Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-06-21
THE MEMPHIS SILVER CONVENTION

The silver convention at Memphis
has concluded lis labors. II is worthy
of note in connection with the assem-
bling and and deliberations of that body
that the convention had a lot of promi-
nent speakers and advisers appear be-
fore il. There were half dozen sena-
tors of the United States, democrats
and republicans, either personally pres
ent or represented by letters breathing
the fullest acquiesence in the doctrine
which the convention was called to pro-
mote. There were several congress
men from the south, where, somehow,
or other, the representatives in the pop
ular branch Of congress seem to repre-
sent more exactly the sentiments of
their constituents than do those whom
we send 10 Washington from the north.
The resolutions that were adopted were
not extreme or radical. They simply
state. with much force and dignity, the
position of the free silver side of the
propaganda. They assert that the re-
cent depression was due To conspiracy
by which silver was demonetized. The
effect Of the gold standard is to e,tab-
fish one standard for the creditor and
one for the debtor. No lust law estab-
fishes one measure of value for the bor-
rover and one for the lender. Restor-
alton of silver as money metal on an
equality with gold, and the free and
unlimited coinage of silver and gold at
ratio of Is to one is demanded.
While international agreement is desir-
able, the United States should not wait
for this agreement nor surrender the
sovereign right to regulate its financial
affairs in the interest of its people.
Thus another representative gather
ing of the people OF great section of
the country favored return to our his
toric system of currency, changed in
1873, and for reversal of the cond-
tions under which the American people
are required TO pay their deferred obi
cations in unit of a constantly increa'-
ing value The south, rs represented
at Memphis, is not alone in its declara-
tons. Only the other day the democ-
racy of the state of Illinois made its de-
claration. Only last fall, in choosing
their standard bearer for the state cam
paign the democracy of Michigan rim
ned their faith TO the single declaration
IF their belief in the free coinage of sill
yer. Every day some western or south
ern body is putting itself on record in
favor of "a return to the old conditions.
Nor is the change in the sentiments
and the freedom of expression on this
question confined to the statesmen and
the politicians. There are business
men, of as great wealth and affairs aS
those fasteners who profess to be so
much alarmed lest the dear people will
make fools of themselves by adopting a
silver standard, every day declaring in
favor of free silver as the one thing
necessary to the permanent return OF
prosperity of these United States. The
most recent of these is John V Far.
well. the great Chicago merchant, whose
family is so prominent IN national al
fairs that his brother was republican
senator from Illinois, and who is him
self looked up to as a party wheelhorSe
and a business man of great standing.
Writing in the Dry Goods Reporter, of
his own city, only last week Mr. Far
well makes an argument for free silver
as the currency of the United States IN
order to produce commercial peace and
prosperity. In the course of that argu-
ment he used these expressions:
How was il crime2 Being the most pros
porous nation on earth, in spite of pernlclous
legislation inimical to il, we opened wide the
door for Europe to follow us and persistently
demanded payment of our enormous war
debt made on paper fiat money basis, with
money doubled in value by our own act, be-
fore those bonds matured. Was that ipno-
cent legislative virtue clothed in spotless
riphteousness. or was it ignorant legislative
honesty? If not. was il not intellectual self
ishness gone mad with helish avariceF
With a sprinkling of men in the east
famous in the United States for bust
ness ability in favor of the remonetiza-
ton of SILVER. with all the thoughtful
statesmen of the west and south think
ing and believing in the same direction
with the people of whole states and
sections declaring their uncompromis-