The herald., 1895-05-16
Opening Of the Silver Congress
at Salt Lake
THE CITY IN GALA DRESS
Several States and Territories Are
Represented
The Convention Called 70 orosr !" sne
Tabernacle by Governor Riekaros
s1 Montana-Speeehes
.......a p.... snecial Wire.

ahout which so much has been SAID DUR
ing the past month. From the head OF
East Ton. pie street to its foot IN the bus
ness district and on all the cross streets
In the section buildings were gaily deco
rated in the national colors, while from
syery flagstaff waved the Stars and Stripes
in honor of the great event. Inscriptions,
mottoes and divers other devices emblem
attic of the sentiments OF silver champions
were also in evidence.
The procession left the Knusford hotel
about II O'Clock, headed by the Denial
ter band and platoon of police. In the
FIRST carriage were seated Governor West
of Utah. Governor Richards OF montana.
Governor Mcconnell of Idaho, and ex-
Governor Prince of New Mexico. The
PROCESSION reached the tabernacle about
noon. where large crowd had already
Assem- bled. The decoration OF the taper-
nacle presented a picturesque appear
ance. 1lOO American flags and over 4oOo
yards Of bunting having been used IN the
decorations. From conspicuous parts
Of the gallery hung the following, mot
toes: "Financial Independence, our
6ong-Silver Threads Among the Cold,
sSound Money Say the Goldbugs; Silver
Saw the People. . 1--WE want circulating
medium that will circulate.
At 1920 Governor Richards called the
meeting to order and delivered the fol-
lowing spec ch:
wrong was ever righted save through the
concerted effort Of earnest men. L have
faith enough in humanity to believe that
the natural patriotism of the heart is
equal to the duty of honest effort and
tireless action in the cause OF right. when
the right is clearly understood. Misdl-
rected activity in any cause that concerns
the welfare of the people advertises a
paternity of ignorance rather than faith
erhood of malice.
We have met today, not as censors. pa
Yading the causes Of our discomfort, her
aiding to the world the bitterness we feel
over the injustice that has made our co.
operation the necessity OF the hour, but
as earnest men. representatives OF great
cause and delegated to the performance
OF duty by constituency whose inter-
ests are environed only by the geOgraph-
ical limit of the republic.
We have met as champions OF honest
money-of money so honest that its pure
white luster is never tarnished by the tears
Of the starving or rusted by tho blood OF
crime as it moves through the channels OF
commerce in current of perpetual hope.
We have met, not to appeal to the pre-
iudices that may cluster instinctively
around the self-interests OF any COM
'nlunity or people; not to weigh anchor
upon sea Of uncertainty, in the trade
winds of politics, but to institute q new
movement, along new lines for the better
education of the masses on tho financial
problems of the day.
In calling this conference and inviting
the cooperation of western governors in
an interstate educational movement in
the interests of free coinage of silver,
was impelled by the belief that in the
home circle of the American citizen lay
the destiny of the white metal; the time
has come when we must appeal not only
to the business sense OF the voter, with
non-partisan logic, but we must reach
down into the moral activities of tho
heart and ask individual conscience to
stand up and be counted on the side Of
the right.
There never was time in history when
the moral side of great question ap-
pealed with agreater force to the intelli-
gent voter today with the evils of mono
metallism emphasized in the misery that
af]icts our land.
The argument OF the single standard
advocate has matured from a gilded
theory into condition that ought to ap-
peal with irresistible force to the candid
observer of events.
1t becomes our duty to supplement the
argument of smokeless smokestacks and
abandoned FARMS of broken banks and
crushed commercial enterprises, with
incisive reasoning as to the solstice that
ushered in the winter of our discon-
tent
Existing conditions rejecting the mis-
fortunes of the business world upon every
phase of our industrial aid social life,
have stimulated a demand on the part OF
the masses for a better knowledge oi
financial propositions that self-interest
may be respected at the polls. In no way
can the interests of silver be better served
in the receptive condition of the public
mind than through systematic course
OF education that Will reach the individual
intelligence in the sacred circle OF the
home.
The eminent gentlemen who represent
the several states in this conference have
been delegates with the respons bility OF
devls1ng ways and means for the carrying
out OF this object and that your labors
will prove an aggressive step in mos
successful campaign of education, l doubt
not. Already the European wing of the
American republic is beating the air il
an effort to retain i is lofty perch. The
gold men OF both continents read in the
signs of the times the possibility of ar
early defeat. and are bending their ener.
gies to the annihilation OF the object OF
their fears. All that literature can do;
all that oratory can accomplish; all tina,
gold can achieve, will be done to strange
the growing sentiment for silver. A
subsidized press, controlled by the tinan
cal interests that thrive on the misfor-
times OF the people, has enter ed with en-
thusiasm upon the mission delegated tt
it by the custodians of its conscience.
The lines of battle have been formed b,
the logic of events and the struggle TO
relnforcements promises to be the creates
contest in the history of modern times
1t remains to be seen whether the bligh
OF monometallism that has witheret
the energies Of our industrial life. ha
burnedsinto the heart and conscience O
the citizen and made him the willir,
pupil Of nobler and better lessons ii
flnance. In the tidal wave that is nov
gathering strength all over the land TO
the free coinage OF silver | see the avan
courier OF better days to come. To plac
wholesale financial literature in the hand
of the eastern voter becomes a duty tha
overshadows every obligation of a publ
character that We owe 10 our fellow men
The object of this conference is not t.
devise arguments in favor of the free
coinage OF the white metal, for such argu
ments are indelibly written upon the pro
gress and prosperity OF the human race.
but to place in the hands of the vote
these arguments fashioned into languag,
that the wayfaring man can understan,
and apply. If this mission 10 accom-
plisbed the victory is won.
In conferences OF tins character no nc
litical prejudices are invited and in it
non -partisanship rests the pledge of it
sincerity. We do not meet as Republi
cans. as Democrats OF as Populists, bu
as American citizens. Jealous for tn
- t.k he !nd b. -