The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-10-03
SENATOR JONES TELLS WHY.
GIVES HIS REASONS FOR LEAV-
ING THE REPUBLICAN,.
PARTY.
There Can Be No Prosperity With.
out Due Increase in the
Quantity of Money.
(Concluded.)

Upon Mr. Currie's admitting that the
fall in the gold price of silver bullion had
been one of the causes of the fall in the
price of wheat he was asked the question:
..,rhen we have arrived at this, your
own admssion-that there is one industry
which has besn injuriously affected by the
fall in the price of silver?'
To this he answered. There is one COM
modify the price OF which has been lowered
by the fall in the price of silver"
Answer of the English Bankers to
the Demand for Bfmctnllism.
A few further words from his testimony
will give his summing up of the situation.
He said I believe in the inherited prefer
ence for gold know the feeling
of the class to which l belong, and l know
that any change is Numerically opposed
to our feelings, and that whatever change
is made. to whatever extent we can, we
will be clear of it. If we lend a man f1,Ooo,
will say to him: understand, we are
not to be paid back in this new stuff. We
must have gold
This matter l have quoted is sufficient to
show the temper of the gold standard bank
ain or elsewhere. There is doubt that
Mr.. Curre thoroughly understands the feel
ing of his class and candidly sets it forth.
That the government of Great Bratain was
In full accord with the opinion expressed
by him as above quoted is evidenced by
the fact that it appointed him a delegate
to the Brussels monetary conference of
1892. His remarks before that conference
were in line with the testimony he had
given before the royal commission, but ac-
companed by the extraordinary declara-
ton that his monetary ideal was "a gold
standard even without a gold currency"
This is the answer of the banking classes
to the demand of the producing masses
for bmetallsm. 1t is a proposition not
to have more money, but to have less; a
proposition evncing the monstrOuS and
cold hearted determination to further d.
spoil the masses of mankind under the
forms of law; a proposition to produce a
maximum depression in the prices of prop
erty and maximum reduction In the
wages of labor in the interest solely of a
small coterie of money lenders; a PROPOSE
ton for the weighing down of laborers
until, in former periods of history, they
may receive wages of half a penny day,
while the owners of national and other
long time bonds may. for every penny of
debt, receive in wealth. or the products of
labor, the present equivalent of a dollar.
The advocates of the gold standard and
socalled international bimetallists are en-
tirely safe in protesting a readiness to leave
to the arbitrament of European govern
m2nts the question whether the people of
the United States shall have and continue
to have sufficient quantity of money
with which to carry on the processes of in
dustry and enable our people to exchange
the products of their labor among them
IA A no
of this country willing to wait for the free
coinage of silver until they obtain the con-
sent thereto of the class of persons repre-
sented by Mr.. Currie?
If not, the beneficiaries of the standar l
of contraction PROFOUND to the question
What are you going to do about it?'
The Monetary Question Is More I'M
pOrtant Than the Tariff.
A change of party affiliations is not to be
either advised or commended except in
obedience to the impera tive demands of
principle. But 1 submit to my friends and
all who believe with me that in this great
emergency the monetary issue is and of
right ought TO be the supreme if not the
sole issue which should be deemed to
be before the country. That being SO,
ask whether, with the principles which they
really entertain. they are not doing more
violence to their consciences by remaining
in the old party organizations than they
would do by joining a party which. though
new, has the courage of its convictions
the courage treat this great question as
it deserves to be treated-namely, as the
leading question of the age. Do not the
people of Nevada and advocates of free
coinage in every state believe that the
monetary question is more important than
the tariff? Is there a Republican or a
Democrat in the state who does not be-
lieve that the question Of money is more
supremacy important of all the questions
that can affect the welfare of the people?
And is it not reversing the natural order
of things for political parties to treat as
subordinate and collateral-to treat as a
mere side issue-a question which, in fact,
towers above all others? Both the old party
organizations persist in treating this most
imperious of all questions as mere tail
to a party kite. After the passage of the
repeating law of 1893. by means with which
the country is familiar will not the voters
who continue to act with the old parties
find themselves more untrue to their con-
vctions than if they cast their ballots for
a political party whose success would for
all time end the silver discussion by en-
bodying into law what is now unquestion-
ably the most ardent aspira ton of the pro-
ducing masses of the American people?
So far Nevada is concerned, it is not a
question to who is friendly who is un-
friendly to silver. 1t is we'll known that al
the people of Nevada, without distinction
of party, are advocates of free coinage
how most surely and quickly to accom-
plish an object the achievement of which
the people of Nevada and all other advo
Gates of free coinage Throughout the coun
try hold to be the most Indispensable requ
site of national prosperity.
The supreme purpose which the benefi
Charles and advocates of the gold standard
not only in the United States, but through
cut the world, now have in view is to keel
what may be called the silver vote ir
this country SO divided out among the ole
parties that it cannot assert itself, SO thai
it cannot even discover it's strength. Ir
the ranks Of the Republican and Demo
cratic parties in every state in the Cnior
are large numbers of voters who believe
that the free coinage of silver at the Amer
lean ratio is indispensable to the prosper
ity of our people and to the maintenance
of our industries upon a level which shall
invite the productive investment of our idl
capital. In the present condition of thes
parties it is impossible for such voters t
give effect to their convictions. In my be
lief, it will always be impossible while vot
tamely acquesce in the sinister man
ipulations by which for years their vote
have been made to count directly agains
their strongest convictions. Were all tn
Republicans and Democrats who beley,
in the free coinage Of silver at the ratio O
16 to l to step out of their old party or
CARNATIONS even for one campaign snt
stand upon platform Of one plan-a slve
one-or at least on platform which
makes monetary reform It's dominant fea
ture, not abandoning but holding in re
serve their convictions on other issues
the president to be elected in 1886 would
without the shadow of doubt, be on
who would sign a free coinage bill
No Prospect of Relief From Either o