The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1895-03-09
ISSUE IS TO Be SILVER.
Democratic Members of Con-
gress Issue a Manifesto.
THE PARTY MUST GO ON RECORD

ALL l AltA w S4N At0SSAtOt
Declare the Money Question Will Be the
Issue in 1S96-Urge Free and Unlimited
Coinage at 16 to 1 as the Only Solution of
the Financial Problem-Proceedings In
Congress-Defciency Bill Passed.
WASHINGTON, March 2.-The Demo-
cratic silver manifesto, which has been
the chief topic Of talk on that side of the
house for a few days, was made public
Friday. While it has been generally
circulated for the consideration of mem.
bers, there was nc attempt to secure
signatures until a late hour, because the
prime movers in the matter We're unde.
cided whether to call a caucus for dis.
cussiOn of the matter or to secure sigma.
lures Or issue directly to the public. In
consideration of the short time left and
the pressure of business, it was de.
termined not to have a conference. Rep.
re%sentative members from 10 states
signed the declaration at the instance OF
Mr.. Bryan of Nebraska, but the canvass
is SO far very incomplete and the list of
signers will not be made public until ii
is complete. The paper is as follows:
To the Democrats of the United States:
We, the undersigned Democrats, present
for your consideration the following state.
ment:
We believe that the establishment of
gold as the only monetary standard, n
the elimination of silver as a full legal
tender money will increase the purchasing
power of each dollar, add to the burden Of
all debts, decrease the market value of all
other forms of property, continue and in.
tensify business depression and finally re-
duce the majority of the people to finan-
cial bondage.
We believe no party can hope for endur-
ing success in the United States so long as
it advocates a single gold standard, and
hat the advocacy of such a financial
policy would be especially so to a party
which, like the Democratic party, de-
rives its voting strength from those who
may without reproach be called the COM
mon people, and we point to the over
whelming defeat of the party in 1894, to
the opposition aroused by the veto of the
seigniorage bill and to the still more unan-
imous protest against the issue of gold
bonds, as proof that the Democratic party
cannot be brought to the support of the
EoANA pollNS.
Paramount Issue In 1896.
We believe thai the money question will
be the paramount issue in 1896, and will
so remain until it is settled by the intelli-
gence and patriotism of the American
voters.
We believe a large majority of the Dem.
ocrats of the United States favor bimetal-
lism and realize it can only be secured by
the restoration of the free and unlimited
coinage of gold and silver at the present
ratio, and we assert that the majority has
and should exert the right to control the
policy of the party and retain the party
name.
We believe it is the duty of the majority
and within their power to take charge OF
the party organization and make the Dem.
ocratic party an effective instrument in
the accomplishment of needed reforms. I,
is not necessary that Democrats should
surrender their convictions on other Ques
tions in order to take an active part in the
settlement Of the question which at this
time surpasses all others in Importance.
We believe that the rank and file of the
party should at once assert themselves il
the Democratic party and place it or
record III favor of the immediate rcStora
ton of the free and unlimited coinage OF
gold and silver at the present legal ratio
of Is to l, as such coinage existed prior tt
1873, without waiting for the aid or con
sent of any other nation, such gold and
silver coin to be a full legal tender for al
debts, public and private.
We urge all Democrats who favor thu
financial policy above set forth to associ.
ate themselves together and impress theil
views upon the party organization; W,
urge all newspapers in harmony with tho
above financial policy to place it at tn,
head of the editorial column and assist il
the Immediate restoration of bimetallism
ANIMATED DEBATE IN THE SENATE
Caused by the Bering Sea Differences Being
Brought Up Again.
WASHINGTON, March 2.-The Berine
sea differences provoked an animated
debate in the senate Friday. Mr.. Cock
rell had offered an amendment to tn,
pending deficiency bill, appropriatine
$50, 600 for the expenses of anothe
committee of arbitration to adjust tn,
claims Of Canadian sealers seized by tn
United States. 1t was in line with tn
suggestions of a letter just received
from Secretary Gresham. Mr.. Sher
man opposed this second arbitration
saying it was dishonorable and unwise
that the United States had not pal,
these claims through the compromise O
*425, 900 heretofore urged. Mr.. Sher
man predicted much trouble as a resul
of reopening this controversy.
Mr.. Morgan, who was one of tn
United States commissioners of arb
tration, declared the payment of 1925,