Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-05-09

that In 1890 was critical time for
the republican party of this state and
Of this country. l was with the re-.
publican party then as | am now. II
do not remember of meeting the Cow
ernor In that campaign. Laughter
and applause). Why, you remember
some Of you at least will 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. CAM
I call the districts-1st, End, 4th, 6th
9Th and 9th, in that year Of 1890. In
that convention in Sioux City which
was held only little while before
the act of July 14th, 1890. which pro-
vided for the purchase Of 4,500.000l
ounces Of silver bullion, manifestly,
which was to be given out in the
place Of treasury certiflcates-ini
1900. The republican party at that
time was making one Of it's great con.
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 Democratic house that
year. Two years later, Grover
Cleveland was elected for the secondl
time, and In the spring Of 1s93-inA
deed before he had been sworn into,
Office. the black plague spread over
this country. We were without In
dustry. The banks were failing.i
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 denocratic'
Congress introduced a new coinage
act and finally, after two months OF
that sort of stress, the republicans OF
either house CT Congress acted with
the democrats who were faithful to
Cleveland and repealed the purchase
clause of the Sherman act. have
here just 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 MAN,
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 1t has said q
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 couni
try. But we were not out Of the woods
by long shot. In 1898, the figure of
Cummins appeared. There was q
United States senatorship in sight
Interesting History.
That was in 1893 Therefore, mind
you, In the midst of the record OF
this country In acknowledgements
in session wrestling with this great
problem-in the midst of all this, he
writes, Therefore, / 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 1890 is quot
ed. or course, there were eleven
members of the committee. I shared
the responsibility. There was a cons
vention that accepted the plank. n
lodges against the republican party
Of this state. That is what I com.
plain of at this time. They all came
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
1895. 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. Gap
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-
Pile, who at first, possibly, would
have elected Bryan, but when the
moral aspects of the case were pre-
sented 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).
It Is we'll 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). do not want to criti-
CHE beyond what I can support.
do not wish to say anything In this
campaign that would be notifying
to meet after this campaign Is over.
That Is q good example. (Applause).
Campaign of Bogus Issues.
At least. 1t Is a precept l believe in
noble thoughts and high ideals, but
am prepared to say In order that