The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-06
Address by Bi-Metallic League
to the People.
MONEY THE IMPORTANT ISSUE.
Obstacles in the Way Of the Old Par
ties Indorsimg Free Silver.
The pcpuifst Platform So Cranky That
Free silver Republicans and DEM
ocrats Are scared Away-No Re-
course Except Special Party-Sib-
ley the Favorite For President.

washinston City, March s.-Tne follow.
ing was today issued by the American
Bs-fnstallie League:
STATEMENT OF THE ISSUES.
The money question Is now sndispasa-
hly the dominant issue in the United
States and win remain so until settled
rightly. Other questions. however irn-
porsaus, must wait for this. which. TO .
greater or lesser extent. involves all
others The issue is between the gold
standard. gold bends and hank currency
on the one side, and the hs-mstallic stand
ard. no bonds and government currency
on the other.
..Ffrst-on this issue we declare our
selves 10 be nnaiserabiy opposed 10 tho
single gold standard. and demand tho
Immediate return 10 the constitutional
standard OF gold aad silver. and the
restoration by this government. inde-
pendensiy OF any foreign power. Of
restricted coinage OF both gold and silver
into standard money at the ratio of 10
to ]. and upon terms OF exact equality.
the silver cuintto be- a full legal tender
equal with gold In payment OF all debts
and dues public or private.
'-Second--We hold the power TO control
and regulate a paper currency 10 be In
separahle from the power 70 coin money,
and hence that all currency Intended to
circulate as money should be issusd and
volume controlled by the general gov
ernment only. and should be legal tender.
''Third-we are unaiterahiy opposed to
the issue by tho United States OF inter-
est-bearihg bonds in time OF peace. and
demand the payment of all coin obfiga-
tions 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 dictation OF
the financial power TO the Intelligence
- 4s,.ax.
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE.
.aThe signers of the Declaration OF In
dependence held that decent respect for
the opinions OF mankind required that
reasons should he given for c.=selving tho
bonds that had bound the colonies TO
Great Britain, we. whu lind II neses~
sary TO sever our relations with the peltt-
ieai parties with which we have here.
tofore acted and form new alliances In .
common cause. deem II proper that some
OF tho reasons which impei us TO this
action should be submitted to candid
pubic.
.sThe monetary reform for which we
contend M above set forth, II. In our
Judgment, SO vital to the common well
fare and no necessary TO a return Of cof-
ditions OF prosperity In this country a.
10 preclude longer delay In the tnaugara-
ton OF the movement. the purpose OF
which In to bring together ali who believe
IN the necessity OF the proposed reform.
for this object and this alone. Those In
favor of the gold standard are and have
been united In purpose and action. Party
lines do not divide them when this issue
| In raised. Differences on other questions
| are then laid aside. and together they. in
well beseeming ranks. march all one
way On the other hand. those who are
| IN favor OF a return to the constitutional
| standard OF gold and silver are split
| into as many divisions as their parties.
| Silver Republicans from the West and
| South. 20 the great delight OF the leaders
| OF the Republican party. insist on con-
| tending for their cause only within tho
1 lines OF that party and Southern and
1 Western Democrats. earnest silver men.
/ equally 10 the delight OF the leaders OF
| the Democratic party. continue the con-
| test on their part only within the lines
/ OF the Democratic party. In other words.
| the advocates OF the bi-mefallie standard
| through the unrestricted coinage of nilyer
as well as gold. now contend for their
1 cause In organizations which are con-
l trolled by the gold party. Hence. how
/ ever jealous In the cause one may be. no
| res,,its are possible because his party re-
1 fuses 20 carry out his views. or to permit
/ them to be carried out. IL In believed
| there are now and have been for twenty
/ years. n large majority OF the voters In
/ the United States In favor or restoring
| the free coinage OF both gold and silver.
II
/ victions has never been given them, and
/ their will has been continually thwarted
/ by party chicanery. There has not been
a congress for twenty years which. sx-
/ eept for the influence Of executive patron
age or fear of an executive veto. would
/ not have voted 20 open the minfs again
1 TO silver on the same terms 20 Hald.
/ Indeed. each house of congress has at
/ different times separately passed frSe
/ coinage biiis. but this action has often
tfxA ts.x4w
/ IL IL as necessary therefore 10 have u
/ president In sympathy with the cause
/ as 10 have congress In favor OF IL.
"But enough has been said TO show the
| impossibiisty of gaining our cause as long
as we remain divided or fight only In tho
/ ranks OF gold parties or 10 organizations
| controlled by the advocates OF tho gold
standard. As well might our fathers havs
expected 70 win the Independence OF tho
/ colonies II. while confending for the cause
| az liberty. they had refused 20 separate
from the tories. Independence could never
have been won by fighting for liberty In
/ British regiments. And. fellow citizens.
| this great cause win never be won with
out unanimous action. II VIII never b
| won unless those who believe In II como
together and elect congress and a preas-
/ dent on this Issue.
There is no hope whatever that the Re-
/ publican party, an a party. wEl change
l It's policy give up she gold standard. ana
restore the hi metallic standard There
/ are no grounds for such hope. and we be-
/ nave they arc aeiaded ~ho look for sHch
a change of policy by this party. The Re-
publican party - committed by It's Lead
/ erx, by its record. and by the press behind
81. 10 the gold standard supported By soiA
/ bonds and so the retirement OF the green
/ backs and the surrender % the issue snA
/ control of paper currency tn THE hanks.
mo less persistent and effective is the
| control Of the money power over the or
/ ranizatIan of the Democrats PARTY. While
/ ufad0shsssftv large majority of the mem
1 hers Of that party are opposed 10 the gofA
standard. they have eeru powefIssn 70
/ cenfraIlze the party against II. and rsfteh
/ less to secure through ~ the Festorsfton
/ OF the bi-neiaiIie standard.
While this w tfse care. ~ cannot he ex-
/ rseet~f that the Republicans viii ahandoa
l convictions OF lifetime on other aues-
tsfpa ard so into the Democratic party
| I'm q body. or sfso q wing Of that party,
/ Nor will Democrats give up convictions -
wbat they believe b. essential In govern
| rnens ard 90 into the Republican party
| or a division OF that party. Nor ~ n ues-
! ssti~ On srtuce Republicans and nesno-
crasz together go Eo into the P0pnlise
sar,y for the reason. II no other. that the
! platform ~ that party contains deciara-
! ffonx and fhe party aas ocste& theories 70
/ which they eanno. gfvs their assent EaIt
ws rsuzt fra some way come together on
/ fhfs ssssf@ or the canS@ tx lost and with ~
she Independence 81 fhe people
s-So old party ever carried through
greater reform. New bctt3ss tor rsW