The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-14
THE SILVER RESOLUTIONS,

Presented by Hon. T, NJ. Patterson 70,
the Majority of the COMMITTEES.
When the congress- convened Mt two p
NJ. President Newlands called NJ. H. Sla-
ter, Of Colorado. TO the chair and retired
with the committee on resolutions. 1t was
nearly I've O'Clock before the committee re-
ported. The report WAS read from the
platform by Hon. Thomas Patterson, OF
Colorado. Before reading it he said: We
have prepared this report because We deem
1t wise that upon the subject of FREQ coin
age this congress should act as speedily az
possible, believing that it may have some
influence in shaping the result in tho con-
sideration of the free coinage bill now be-
ing considered in the house. 1t was deemed
wise to prepare a resolution enbodying the
sentiments of the congress that it might be
telegraphed to Washington. II il
but proper to say that this il
not the report of the committee ON resolu-
lions that will express the views of the COM
mittse on all questions that will properly
ooms before the congress, but 10 one which
relates solely to the question Of silver. II
has been drawn with careful attention, and
considered both by the sub committees and
the full committee. There is some division,
but the great majority are heartily in favor
OF the adoption Of that which I will now
read:
The National Mining congress-, now in
session at Helena, Mont, comprised of
delegates from nineteen states aud two ter
%ritories, having in mind the interests of tho
cotton planters of the south and the wheat
growers of the west, of labor and property
IN all its forms. az we'll az the interests Of
the miners in the mountain states ant TOR
%ritotles, denounce the act Of 1873. by which
silver was demonstized, as a great national
calamity. and we hold it to be the impsta-
tive duty of the representatives of the peo-
pie now In congress assembled TO pass with
out delay the bill for the reconciliation Of
silver that has already passed the senate.
We d%enounce as maliciously and design
eddy false the charge that the silver men of
the country are in favor Of q ssventy-oent
dollar. or of any dollar that is of less in
trins,o value than any other dollar coined
and circulated in the United States. We
also declare that the responsibility for the
bullion in the silver dollars now coined
being OF less intrinsic value than the bull
lion IN the gold dollars, rests solely with
those who d~enonetizsd silver and forced
the people to accept the laws OF 1878 and
1851, BY which free coinage for silver has
been denied and tue purchase of bullion
by the government in the lowest markets
OF the world substituted in its stead. And
we further declare our unaiterable convic-
tlon to be based upon sound economic
principles and the actual experience OF the
world between 1850 and 1860, when the rela.
tive increase in the production Of gold in
the United States and the rest Of the
world far exceeded the relative increase of
silver over gold during tho last decade
tnat the demonstration Of silver BY the
United States at the existing ratio will
speedily restore the intrinsic value of tho
silver dollar to that Of the gold dollar.
While w demand that the intrinsic valne
OF tn6 Gold And iIvNY Nn1lnr xh,Il h., oz.nI
We protest against the test of value az to
SILVER being made while silver money is
deoased and tho government ia engaged
under existing laws in depressing the value
OF the bullion BY purchasing it in the low
est markets: but We shall ch%eerfully well
como the test and accept any change that
experience shall make necessary after the
full use OF silver as money has been re-
stored for a reasonable time through the
act now before congress. or any similar
law.
We declare free bi-metallic coinage for
Rold and silver at the existing ratio to be
tue most important public question now
unsettled in the United States. That so
long as there 10 a lack Of sound metal
money Upon which to do the business Of
the country. and upon which to bass q full
and falr volume of governmental paper
money, and while there are powerful and
preponderating influences in the two old
parties seeking ultimately to bring this
country to a single gold standard-in the
meantime deceivinR the people with declar-
atlonS IN party platforms about bi-mstnl-
ilsm which arc deceptive and are intended
III no manner to bind presidents elected
upon them to approve u free coinage Jaw
tho question 81 to whether some articlsa of
foreign product shall come in free OF duty,
or whether tariff duties on others shall bs
feooced ~ OF ~ pei cent. sink into utter in
siRhlhcance as comp pared with thnt of hav-
ing money with which to bay goods and
pay Tor labor, at any price.
And We urge that i'll every section of the
country, north rs we'll as south, that the
true trlends of FREQ b%i-metallic coinage
shall make the unquestioning friendship of
every candidate for any office, bearing any
relation whatever to legislation uuon thai
subject. us one Of the chief tests OF WORTH.
ness TO receive their sut!raRGs. That it IL
only by clearly discerning the right and
acting Independently and untinchinRly to
undo the great wrong of silver demoaetiza-
ZION, that the conspiracy to force the
United States 20 the single gold standard
OF money can bs thwArted.
L.. V. S1nelley, of Minnesota, offered \
minority report, he said, on behalf of a
small minority. At the proper time he
salI he would, under tho rules. take the
moor to say something in relation to the
substitute. tic said be would simulv ar.
PLAN III advance that the substitute wa,
the expression of the bi-metxlic septiments
OF shs republicans and democrats represent.
ing the minority in cutra distinction To
free coinage. The report 10 40 lolIovx: