Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-03-31

selves in company with Washington,
jefferson, Hamilton, Madison, Monroe.
John Marshall, Jackson, Clay, Calhoun.
Webster, Van Buren,, Silas Wright,
Marcy, Seymour. Benton, Douglass,
Cass, Hendricks, Morton, Allan G.
Thurman, Salmon p. Chase and Abra-
ham Lincoln. No fault was ever found
in silver by these illustrious men, nor
danger feared by them on account of
its existence and use as money. The
statement that the silver dollar ever
cheated or defrauded any human being
out of his just dues or the reward of his
labor is shown to be false on every page
Of American history, For nearly 20
years past we have listened to dismal
prophecies as to the injurious effects of
silver currency. No one of them has
come true; no one of them has been
true at any time within the annals of
the Republic.
l seek to prescribe no man on this
question. I do not present it as party
test, no shall submit to having it so
presented to me. shall pursue for
myself the line Of duty which lies so
plainly before me, and l shall do so
without let or hindrance from any
source. l shall vote my own convict
ions and answer to my constituents for
my action. Nor will the silver issue
ever obstruct my vision OF my course
as to other and perhaps greater issues.
1t is in full harmony with the over
towering and masterful issue of tariff
reform, and it has proved itself to be
powerful help and handmaiden to free
government in the defeat of the bill
intended for the forcible subversion of
free elections in the United States.
1t is lately claimed, however,a as last
resort by it's enemies, that nothing
should be attempted at this time on the
subject of silver because nothing can
be accomplished; that, owing to the
fact that the two Houses Of Congress
and the Executive Department Of the
Government are not in agreement, no
measure Oh the subject can become Il
law. 1t this is a reason for nonaction
on the subject of silver,it is a still more
powerful reason, and pleads with still
higher force against any action on the
still greater subject Of tariff reform.
The free coinage Of silver can pass both
branches Of Congress, but will, doubt
less, be vetoed by the president; while
any measure Of tariff reform, free wool
or anything else, can pas but one house
with the absolute certainty of being We
toed if by any possibility it should pass
botM Such a reason for nonaction on
any subject is worthless and untenable.
Let us, therefore, do our duty as each
one sees it for himself.
But let there be action-bold, con-
slant and aggressive Acknowledgment
every evil in sight, leaving the conse-
quences to that high Providence which
rules in the councils of nations as well
as the affairs Of men. The spirit of the
people at this time expects no one to
shrink back from any point in the line
of battle simply because he is not as
sured Of immediate success. The Bruce
OF Scotland was taught the ultimate
point of courage, duty and endurance
by the climbing spiders repeated fail
ures, but constant action and his final
success. The just ends in view by the
laboring people of the United States in
the present crisis of their affairs are
few and simple, but as far-reaching and
as powerful as the mighty principles
which uphold life, liberty and the pur-
suit Of happiness. They may be stated
in brief space, as follows:
First. Absolute equality in the bur-
dens and blessings Of the government
founded Oh tariff reform, which will
place, as nearly as possible, all the ne
cessaries Of life on the free list causing
wealth, and the graduated incomes of
wealth, rather than the wants and ne
cessltles OF working people, to pay taxes
and furnish Government revenue.
Second. A full and sufficient volume
of money in circulation, consisting of
gold, silver and legal-tender paper cur
rency, at par with each other and i'll
terconvertible.
| Third. Free elections in all States.
untrammeled by ''force bills" OF any
other Federal machinery, implying a
want Of faith in the intelligence. honor
and patriotism Of any portion of the
American people.
Fourth. Rigid economy in public
expenditures so that no more billion
dollar congress may curse the country
TIE VICE-PREsIDENT. The petition
will be referred to the Committee on
Finance in the absence of objection.
! GnIAc and Hn.,n.Ao