The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-11-30
SILVER MEMS DEMAN.
Congress Asked 10 Place the White
Metal on a Par With
Gold.
The Best Speech of the Session
Delivered by Delegate Fitch,
OF Nevada.


ST. LOUIS. Nov. 29.-in the silver conven-
tion Yesterday p. Bland, chairman of the
committee ON resolutions, presented the fol-
lowing report: The national silver conven-
tion held in ST. Louis, Mo-, Nov. 26, "a and
y, 1889, adopted this preamble and resolu-
ton as their deliberate opinion that the
demonstration of silver has worked prac-
tical violation of every contract then exist
ing in the United States, entailed unwonted
losses, reduced prices more than 10 pei
cent, and it's effect is practically TO make
debts perpetual, as it takes from the debtor
the ability to pay them; il causes contrac-
ton of the currency which reduces its
value. until there is no profit left TO the
farmer. planter OF men of small capital, who
depended on the sale of products for returns
for their labor: that we believe the certlt-
cate of the government, backed dollar Tor
dollar by gold and silver coin, on deposit IN
the treasury of the United States, Is a safe
and sound currency, and has been approved
by the people; that considering the contrac-
| tion caused by the surrender of national
bank notes during the last three years, and
the vast sums that must be collected by the
cancellation of government bonds during
! the next three years. the necessity OF restor-
| ing silver is as manifest as IL the justice OF
such policy. That the gold and silver Of
the west pouring in steady stream upon
the east for forty years vitalized every form
of business there. and steaded and upheld
| the credit of the nation through great war
| and made resumption possible, and what we
now demand Is AZ much more 10 the interest
of the east than of the west as the produc-
tions of the east exceed in value the produc-.
tions of the west; that we believe in equal
rights of gold and silver, free coinage for
both, and that no nation ever had or will
have too much gold and silver coin.
Now, therefore. be IL resolved, that the
Fifty-first congress be requested at its first
session TO pass law for the opening of
mints in the United States 10 the free and
unlimited coinage of standard silver dollars
of the present weight and tneness, 10 be
legal tender for all debts, public OF private.
equal with gold, and that until such pro-
vision is made, the secretary Of the treasury
be required to coin maximum of 5000
600 per month as now authorized by law.
Mr.. Bland announced the gentleman from
Iowa, Mr.. Weller, desired his report he
printed as part Of the proceedings of the
convention, and that he would offer no fur
ther opposition TO the adoption uf the ma
jority report. He did this in the interest
of harmony. The report of the committee
on resolutions was then adopted 10y vote
of l35 TOT.
A resolution offered by Gen. Minter, of
Missouri. favoring an international silver
congress during the worlds far, was tabled.
Fitch, of Nevada, was by special request
called 10 the platform and delivered long
address, which was one of the best delivered.
In an exhaustive review of the labor diff
culties. he laid all of the blame for the
poverty stricken condition of the working
classes nj the door of the capitalists who
demonetized silver. For twenty years, he
said. we have had abundant prosperity. but
at the end of il we find wealth centered in
few hands, What has the laborer to show
for twenty years of toilY He can boast that
the aggregate wealth o. the nation slargely
increased. of factories established, cities
erected, rivers bridged, transcontinental
highways reaching from ocean TO ocean, he
can call the roll of the millionaires, and
will respond where before the war there was
less than 200. He can wipe the
sweat from his weary face,
and reflect that among the 5000 million
aires may be enumerated the names Of
twenty American citizens who have gath
cred $l,bO OO,0O,0O from the toll and tears of
sixty millions of people. He can walk
weary and shelteress in the shadow of the
palace he has built, but may not enter
seek not 10 assail the rights of capitalists
or arouse against them the preiudices of
poverty or unthrift: but for twenty years
capital has tampered with the peoples
money, and gathered to itself illicit gains
by increasing the burdens of industry The
fight for the restoration of silver IL the
fight of the debtors against the creditors,
the laborer against the capitalist, the
poor against the rich. II is idle for the mo-
nomctaIlists TO tell us prices have been
reduced because of the increased produc-
tion in India. This may be the approx
mate cause, but / say the cause will be
found in silver decentralization alone. Eng
land has become to-day the greatest silver
consumer in the world, and yet in all her
vast empire she produces less than per
cent of the worlds supply, aud Germany,
, co-conspirntOr in the work of demonetiza-
tion. produces less than per cent. Eng
land is the bunco-steerer Of the world, and
J Uncle Sam is the gentleman from the rural
district.
How much longer will our miners, plant
ers and farmers consent that our senators
and representatives nj Washington shall
continue 10 legislate IN the interest Of Wall
streetl Is il not time for the American
eagle 10 rise and shake the Liverpool salt
from It's taily Great applause.) II may be
the sudden reconciliation of silver would
produce some temporary disturbance in
Wall street, but the eastern and western
boundaries of this nation are not found be-
tween Pearl street and Broadway. We are
this country. and their interests should be
protected though the bulls Of the Wall
street bucket shops below with rage"
resolution was offered by Fitch, Of
Nevada, providing for the appointment of
national silver committee, which should
be empowered 10 call another national sill
yer convention and provide for the election
Of delegates thereto. Also that said ma
tionnl silver committee be empowered to
provide for the organization of "A national
silver leRgue for the promotion of the OBJ
jects Of this convention. Adopted.
The following were appointed as the COM
mittee; Alabama AlOnzo Irwin, Salem:
Arkansas, John G. Fletcher, Little Rock;
Arizona, w. j. Cheyerrv, Tombstone: Cali
fornia, James MoSudden, Vallejo; District
Of Columbia, Lee Crandall, Washington:
Illinois. W. L. Phelps, Elmwood; Indiana,
Thomas II. Nelson, Terre Haute;
Kansas, W. NJ. Frotesque, Leavenworth;
Kentucky Yoder poignard, Taylorsyille;
Missouri, Col. John Doniphnn, st. Joseph;
Michigan, Hon. Ben CALVIN, st. Charles;
Montana, Charles +. Mussigbrod, Deer