Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-06
Mr.. Sibley Named as a Presidential
Candidate.
WHAT HE SAYS AB0gg TEE CONTEST
Ready to Step Asidafor Any Other
Silver Mah.
THE BIMETALLIC LEAGUE

The Bimetallic League have issued an
| address to the people soliciting their sup
port for party on the following platform
1 in the campaign of '96:
First. On this issue we declare ourselves
to be unalterably opposed to the single
gold standard and demand the immediate
return to the constitutional standard of
| gold and silver by the. restoration by this
| government independently of any foreign
| power; of the unrestricted coinage of both
silver and gold into standard money at a
| ratio of 10 to 1 and upon terms of exact
equality, the silver coin to be a full legal
tender, equally with gold, for all debts and
| dues, public and private.
Second We hold that the power to con-
| troll and regulate paper currency is in
| separable from the power to coin money.
circulate as money should be issued and its
| volume controlled by the general govern
ment only, and should be legal tender.
| Third. We are unalterably opposed to the
| issue by the United States of interest-bear-
| ing bonds in time of peace, and demand
the payment of all coin obligations of the
United States as provided by existing
| laws, in either gold or silver coin, at the
| option of the government, and not at the
| option of the creditor.
On this issue we appeal from the dicta-
| ton of the money power to the intelli-
| gence and patriotism of the American peo-
| pie.
The address makes long argument on
| the financial question, reciting the charges
| which the silver men make against the
gold bugs" who, they say now control
| the two old parties, and calling upon the
public to communicate to the league their
wishes in the matter of nominating the
presidential candidate. They suggest the
nomination of eX-Representative Sibley of
Pennsylvania. who would be the leagues
choice, if they had thesright to nominate.
1t is the first preliminary step toward the
formation of party to make the fight In
'96 on the single issue of silver.
The men who have long been prominent
as the silver leaders in Congress have for
the most part held aloof from this move
ment. The republicans and the democrats
who agree on silver. but are closely bound
to their old party allegiance on other
| issues, still holding to the hope that ne
or the other of these old parties may be
captured, and made the party of the free
and unlimited coinage of silver at 16 to l.
The New Leader.
Mr.. Sibley, whom the leaders have recon-
mended for the nomination, is young
man, and a man of considerable wealth,
who is one Of the most earnest and en-
thusiastic silver men in the country He is
rather tall slender man, with smooth
shaven face and gray hair. He has rather
striking countenance, marked with lines
that indicate StudiouSnesS, keenness of
perception, penetration and aggressiveness.
He bears a slight Resemblance to Secretary
Carlisle of Kentucky, more particularly in
the expression of his mouth, which IN
dicates fiuency and forcefulness of Ian
guage. During his term In. Congress as a
democrat he has made two or three
speeches which have attracted wide atten-
ton on account of their volubility Quaint
ness of expression and, great daring. His
latest speech, in which, he attacked Presi-
dent Cleveland on the part of his financial
policy, created sensation. and was
thing unique in congressional debate. He
a student. a
Abou Ben Adnem in his love OF his fellow
man. He has been very successful in the
requirement of large fortune, and prides
himself upon the fact that he has never
sued any man to secure payment of a bill
nor in any way taken advantage OF the
misfortune of his debtors. He is regarded
as eccentric III his generosity.
Does Not Want to BE President.
Mr.. Sibley says that he does not want the
office of President. but that he is devoted
to the cause of silver and will lend to the
new movement all the assistance he can
that is required of him. He is enthusiastic
over the new movement and predicts sue
cess to the silver party. The nomination
for the presidency, or, rather, the desgna-
ton for leadership. was offered to both
Senator Teller and Senator Don Cameron
before it was given to Mr.. Sibley. Mr.. Sib-
ley had repeatedly stated that he did not
want the leadership, and even a. -er the
two Senators had declined he asked the
league to name some other than himself.
Speaking to 4 Star reporter this morning,
he said: THE purpose of this movement is
to secure an immediate organization of the
silver men and to begin the campaign at
once. There is no pride of party name and
we do not care how the organization is
finally accomplished. The only purpose is
that there shall be a silver party in the
next campaign advocating the free coinage
of silver at 1G to l as the single great issue
The campaign for silver will begin at once
IoH ,ciSyt nnn mr.
of those opposed to silver, whether they be
in one or both of the old parties.
Il am suggested for nomination not in
compliance with desire OF my own ana
l am ready to step aside at any time for
another leader and give him my earnest
support. If the republicans will nominate
Mr. Cameron, Mr.. Teller or any other free
coiragc man on a free coinage platform,
we viii accept him and give him the bene-
fit of all our work in the campaign. NO
enc expects the republicans to do this. 1t
is probable that they will nominate man
who will try to straddle the question, ana
that their platform will be a Straddle.
IF the democrats nominate free coin
age man on free coinage PLATFORM Our
organization will support him. the only
thing we want is that there shall be
thorough organization and vigorous, ag-
gres sive campaign for silver, and that there
shall be a candidate for the presidency
pledged uncor ditionally to silver, making
that the single issue. If the silver men
wait to organize inside of either of the Old
parties they will find out too late that they
have been betrayed. We will be forehand-
ed in this If either of the old parties take
up the cause in a satisfactory manner all
" ell and good. There will not be two silver
candidates for the presidency. If they fail
to do so our organization will be complete,
our campaign made, and we will have but
to name our candidate for President. l
hope it will be some other than myself, but
who ever it is will, in my judgment, be
elected. -.
Sentiment for Free silver.
There is an Overwhelming sentiment IN
this country for free silver The course OF
Mr.. Cleveland has intensified the feeling
among the people 1t was urged when the
Sherman repeal law Yas passed that TINS
was merely to clear the deeE and prepare
for some action which would restore silver
to its proper position. This was the feel
ing among the people, Mhorwere willing to
wait and see. but by his course since then
MT Cleveland has undeceived them. His
failure to recommend anything for silver,
his issuance of bonds his recommends
tons to Congress for authority Tor gold
bonds and, finally. his secret contract with
the Rothschild agent, Hhass awakened the
people to an understanding of the stua-
Il f1,. t1..1