Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1895-03-08
SILVER ADDRESS
Issued by Many Democratic Congress-
men to the Party-Fifteen
States Represented.
CANVASS NOT YET COMPLETE
ExhOrtatiOn to Commit the Party to
Free and Unlimited Coinage
of Silver.


cratic silver manifesto, which has been
the chief topic for several days, was
made public yesterday. There was no
attempt to secure signatures until a late
hour because the prime movers we're
undecided whether to call a caucus for
discussion of the matter or to secure sig.
natures and issue the address directly
to the public. In consideration of the
short time left and the pressure OF busl-
ness it was determined not to have a
conference. Representative members
from fifteen states signed the declara-
ton yesterday at the instance of Mr..
Bryan, but tho canvass is go far very in
complete. The list of signatures will
not be made public until it is complete.
The paper is as follows:
TO the Democrats of the United States:
We. the undersigned democrats, present
for your consideration the following
statement:
We believe that the establishment OF
gold as the urly monetary standard and
elimination OF silver as a full legal ten
der money will increase the purchasing
power of each dollar, add to the burden
of Ill debts, decrease the market value
of all other forms of property, continue
and intensity business depression and
finally reduce the majority of the people
to financial bondage.
W. believe no party can hope for en-
during success in the United States so
long as it advocates a single gold stand
ard, and that the advocacy of such a
financial policy would be especially dam
gerous to a party which. like the demo-
cratic party, receives its voting strength
from those who may without reproach
be called the common people; and we
point to the overwhelming defeat Of the
party in 1894, the opposition aroused by
the still more unanimous protest against
the issue of gold bonds as proof that
the democratic party cannot be brought
to the support of the gold STANDARD
policy
w z DelleNS lDdL liz illouVy tuSSthoA
will be the paramount issue in 1896, ane
will so remain until it is settled by thu
intelligence and patriotism of American
voters.
We believe a large mojority of tn
democrats of the United States favor bi
metallism and realize that it "A only b
secured by the restoration of free an
! unlimited coinage of gold aad silver a
l. the present ratio, ami we assert that tn
= majority has, and should exert, the RICH
to control the policy of the party and re
tain the party name.
We believe it is the duty of the ma
jority and within their power to TAX
= charge of the party organization an
make the democratic party an e~tfectiv
Q instrument in tie accomplishment {
J. needed reforms. 1t is not necessary ths
i democrats should surrender their col
l. victions on other questions in order !
take an active part in the settlement
the question which at this time su
passes all others in Importance.
% We believe that the rank and file
o the part, should at once assert then
selves in the democratic party and plat
b. it on record in favor Of the immedia'
10 restoration of the free and unlimite
coinage OF gold and silver at the ratio
l6 to /, as such coinage existed prior
1873, without waiting for the aid or co
sent of any other nation, such gold ar
silver coin to be a full legal tender Il
all debts, public and private.
We urge all democrats who favor tt
40 financial policy above set forth to assoc
10 alto themselves together and impre
their views upon the party on organic
. ton. We urge all newspapers in ha
-, muny with the above financial policy
place it at the head of their editori
Il column and assist in the immediate re
.. toration Of bimetallism.
ny NAT SHERIFF..