The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-07-30
KANSAS SILVER MEN.
An Address Issued by the Kansas
Republican Silver League.
DBAUECIATION OF DEMOCRACY

UGNUnUlA1lVN VI UhMVUnRO1
For Playing Int the Hands OF the
GOldbugs-CaIIinE On Republican
Party Net to Fellow in DsmOcracy's
Footsteps.
The executive committee of the Kan
"a Republican league met at the Cope
land last night and by a unanimous vote
adopted the report of the sub committee
previously appointed to prepare an adj
dress to he issued to the Republicans of
Kansas
The subcommittee appointed to pre-
pare this address was Chief Justice
David Martin. Col. A. B. Jetmore of To-
peka and Gov. c. V. Eskridge of EN-
poria
The members of the committee held
meeting at which they talked matters
over and the address was then written by
Mr.. Jetmore who incor porated in it the
ideas expressed by the other members of
the committee as well as his own The
address is as follows:
To the Republicans of Kansas:
The most important problem of cur
rent politics, confronting the Republican
party at this time, is finance. Upon the
attitude and proper solution of this ques-
ton, in our judgment, depend the per
petuity of the party. This great po-
litical organization has been called
upon to deal with the most complicated
questions, and, SO far, has always been
found capable of their proper settle
ment. That it will prove competent to
adjust the present financial problem we
entertain but little doubt. However, in
order to secure this result, Republicans
must be active at the primaries and in
the conventions of the party. 1t is only
by persistent agitation that we can hope
to secure party action. Kansas leads
she never follows. She should lead in
the restoration of silver.
The issue is: Shall we have bimetal-
ism. by restoring silver as standard
money with gold to the position it oc-
cupied when demonetized by congress
in 1878?
Or, shall monometalism, or the single
gold standard, be maintained and perpet-
uated in this country?
This is the issue before the people.
We, as Republicans, favor the former
propos ition and oppose the latter.
To the patriotic and earnest considsra-
ton of these questions we respectfully
invite the Republicans of Kansas. The
gold monometalists cannot tolerate the
idea of bimetalism, or the restoration of
silver as standard money. They forget
that gold moaometalism is an expert
ment having been in practical operation
in this country only about 10 years Sill
yer has the experience and tests of CEN
turtles behind it. The advocates of BIZ
metalism are the conservative element
adhering to a theory as old the ma
lions of men; the gold monometalists adj
vocate & new theory-One that is revOlu-
tionary.
Gold and silver are the standard money
of the constitution. That instrument
authorizes congress to ''coin money and
regulate the value thereof" 1t pro-
hibits the states from making anything
but gold and silver coin a tender in pay
ment of debts. The first currency law
enacted by congress under the constitu-
ton. in 1892, made gold and silver stan
dard money. And silver, although the
less precious metal was made the unit OF
value. The value of gold and all the
property of the country. as we'll as its
commercial transactions, WAS, from that
time until its demonetization. February
IL, 1878, measured and transacted by the
silver standard. And this held good
throughout the civilized world, except
England, which established gold mono
metalism during the suspension of specie
payments in that country in 1916
This country, with silver as the unit of
value, in its social and material re-
sources, prespered as no other nation of
the globe ever Ola. Our people were
happy and cOntented. No strikes or
lockouts. But, Notwithstanding the
country's progress and prosperity, in the
absencs of over production of silver, and.
six years before the resumption of specie
payments, when no standard money of
either metal was in circulation, and when
the value of silver was 80 per cent in ex-
cess of that of gold, even in the markets
of London, where gold mOnometalism
had been in vogue fifty-seven years,
without any appreciable effect on its
value aud without any demand or even
agitation by the people, congress, for
some unaccountabIe reason which has
never been satisfactorily explained, de-
monetized silver aud made gold only the
standard money and the unit of value.
BY this act one half the money which
the people possessed, with which to pay
the great war debt and to redeem the
outstanding obligations of the govern
ment, was destroyed.
Congress having provided for the re-
sumption of specie payments in 1875, en-
acted law fixing the date January 1st,
1879. Having destroyed silver as final
redemption money, this act provided for
the purchase of gold, by the sale Of
bonds, with which to redeem the green
backs, although by the express terms OF
their issue they were payable in coin.
The standard measure being the mea-
sure of value of all property, it should be
established on q firm and conservative
basis, neither too high nor too low. The
trainers of the constitution recognized
silver as the standard money, and by act
of congress established silver the more
conservative metal, as the unit of value