Emerson on Sound Money

Willis Emerson

Willis George Emerson

Emerson on Sound Money / A Speech, 1896

SPEECH OF HON. WILLIS GEORGE EMERSON,

Lockerby Hall, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

October 29, 1896.

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen – I am indeed pleased to meet such a magnificent audience in this manufacturing city of Grand Rapids, noted from ocean to ocean for her culture, commerce and progress. Especially am I pleased to speak in your city in behalf of sound money, protection and reciprocity, under the auspices of the Young Men's Republican Club. I bring you greeting from the state of Illinois, and promise you that she will give a majority of 150,000 on next Tuesday for William McKinley. I am proud to hail from the grand old state of Illinois – a state that gave to our common country in the darkest days of our nation's history, Logan, that matchless civilian general; gave the unconquerable Grant, the tanner from Galena, and offered up as a holy sacrifice the "rail-splitter" president from the Sangamon bottoms – Abraham Lincoln. But to-night I remember that I am in the state of Michigan – magnificent commonwealth – almost illimitable in her resources, unconquerable in her courage, phenomenal in her progress, invincible in her pluck, unswerving in her patriotism, the home of the gallant Alger, and the former abode of that matchless statesman and patriot – the gifted Zach Chandler. Fellow citizens, we are in the closing days of the most momentous political campaign ever witnessed in our common country. He who would question the sincerity or honesty of a political opponent's views in this crusade must for the time being forget the school house on the hill and the high plain of intelligence of American citizenship.

KNOWS "COIN" HARVEY

Hon. W. H. Harvey, author of Coin's Financial School, is a gentleman I have known for many years, and for as many years as we have known each other, we have been warm personal friends. Toward the man I entertain the greatest respect; toward his theories I regard them as idle, visionary sophistries as unstable as "the house that was built upon sand." The student who really gives thought to the financial question will early discover that Coin's Financial School rests upon a false foundation and the superstructure must surely fall when beat against by the irresistable and truth capped waves of facts and history. No better answer can be given to these misleading and false theories than a plain, truthful statement of our coinage laws and the effect of legislation relating thereto. Fellow citizens, whatever else we may be, we are all Americans, either by birth or adoption; we respect and love the same flag and the undying principles which it represents. We do not differ in a desire for good government. We may differ and differ widely, however, in our opinions and ideas as to what laws will insure the greatest blessings to the people of this nation. Fortunately for the Republican party the American people are a reading and a thinking people, and the problems of the present campaign are now on trial before a jury of 70,000,000 of honest peers, not one of whom am I willing to believe would wantonly strike down the flag of our country, or any of its cherished institutions.

THE PEOPLE A JURY

This audience is a part of that great jury, who, after the evidence is all in, will decide one way or the other, with an avalanche of snowy ballots, as spotless in their purity as the honest hearts of the voters who cast the verdict into the ballot boxes. As Americans we are justly proud of our birthright – proud of the air of freedom that kisses the stars and stripes – our nation's ensign, emblematical of mighty victories in the past, a guarantee of protection in the present to all who stand beneath its folds and laden with rich promises of future prosperity. Our country is greater than the men whose election it is our pleasure to advocate. It is not men but measures which we are to consider. An earnest conscientious desire to investigate and determine the right, should absorb and thrill the