Gold standard | - Theodore Roosevelt Center

Address at the Founders’ Day Banquet of the Union League (edited copy)

President Roosevelt thanks the members of the Union League of Philadelphia for their commitment to upholding the principles of Abraham Lincoln. He praises the traits that brought the American people through the Civil War and subsequent trials that the nation faced. Roosevelt asks the assembled club to reflect on former President William McKinley’s policies, and says that while policies alone cannot make a nation great, “good laws and good administration of the laws can give to strong, honest, brave men a chance to do well.” Roosevelt praises McKinley’s ability to handle the unexpected challenges of the Spanish-American War and subsequent acquisition of the Philippines. He outlines the current situation in the Philippines, with the ending of the Philippine-American War, the establishment of civil administration, and general situation of peace. Roosevelt advises that the government must solve issues related to the industrial growth of the nation. This is the press copy of Roosevelt’s speech with handwritten edits and applause noted.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-11-22

Thanksgiving

Mark Hanna is about to carve a large turkey labeled “Presidency” resting on a gold platter labeled “Sound Money Vote.” Newly elected president William McKinley is sitting at the head of the table, looking heavenward, and the White House is visible through a window behind Hanna. Caption: “For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1896-11-25

Bryan is the ablest worker for sound money

William Jennings Bryan stands on one side of a scale, cranking out speeches labeled “Wind, Weak Speech, Cheap Oratory, Boy Talk, Silly Speech, Free Silver Sophistry, Dangerous Propositions, Mercenary Reasoning, Silly Speech by Bryan, Bryan’s Blatherskite Oratory, Foolish Speeches by Bryan, Bryan’s Demagogic Speeches, [and] Bryan’s Inflammatory Talk,” which land at the feet of William McKinley, standing on the other side of the scale, holding a paper labeled “Gold Standard.” Caption: The more he talks, the more McKinley weighs.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1896-10-21

Well protected

William McKinley walks down a street in the neighborhood of “Anarchy Slum” with a tall, well-dressed female figure labeled “Gold Standard” on his arm and two policemen labeled “Palmer” and “Buckner” walking behind them. On the wall is a presidential campaign poster that states, “Vote for Bryan, Watson and Repudiation.” In the background, Mary E. Lease is standing at the corner of a building, and Benjamin R. Tillman and John Peter Altgeld are standing on a cobblestone street labeled “Populist Alley.” An unidentified man, possibly William Sulzer, is leaning against the wall of the building, between “Miss Gold Standard” and “Palmer.” Caption: Miss Gold Standard and her escort have a brace of strong policemen to see them through the slums of Popocracy.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1896-10-07

A painful position for nurse McKinley

William McKinley, dressed as a nurse, perspiring, sits in a rocking chair with an infant labeled “Gold Standard” on his lap and another child labeled “High Protection” crying on the floor. Caption: “I’ve got to take care of this Gold Baby for my political living, but I love my own tootsey-wootsey the best!”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1896-09-02

Pioneer Cleveland

President Cleveland stands on the right, holding an axe labeled “Political Wisdom,” in a forest where he has been cutting trees labeled “Gold Standard.” Approaching from the left is a procession led by Mark A. Hanna, as drum major, followed by William McKinley, Garret A. Hobart, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas B. Reed, George F. Hoar, John Sherman, Henry Cabot Lodge, and others. One is carrying a banner that states, “The Repubican Party is unreservedly for Sound Money – the existing Gold Standard must be preserved. Rep. Platform.” Caption: He blazed the path that they have got to follow.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1896-08-26

To put our finances on a sound basis

Ebenezer J. Hill provides recommendations on financial and monetary policy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-08-03

Detroit speech

Draft of a speech with handwritten corrections. Governor Roosevelt rebukes several statements from William Jennings Bryan regarding economic policy, bimetallism, patriotism, and imperialism.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1900-09-06

Letter from Henry Cabot Lodge to Theodore Roosevelt

Henry Cabot Lodge discusses the impact on the Republican and Democratic parties of the debate over the gold vs. silver standard. He also considers the level of support in various regions of the nation for several likely presidential candidates. Lodge responds to Theodore Roosevelt’s critique of Representative Thomas B. Reed for not speaking out firmly enough in support of the gold standard when he cast a vote on legislation dealing with gold bonds. Lodge asks Roosevelt to “straighten out” George W. Smalley, the American correspondent of the London Times and a personal friend and promoter of Roosevelt’s, on the true American sentiment regarding the Monroe Doctrine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1895-08-10