The representative., 1895-04-03
GEN. JAMES Ii. WEAVER.

Union of All Factions In 1896, for
Free silver, Legal Tender Green
backs, No Banks and No Bonds.
To the Editor:
In my judgment there will be an alliance
no fusion-formed between now and the
opening of the campaign of 1896 made up
of Populsts, Democrats and Republicans.
1t will first agree upon platform, then
declare its union perpetual until the OBJ
jects had in view secured. If this is
done they will, of course, agree upon
ticket The public conscience aware that
industrial distress, everywhere prevalent,
has reached the utmost limit of tolerance
and the abyss of social disorder and fully
aware that the old parties are organized to
prevent relief calls aloud for such a move
ment. The formation of this alliance is not
likely to be contingent upon the action of
the Republican or Democratic parties. The
people know these parties and have learned
where the gold power of the world is in
trenched in this country: and when they
venture inside it's lines again it will be
with shout and charge. The gold power
is guarding our sources of money supply,
which are now in it's hands. They have the
door locked against government issues and
the mints closed against silver coinage.
Hence the Republican slogan for 1896 is
quite certain to be Gold and National
Bank Paper sugar coated with the hope
and promise of possible international BIZ
metallism. Most of the Eastern and Middle
State Democratic leaders will endeavOr to
commit the remnant Of their party to the
same policy. Failing, they will flock with
meager following to the Republicans. They
nearly all carry cards of admission now.
There will be no middle ground for anybody
to stand upon, nor will any old party double
entendre platform have the slightest
weight.
The American bimetallic movement re-
Gently inaugurated at Washington by a
number of well known patriotic gentlemen,
suggests the four pronged money question
basis for union-unrestricted gold and
silver coinage at the present ratio, without
waiting for the action of any other nation.
legal tender government paper, no banks of
issue and bonds. This furnishes plat
form wide enough for the greatest civic
struggle have ever known. If the kim
dred, but now divided, factions shall have
the good judgment to accept and act upon
the timely suggestion-stripping themselves
for the time being of everything else, no
matter how important-they will close the
century with the greatest victory ever won
for commercial supremacy and industrial
freedom. If they do not unite, the gold
power will march it's forces over the field
and settle the whole question in it's own
way without firing a gun.
The bimetallic movement has the merit of
suggesting common ground where all who
wish to overthrow the heartless British
gold power among us can meet, shake
hands and be in full accord. This is the one
thing needful to insure victory The ad-
dress is purely tactical and is a bugle call
to battle and a powerful plea for the con-
centration of forces exactly at the point
where the enemy is massing his troops. 1t
is an invitation for everybody to choose
his colors and get into line where he be-
longs. A Democratic or Republican uni
form has no longer any meaning. There
may be a silver man, gold man. a bank
man, an anti-bank man, bond man
underneath it. Nobody can tell which.
Consequently, you cannot tell where the
respective lines are whom to fire at nor
when you are going to be fired upon. This
is very confusing and a change is necessary.
At present the reform line is good enough
for scouting purposes but too lengthy for
battle. We must resort to the tactics OF
good old Col. Wolford during the late war.
He tried to master Hardee and failed He
then fell back upon his own resources and
reduced the whole science of war to two
sentences: "Huddle and fight Scatter
and run" We must now huddle and fight
and see to it that the others fellows do
the running
1t is too early to forecast the strength of
the movement in any particular state, but
as we near 1896 it is certain to become
formidable everywhere, particularly from
Michigan and Wisconsin West and in the
South. ]. B. WEAVER.