Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-10-03

enable Us 20 utilize our strength. and
give erect TO our opinions In the poilti-
cal campaign OF 1896. II should not be
forgotten that the strength of the
Democrats OF each county OF the next
state convention Will be measured by
the number OF Democratic votes they
may poll In this election.
There IN another matter to which 1
must call your attention. because OF the
many false assumptions which have
peen indulged In about II. The Popu-
llsts claim sort OF exclusive patent for
the advocacy Of the free coinage OF sill
yer at the ratio OF l6 OF silver TO 1 of
goid' Ana certain single gold standard
democrats effect 70 believe that all who
advocate the free coinage Of silver at
that ratio are Populists. This is a dis
honest pretext. Silver was demonetlzed
ny Republican congress. In tho year
1870 Ana this was so secretly done
that many senators and representatives
who were then In congress have de-
clared that they did not know that a
Jaw mad been passed which demone-
tized silver. And President Grant, who
approved the law, did not know that II
demonetized silver ii year after It's
passage The representatives 10 the
forty-fourth congress were elected In
80, and took their seats In December.
1910 This was the first time after the
war that the Democrats had majority
IN Tue house OF representatives. During
wat congress they commenced the
struggle TO restore silver to the place
from which II was taken In 1879 as a
part OF the constitutional metallic mon
ey or the country. They have kent that
struggle up at each congress since that
time And the Republican party has
gu mat time opposed It's restoration.
p, ~ the coinage of silver at the ratio OF
10 TO became and Is Htill an issue be-
tween the Democratic and Republican
parties, the Democrats favoring rs rc-
storation to the position II occupied be.
lore 1913 and the Republicans opposing
that policy. This is shown by the num-
eruus test votes In both the house ana
senate at every congress for the last
elghteen years, In which these parties
uNlucd on that question In one form
or another. / do not mean thar either
party has been unit ON this orostion
put | do mean that the great body OF
the Democrats voted for and the great
BODY OF the Republicans voted against
the coinage and use OF silver.
III IL be said that In the vote on tho
lereal or the purchRgng clause ~ tho
sherman law majority OF the Demo-
Gratis voted for that meagure tho an
swer is that the Democratic of boib
houses of congress voted against INC
passage OF that law, and their votes to
repeal II We're in accordance with
their votes against It's passage. Aud
they Were assured that n they would
vote for IT'S unconditional repeal sat.
istactory law would be passed for the
coinage OF silver. That this under.
standing did exist is shown by speeches
In the two houses Of congress soon
after pending the passage OF a law
which required the coinage OF about
$55,0O0,OO0 OF silver bullion held In the
treasury, including the S55156. GSi OF
solgnlorage of silver. Twenty-eight
southern senators voted on this bli.
Twenty-Five OF them voted to pass II,
and three OF them voted with the Ro-
publicans to defeat II. II was vetoed
by the president and returned TO the
house. on the question ns to whether
Il should pass, Notwithstanding the
objections OF the president, one hun
dred and twenty-one Democrats voted
for It. being more than two-thirds of
the Democrats, and flfty-nye Demo-
Gratis, less than one-third OF the Demo-
Gratis, voted with the Republicans
against 1t. and so prevented its pass
age over the veto by n two-thirds
vote. Both the Texas senators and
all the Texas representatives voted for
the bill what better could the Popu-
lists OF Texas have done? SO. you see.
the Democrats have been the advocates
OF inc Tree colnuEe OF SILVER Ut lHe RI ]
ito OF lG TO / long before this modest
Popullst party had an existence. And
their claim 10 be It's exclusive cham
plons, and the charge OF the single gold
standard men that Its advocates are
all Popullsts, are equally preaumptuous
and equally false
In conclusion / appeal TO all Demo- !
Gratis 30 adhere to their principles. |
stand by their party organizations and |
on the day OF election to 20 10 the polls |
and vote for their candidates ns best
FOR themselves. best FOR their families. /
and best for their country.
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