The Washington herald., 1914-04-07
HISTORY BUILDERS.
The Speech Which Made conkliLs' !,
Reputation.
written Expressly for The Herald.
BY DIR. Il. J. EDWARDS.

u
Written Expressly for The Herald.
BY DIR. T.. ,. EDWARDS.
Roscoe conkllng and were so nearly
OF an age that it is not far from the
truth to say 49, we were boys together
in Utica. N. IT, said the late Commo-
dore Van Santvoord to me year or two
before his death in 1901 He had been
speaking to me OF the adoption of the
gold standard by Congress in Presiden,
McKinley's administration. and the fact
that this had cen done brought to the
commodore vivid recollection Of an Incl
dent In the early career OF Conkling,
shortly before he entered public life al
Washington.
Although our lives drifted apart. :"
continued the commodore. 81 going into
the transportation business on the Erie
Canal and the Hudson River. and Conk-
ling building up a law practice at Utica
under the eye Of Francis Herman. who
was afterward a colleague OF Conkling in
the United States Senate, yet we kept in
somewhat close personal touch. Like al
most all the citizens OF Utica, j was very
proud of Conkling. and I remember well
the compliments which he received for a
SpCCNh "htIu nc uthNCTCo Whcl =
Der OF the Lower House OF Congress in
the early years OF the civil war.
There had been a great deal of dis
cussIon at that time over the currency
question. Specie payments had been
suspended. and the people were trying to
get along with any kind OF currency.
some of It made up OF milk tickets or
postage stamps or street car tickets. The
people were about ready to accept any
thing that would pass current for money.
'fConkling told some Of his friends IN
Utica that he was apprehensive that the
government would issue paper currency,
possibly in large amounts. and that II
was his purpose to speak In opposition
to the plan at the first opportunity he
had at the next session Of Congress.
'Only a few of Conkling's intimate
friends knew how patient and thorough a
student he was He was occupied every
minute that he could spare from his
other duties in studying the currency
question. both from its historical and its
economic points OF view. He told me
later that the more he studied the ques-
tion the more convinced he became that
nent and sound basis for the currency
system Of any country. and that was
coin.
II sometimes wish that those who in
recent years have been studying this
money question would read the speech
that Conkiing delivered at the time
Congress was engaged in considering a
bill for the establishment Of a national
bank which was to be privileged to issue
whose securities were bonds OF
the United States.
He was then only a little past thirty |
years of age-possibly thirty-three. and |
4 spleDdfd TUNA ~ AnArican
think that at the time of the delivery
1f the speech II caused more attention by |
reason OF his splendid diction and his |
capacity to discuss an ahstruse and some |
what dry subject in such manner as TO |
make what he said OF utmost interest |
han for any other reason.
He was absolutely opposed to the is |
'ue OF paper money. unless behind il /
'tood coin for its redemption. He argued |
hat the government could easily main
ain specie payments. He traced the
movements OF coin 10 and from the /
Treasury. He showed how II could be
Utilized over and over again. I think
I'm safe in saying that there was not
citizen OF Utica who was OF intelli-
renee enough to comprehend a speech
delivered by a member OF Congress. who
lid not read the verbatim report of
;onkling's speech and who did not re-
'aro nus uefnOhsTauon as perfect
We'll, that speech established Conk-
ing's reputation as one Of the leading
men Of that body. But II has been for
Iotten. and in the exciting events of
,onklings later career the fact was over
ooked. that he became the champion
4 hard money at a time when Congress
vas preparing to adopt the national
anking system which permitted issues
4 national bank currency that were
ased upon United States bonds.
Occasionally I read my copy of Conk-
ng's speech. recalling what reputation
gave him, but especially for the Won
erful charm OF its literary style. which
illustrated perhaps as well by this
peech as by any other which he ever
lade"
CCOpSTight. 1914 |
Tomorrow-Dr Edwards will tell How