Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-05-17

is SUGGESTED BY A LEADING
DEMOCRATIC JOURNAL.
For the Party TO AVnw Its Position
q" the Leading Question of the
Day ana to Repudiate the Gold
Hug Bond Policy.


q" the Leading Question of the
Day ana to Repudiate the Gold
Hug Bond Policy.
An open letter by Colfax Comm0ner
To Hon. Henry Drum, Chairman; to
Members of tie Democratic State
Central C0mmittc.; to tie Chairman
Of the County Democratic Committees,
and to all Democrats in the State OF
Wdshington-GREETING:
Believing implicitly in the time h on
ored and traditional principles of the
Democratic party. implanted by the
author OF the Declaration OF Indepen-
dence, maintained throughout the
most important epochs OF our country's
trials, growth and glory by such men
and Democrats re- Monroe, Jackson,
Benton, Douglas, Tilden, Hendricks,
and upheld to-day by scores of illus
trious Democratic statesmen, orators
and writer's, whose names are familiar
in every corner Of the union, the Com.
moner desires to publicly call your
attention to a matter which it believes
Is OF most vital interest to the future
welfare OF the Democratic party and
the common people of this State.
Recent events in the legislative and
executive councils OF our country. and
in the deliberations of our party lead
ers, have forced the question of fin
ances squarely to the front, where it
must now be met fearlessly and OPEN
ly. The issue has already been made
for the next political campaign, and it
is whether the laboring, producing
people of this country, can be bullied
out of one-half of their debt-paying
money, or whether they will stand up
like free men and protect and defend
the money named and provided in the
constitution-gold and silver both
not one of the precious metals alone,
but both, and on terms and conditions
as to coinage and use of absolute
equality.
Contrary to all Democratic teach
ings, the President of the United
States, elected as Democrat, in de-
fiance of the will of large majority
OF the Democratic members of the las,
Congress, has pr esented to the Ameri-
can people the real and vital issue of a
proposed elimination Of silver from
our currency; its total overthrow and
destruction as money metal and the
use of gold alone. This is what is now
meant by the movement against the
free coinage of silver. whatever dis
Chalmers may be made to the contrary
This movement means the destruction
of one-half of the debt-paying money
Of the United States and of the world
If it should be successful it will double
the burdens of every debtor and multi
ply the gains and incomes of every
creditor wherever the sun shines.
This, Democrats of Washington, i,
the position which so-called Demo
cratic administration of the United
States, in violation of all Democratic
principles, is attempting to ruthlessly
force upon the party. and the ques
ton arises: What are we going to dc
about it?
The great Democracy OF the State O
Illinois is preparing to take up the
gauntlet and hurl it back with re
doubtable vigor. The movement in
augurated there is spreading like wild
fire. Conventions are being called in
many other of the middle, western
and southern States for the purpose o
effectually stamping with its disap
prevail the effort being made to leat
the party into the camp OF the gold
bugs, and to proclaim its fealty to tn,
position which silver ought to, ant
must occupy in the financial system
of the federal government.
We voice the sentiments of ninety
nine hundredths of the loyal Demo
Gratis of Whitman county and, we be
lieve, of nine-tenths of the Democrat,
of the State of Washington, when w
present for the favorable consideration
Of the Democratic State central com
mittee, q proposition to call Stat,
convention, to be held some time thi
summer, at some convenient place Il
be selected by the committee, as soor
after the Illinois convention as pos
sible, for the purpose of making publ
q declaration as to the party policy TO
the great campaign of 1896; and to re
pudiate the gold-bug bond debt polio
of the Cleveland administration, an,
to declare for the free and unlimite
coinage of silver and gold at the rati
) of 16 to l, the representation il
said convention to be apportioned L
| the various counties, as in regula
State conventions, delegates to b
elected thereto in county mass meet
ings or conventions.
A very large majority OF the Demo
Gratis of Washington, as in every Stat
and Territory from the western side c
/, the Allegheny mountains to the Pa
cific coast are in favor of and hav
heretofore repeatedly Endorsed tn
free coinage of silver. Let us, b
J means of . State convention, unit
with the party in these States an
Territories in impressing the minion
I of aggressive, insolent, consolidate
wealth OF the East and the arrogan
apostles of gold monometallism will
a realization of the fact that neithe
the American people nor the Demo
cratic party will give up; that the fev
blocks confined within the precinct
of Wall street, are but few inche
of ground when compared with all this
this government embraces; that tn
interests of the people are mighty an
, will prevail.
For these reasons, the Commone
heartily favors a State Convention
this summer, and respectfully sui
, mits its reasons for the candle
thoughtful consideration of Chairma
Drum, the members of the State Con
mittee, Chsirmen of the respectiv
, County Committees and to all Demo
Gratis in the State of Washington
and earnestly requests that they fol-
ward at once to this office their view
upon this plan OF action and upon I'll
financial policy of the party.
Yours, for the supremacy of Jeffe
sonian principles.
PROSPERITY is RETURNING.