The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-06-20
MEMPHIS II
SILVER CONVENTION.


held a two days convention in
Memphis, Tenn. Fifteen hundred
delegates, comprising democrats,
republicans and populists, but with
"honest money" as the slogan OF all,
filed the lower floor and a large
portion of the balconies at the audi.
torium when the gathering Mas
called to order. On the stage, be.
sides the officers of the Central Bi-
metallic League of Memphis, under
whose auspices the gathering was
held, were, with very few excep-
tions, oil the leading advocates Of
the free coinage OF silver Ia the
United Ststes-a..T They inelndsd gers.
tors Bate and Harris OF Tennessee,
Jones and Berry Of Arkansas, George
and Walthall of Mississippi, Marion
Butler Of North Carolina, Tillman Of
South Carolina, Turpie Of Indiana,
Governor John G.. Evans of South
Carolina, Ex-Governor Prince OF
New Mexico, Ex-Governor Eagle OF
Arkansas, ex-Congressman William
J. Bryan of Nebraska, General A. j.
Warner of Ohio, g. 8. Thomas and
Alva Adams Of Colorado, Alex.
Delmar of California and Congress-
man and Bankers from Tennessee
and adjoining states by the dozen.
The number of people in the hall
did not exceed that which greeted
secretary of the treasury Carlisle on
his appearance on May 90, but the
demonstration was equally as impos-
ing and as enthusiastic as on that
occasion.
A permanent organization was
made with Senator Turrie of Indiana
as chairman, and addresses were
delivered by that gentleman and
Alex. Delmar of California in the
afternoon and by Congressman sib-
ley Of Pennsylvania, o. 8. Thomas OF
Denver and Senator Walcot In the
evening.
Politically, the most significant
incident Of the first days proceedings
was the clear and emphatic statement
Of Senator Harris of Tennessee, who,
IL has been already clearly demon
strated, is the controlling spirit OF
the management Of the convention,
as to the object Of the gathering, and
the single subject to which 1t Is
expected to conflne its deliberations.
The Silver Convention adjourned
after adopting resolutions dsclar-
ing for free and unlimited coinage Of
the white metal at the ratio Of u t,
1 and agreeing upon q method Of
spreading the propaganda. Incident
ally national monetary conference
under certain conditions was advo.
Gated.
Injection Of tho populist element
into the membership caused some
trouble. In addition to this compli-
cation there was the Sibley boom,
which, lowered over the convention.
There was considerable dissatis
faction among a number of infiuen-
tial democrats who were In
attendance upon the convention at
the radical utterances of Mr.. Sibley,
his appeal for the independent
political action in 1896, and the
obligation of party ties. The at
tempt to swing the gathering into a
third party boom, presumably In
Mr.. Sibley's personal interest, was
not relished by such men as Senator
Harris, Gov. Clark, of Arkansas
MIR. Vardaman, candidate for gov
ernor of Mississippi, and Col.
Galloway, one of the Oldest newspa-
per men in the south, and they were
not slow in expressing their disap-
proval. This platform was adopted :
Silver and gold coin have in all ages
constituted the money Of the world, were
the money OF the fathers Of the republic,
the money Of history and Of the consti-
tuition.
The universal experience OF mankind
has demonstrated that the joint use OF
silver and gold coin as one money consti-
tutes the most stable standard OF values
that the full amount OF both metals is
necessary as medium of exchange.
The demonstration Of either OF these
historic money metals means an appreci-
alton from the value of money, a fall In
the prices OF commodities, diminution
OF the results OF legitimate business, the
increase in the burden OF debts, a with
drawal OF money from the channels OF
trade and industry, where it no louger
yields safe and sure return, and its idle
accumulation In the banks and in the
great money centers OF the country.
There is no health or soundness In a
financial system under which a boarded
dollar is productive OF increase to Its
possessor while an invested dollar yields
a constantly diminishing return, and
under which fortunes are made by the
accretions OF idle capital, or destroyed
by persistent fall In the price OF COM
modities and persistent dwindling In
the margin OF profits in almost every
branch Of useful industry. Such a sys-
tenn Is a premium upon sloth and PEN
atty upon industry, and such system is
that which the criminal legislation OF
1873 has imposed upon this country.
The bimetallists' standard Of silver and
gold has behind it the experiepce OF ages,
and has been tested and approved by the
enlightened and deliberate judgment Of
mankind. The gold standard Is a
departure from the established policy
OF the civilized world, with nothing TO
commend IL but twenty-five years Of
depression and disaster TO the people and
extraordinary accumulation Of wealth in