the enemies' eyes to
shoot directly between them. History tells us that the third volley
charmed and the British surrendered to the American army once more
without an international agreement.

In the blackest of the dark days of the late rebellion when the
possible, and to a certain extent the seeming probable success of the
confederacy was spreading like an appalling cloud over our country, we
find it on record that the English were preparing their man-of-war and
navy to assist the South when the illustrious Lincoln said, "Hands
off," and it was so; suppose Mr. Lincoln had said to England, "Let us
have an international agreement that you are not to interfere." Why, my
friends, I believe England would have signed such an agreement the day
after Mr. Lincoln had acknowledged the independence of the Southern
States, and not before. We may as well know that the success of a
Republican or Democratic form of government is envied by all the
monarchies or empires where the people have less self-government. The
gold standard monarchies or empires will never, knowingly, do anything
to improve times in a republic and thus create among their subjects a
desire to throw off the monarchial yoke of oppression.

I know that much has been said against the American republic becoming
entangled with the European powers, but I fear that many in treating on
this line do not show the real menace of such an entanglement. We all
know that the laws of the empires and monarchies are in the interest of
the moneyed classes, and we are proud to say that in America our laws
are for the masses.

Let me tell you by way of comparison why we should keep out of an
international agreement entanglement on the money question. I will use
the tariff as an illustration. I care not what your politics may be,
you will all agree with me that there was one redeeming feature in the
McKinley bill. That some good feature was in the Wilson-Gormon act, and
the same quality of goodness today shines forth in the present Dingley
tariff law. Do you ask what that feature is? I answer it is this: That
law was passed by the independent action of the American Congress. If
we do not like it we can repeal it, without waiting for the aid or
consent of any other nation on earth.

Our Government bonds are all payable in coins of the United States of
the standard weight and value of July 14, 1870; that weight was 23.22
grains of gold or 371.25 grains of silver to the dollar. The