The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-06-05
1nperfest Hass

financial road. Either the money chang
ers must be under control Of the govern
ment, or the government must continue
under control of the money changers.
The power to contract or expand the
currency is the province only of SOW
ereign authority. To allow this privi-
lege to rest in the hands Of the subject
Is to make fraction of the body polite
greater and more powerful than all its
component parts, for he. who controls
the finances OF. country controls its
destiny.
But while conceding the overshadow-
ing Importance OF the financial question,
l am satisfied that sufficient concentra-
ton of forces cannot be secured to float
any party into control on this single
issue. The problem of transportation,
regulation and control is but little less
important than that of money. A COM
blnatlon in the carrying trade has
reached status inimical to individual
rights and must, through unjust exac-
tons, legislation, manipulation and judi
cial control, speedily subvert and destroy
the very genius of our republican insti-
tutions.
So vicious and extortionate has the
system and methods of corporations be-
come, that there is no recourse left but
for the government to own and operate
at least sufficient number of the lines
of transportation, railroad and telegraph,
to regulate and control the whole tramc
A money and a transportation plank
formed substantially as herein Indicated,
coupled with one on land, similar to that
in the Omaha platform, will, in my 1udg-
ment, outline policy and plan of CAM
paign on which the most intelligent and
patriotic elements of the country can be
induced to stand, and fight the contest
out to finish. There is no power under
heaven that can turn them from this
purpose Should the leaders of the Peo-
pies party attempt to betray the rank
and file into the "silver party or the
enemy's camp, they would utterly fall IN
the undertaking and be trampled to the
earth in the march of contending forces.
1t seems to me that the bimetallic
movement, Independent of other vital
issues cannot reasonably hope to live
single year. Ii is destined to be swal-
lowed up by one of the three great par
ties, now struggling for the mastery.
There is no room for a fourth, and the
effort to form one of proportions will fail
utterly.
If the nNn now. pushing the fight Tor
this still born infant are really sincere
in their professions of reform, they can
secure all they wish in that line by unit
ing their fortunes with the Peoples
Party. The next national convention of
the party will stand on advance ground.
There is a manifest disposition in our
leaders, rank and file, to dispense with
all superfluous weights and trapp1ngs.
No declaration of doubtful meaning will
be incorporated in the platform. The
convention will not be straight-laced or
factious. It's members will be men OF
ability and experience. The distressing
and ominous condition of the nation will
be such as to impress them with the
seriousness of the situation. In this con-
vention the silver kings proposing to In
stitute the bimetallic party will be ac-
corded seats if desired. Their counsel
will have weight. Any suggestion they
may be pleased to make will be respect
fully considered, to the end that in
multitude of counsel there may be wis
dom.
BY factious opposition it is possible
for these silver magnates to destroy the
prospects, not only of their own pet
measure, but the last hope of republican
government on this continent.
Therefore, there is a grave RESPONSE
bility confronting them. Will they
broaden in disposition with the pressure
of the emergency? Is not the welfare
and prosperity of the whole country
paramount in Importance to the tempo
rary welfare Or ad7a4tage of any Sec
ton thereof? Will the silver men with
large influence act ~ unison with the
only party in existence that offers any
tangible solution of the embarrassing
conditions which beset the nation, or
shallow out their lives in vain endeavor?
Yours respectfully,
J. W. WEBSTER.
Creston, Cal, May 10, '95.