The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-06
GEN. WEAVER In THE SOUTH.
His Position Explained and Defended by n
Helena Follower.

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Helena Follower.
TO The INDEPENDENT: Several days ago
you stated editorislly that "Weavsr's record
In the past must satisfy It's tthe people
party members that he IL not In hearty
sympathy with the movement for FREQ sill
vei; free coinage was an after thought with
him. a vote catching proposition In a plat
FORM And this morning, seemingly to
clinch the assertion of last week, you quote
from tho ~greenbsck platform Of 1876, ON
which MT. Peter Cooper was the candidate
being q member Of that party, was opposed
TO the free coinage OF silver, and that free
coinage wal 81 after Thought with him."
Now, will You, as the leading democratic
newspaper of Montana. dare affirm that
Grover Cleveland approves all the plat
forms Of the democratic party from its
foundationp will you even dare to assert
that Grover Cleveland endorses each and
every plank .of the platform on
which he stands as the candi-
date to-day? X 30. ask him
tfor no did not say 30 in his letter of 40
csptancs) If he favors the Adjustment of
the 10 per cent tax on state banks? II so,
ask him II he believes that the ''levyinR Of
tariff duties ia unoonstitutionar'--(hs says.
In his letter OF acceptance, shat 1--WE con
template a fair and careful distribution Of
the NECESSARY TARIFF BURDENs'')? Asto the
question of the free coinage OF silver Mr..
Cleveland stands to-day where he has al
ways stood. viz: silver's most bitter and
unrelentinR enemy. In February last, while
the friends OF silver were making a most
gallant fight in congress for free coinage. a
meeting OF Wall street satellites was held
in the city of New York for the purpose of
beading of the people and using, their in
that meeting Mr.. Cleveland was invited,
but he did not 20. Instead he wrote a let
tor to ."E. Ellery Anderson, chairman" in
which he regretted that he would not be
able to attend" but assured them that
ne was lin hearty sympathy with
the busirs ss mems movement" However,
Montana democrats could probably con-
done that stab at their very existence If he
had, einco that time, experienced any
change Of heart. But has he? Let us see!
In his letter of acceptance he say6 "contin-
ued reflection and observation have oon-
irmed me IN my adhe ence to the opinions
which have heretofore plainly and pub
lioly declared"
AS to Gen. Viewers attitude toward the
silver question, granting that he made
speeche s for Peter Cooper, has he not been
himself always n staunch and consistent
friend OF free coinage? Was free coinage
an afterthought with him. in 1879, when,
on the floor Of the national house of repre-
AN " 0hA icpuoliCdIk0 Wot0
waving the "bloody shirt and fighting
anew the war of the rebellion, the gallant
Gen. Weaver, in q splendid speech, urging
an abatement of sectional hate and preju-
dice took occasion to say a word for silver.
In closing he said:
I'm conclusion / will say that unless you
pass at this session. FIRST. A LAW FOR THE
UNRESTRICTED COINAGE OF SILVER; second, a
law for the substitution of g~reenbacks for
national bank notes; third, a law stopping
the further increase of the bonded debt,
and providing for the speedy payment of
the debt now outstanding; fourth, q law
liberating the five hundred or more mil
lions now lying in the treasury; fifth. to
give the people an opportunity to escape
from the impending loss of their homes,
very few of the gentlemen who occupy seats
upon this floor will ever see them again."
Now note. if you please. that instead Of
free coinage being an a~fterthouRht with
him." Gen. Weaver placed it, thirteen
years ago, first among i've propositions for
the relief of the people.
Was free coinage a vote-catchinR propo-
sition in "A platform" in 1880, when Gen.
Weaver was the candidate OF tho green
backers? 1hs following is the financial
plank of the greenback platform Of that
year:
2. That the bonds Of the United States
should not be refunded but paid as rapidly
as practicable according to contract. To
enable the government to meet these obi
cations legal tender currency should be
substituted for the notes of the national
banks, the national banking system abol-
ished, AND THE UNLIMITED COINAGE OF SILVER,
AS WE'LL AS GOLD, ESTABLISHED BY LAW.
The supporters of Gen. Weaver are. at all
times, glad of the opportunity to compare
hia record on the silver question with those
of Cleveland and Harrison, and are not
afraid for the light to shine upon the in
telliRent voters of Montana.
JAMES w. EAsT1N.