The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-24
Was the Demonstration Of Silver
at the Demand of Brit
ish Interests.
Perpetrated in 1873 by the Re-
publican Party of the
United States.
Vigorous Resolutions Adopted by the
American Bi- Metallic League in Ses-
sion at the National Capital

WASHINGTON. Feb. 23.-At to- days session
of the American Bi-Metallo league the
committee OH resolutions made the follow
ing report:
! Whereas. The great moral and financial
| crime of the nineteenth century was the
demonstzing of silver in 1873 by the con-
gress of the United States, acting under the
influence OF British persuasion and British
interests; and
Whereas. Said act is destructive OF the
interests of the American people. and in
disregard of the financial policy inaugu-
rated at the beginning of the government
under the wise guidance of such statesmen
as Washington, Hamilton and Jefferson,
and formulated in the act founding the
mint of the United States in 1882, and
which established a just ratio between gold
and silver ns mint metals;
Therefore, In behalf Of the wronged poo
pie and suffering industries of the land, We
demand the free and unlimited coinage of
silver at the present ratio of sixteen to one.
We denounoe az unconstitutional and rev.
olutionary all legislation which in any way
| discriminates between silver and gold az
| money metals. We denouncel ii as incon-
sistent with sound public policy to confer
or advise. directly or indirectly, with any
foreign nation as to what the money or cur
rency of the United Stales should be. We
denounce the recent attempt to repeal the
act of 1890, requiring the treasury depart
ment to make monthly purchases of silver,
as menace to the prosperity Of the coun-
try and an attempt to repeal the emergency
compromise forced upon US at that time,
and we will resist it's repeal by ali leRiti-
! mate measures at our hands, unless il be to
substitute in lieu thereof the free and un-
limited coinage OF silver.
| We also denounce the measure now pend
ing before congress to authorize the addi-
| tional issue of governments bonds as vicious
and wholly 9nwarranted by the present
| financial condition of the country. and as
an attempt to extend and perpetuate in
dustrial servitude. We declare it to be our
purpose to continue our struggle until
Justice is secured, and to this end we will
make an unremitting effort to educate and
diately open the contest in the middle and
eastern states and we call upon all fair
minded people in all sections of the union
to aid us in the struggle for industrial
emancipation.
The report gave rise TO considerable dis
cussion, but finally was adopted unani-
mously.
IL. F. kolb, populist candidate for gov
ernor of Alabama. endorsed the aims of
the convention. Senator Jones, Nevada,
explained the Brussels conference. He
said Is Per cent of the population of Lon
don is living upon charity. and vet the
English commissioners asked the United
States delegates to agree in their estima-
tion Of the value of silver and adopt pol
iov that brought about this wretched con-
dition. A proposition is now before con-
gress to issue more bonds. He said it is a
n @nti friN ort uiO khsAk y,
banks wanted to control the circulating
medium of the country.
Gen. Field. candidate for vice. president
on the peoples party ticket. spoke. severely
criticising President Elect Cleveland for
trying to defeat the election of candidates
before the various legislatures who repre-
sented the wishes of the people OF the silver
question.