The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-06-23
THREE AM ERICAN PARTIES.

Arena for June entitled, docs the
Country Demand Free Coinage of Sill
yer!" A, G. Fisk Of the Bi-Metallic
league says: Both the old parties are
under absolute control of the gold party.
We have had in this country for twenty
years three partles-the republican, the
democratic, and the gold party" And
he might have added that the greatest
of these is the gold party, because 1t
controls and dominates the others.
Mr.. Fisk's opening paragraph is a
singer. Hesays:
The gold power well knew when they
~demonetized silver in 1873 what would
be the result, and they have, bv con-
trolling the metropolitan press of the
country, substituting congress, anu nomi-
mating and electing presidents. been able
to smother this question until they have
doubled the value Of their money and
decreased the value of everything else one
half. At home more than thrce-fourtns
Of the members OF congress are for free
coinage; but under the influence of the
magic wand of the gold despots of the
world, enough OF them succeed in de-
ceivlng their constituents into the belief
that they nave made an honest effort to
remonetize silver.
Not long ago such IA presentation of
the facts as is contained in the above
would not have found a place in any of
the great periodicals of the east, and its
appearance in the Arena is proof posi-
tive that the leaven of free silver is max
ing its way, and that the mass of the
American people are determined to know
the truth and to act upon it.
Further on Mr.. Fisk says:
When silver was ~demonetized there
were probably just two men in congress
who knew it-John Sherman. chairman
of the finance committee of the senate.
and Mr.. Hooper, chairman of the house
committed. Each was appointed re-
spectively as chairman of the conference
committee on the bill regulating the
management of the mints. This bill
was drawn by Ernest Seyd, representing
the gold trust of the world. 1t was near,
ly two years before the deception was
discovered. This piece of legislation was
contaminated wholly in the interests of
tho creditor classes.
The writer also points out that tho de-
monetizing clause was passed by stealth,
and that this fraud would vitiate the
law and permit of a return to the consti-
tutional currency Of the republic if a
fair decision could be had in the courts.
Then bouncing upon the strongest point
in the whole controversy, be says, refer
ring to the inequalities brought about
by the CRY oretization of silver:
The tax which the farmer and cotton
planter, debter, and laborer pays is lille
gal, and those who reap the benefits
know 1t. The law is a crime and those
who take advantage of it ar. pa'ticeps
criminis. But they succeed in legaliz-
the robbery by having some
friend act as the agent, and loan
those who have been derrauded
their W money, inducing the borrower
to legalize tho robbery by executing his
note and securing it by a MORTGAGE.
What would be thought by the civilized
nations OF h world Of any country
where a condition of affairs like this
should exist! Suppose at the close of
each year the farmer or planter who had
gathered his crop, marketed it, and re-
ceived the proceeds for it., was met on
MS return home by a brigand who or
lered him to throw up his hands. rianJ
ais pockets, and took from him fifty per
cent of the money received for the Years
Iabor. Suppose soon after an agent of
he hrlDann ghnItlI ntfn, - ~,., Ill
money to him who had been defrauded.
of him a note and a MORTGAGE
requiring ten per cen interest and ten
cent commission for making the loan.
The necessities of tho victims compel
mem TO accept the offer, and IN this way
arms n homes of the producers of
,arth are swept from them, moneyed
.irlstocracy built up, and tho producer
'educed to practical slavery.
Some other points made in this cy-
article in the Arena will be
'rought to the notice Of our readers in
uture issues. 1t is a bombshell thrown
nto the very camp of the enemy, and it
not fail TO throw them into confu-
and work some benefits TO the silver
ause.
h silver propaganda is in the field.
large number of orators have volun-
eered to take the stump and there is no
eason why the wal cry for the congress
elections next year should not be
Free silver or DEATH" Then we shall
ee which are the stronger, the pluto
with their single standard or the
with tine silver and gold of the
constitution.