times, and why may we not now In
Iowa say that we will stand by the
| integrity of our state. Continued
applause). l do not want to critiI
cize beyond what can support.
do not wish to say anything in this
campaign that would be mortifying
to meet after this campaign is over,
That is a good example. (Applausel,
Campaign Of Bogus Issues.
| At least IL Is a Drecept I believe IN