Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-06-20
In FAVOR OF SILVER
Resolutions Adopted at tae Mem
phis Conference.
The Delegates Addressed By Senator Stew
srt, OF Nevada, and Other Speakers
Committee Appointed to Call
BtmetaIIic Convention.


here Senator Stewart, OF Nevada, and
other speakers addressed the delegates
in the morning. Following are the
adopted:
Silver and gold coin have in al ages coasti-
tuted the money OF the world: were the money
o. the fathers OF the republic; the money OF
history and OF the constitution The universal
sx perience of mankind has demonstrated that
the joint use OF both silver and gold coin
one money constitutes the most stable stand
ard OF values: that the full amount OF
both metals is necessary as a medium
Of exchange The demonstration OF
either of these historic money met
ais means an appreciation from the
value OF money, fan In the prices
Of commodities, diminUtion OF the profits
Of legitimate business, continuing increase
in the burden OF debts, withdrawal OF
money from the channels OF trade and in
dustry. where IL no longer yields a safe aad
sure return. and its idle accumulation IN
the banks and in the great money centers
OF the country There is no health or sound
ness IN q financial system under which .
boarded dollar yields = constantly diminishing
return. and under which fortunes are made by
the accretions OF idle capital or destroyed oy
a persistent fall in the price OF commodities.
and q persistent dwindIing in the margin OF
profits in almost every branch OF useful indus
try. Such q system Is premium upon sl0th
and a penalty upon industry. and such q syS-
tenn is that which the criminal legislation OF
1878 has imposed upon this country.
The bimetallists' standard Of silver and gold
has behind 1t the experience OF ages, and has
been tested and approved by the enlightened
and deliberate judgment Of mankind. The
gold standard is departure from the eStab-
Hshed policy OF the civilized world with moth
ing to commend 1t but twenty-five years Oh
depression and disaster to the people and ex-
traordinary accumulation OF wealth in the
hands of the few
There are some facts bearing upon this ques-
ton recognized and admitted by all candid
m VEh D
the single gold standard Among these is the
fact that the very year that marked the change
from the bimetallic to the single gold standard
Is the very year that marked the change from
condition OF rising prices. large profits, gen.
eral contentment and great prosperity, TO
condition of increased demand, falling
prices, diminishing profits, Insecurity Of IN
VeStmentS. unemployed labor and heavy de-
preston in all branches OF trade and industry
It is not matter of dispute. even among the
honest advocates of the gold standard, that
general prosperity came TO an end with the
destruction OF the bimetsliic system, and that
hard times, falling prices, idle workiagmeu
and widespread depression came in with the
gold standard and prevails to-day wherever the
gold standard has been adopted Every inter-
national monetary conscience called every
demand in this country and in Europe foT
an international agreement to re-eStabliSh the
bimetaIlic standard is q confession that the
characterization Of silver was 4 biunder, II NOS
crime. that its consequences have been dis2S-
trous and that the conditions that it has
wrought are full Of menace and Of peril This
logic Of facts establishes beyond in
telligent question that the destruction
of silver as primary money by a con-
spiracy OF selfish interests is the cause
OF the widespread depression and suffering
that began with the gold standard There can
be no restoration of prosperity, no permanent
relief from prevailing conditions until the
great cause has been removed By a conpleta
restoration of silver TO its proper place as
money metal equal with gold
We believe in n money of stable value We
believe, least Of all IN an appreciating stand
ard 1t is only through the practical operation
of bimetallism that stable standard Of value
can be secured. a standard constituted OF
money constantly increasing the value is not q
sound, single, nor 4 stable standard, but q
constantly changing standard The effect Oh
gold mOnometalliSm is to establish one stand
ard for the creditor and another for the debtoT
and there can be no more dishonest monetary
system than that which gives short measure
to the borrower and long measure to The
lender.
Under the policy prevailing prior to 49,;
there can be no violent change in the relative
value of the two metals for rise in value OF
one metal is counteracted by q decreased de-
mand and a fail in value Under the opera
tions OF this benehcent law stable relation
was maintained between them in spite Of tbs
most extreme changes in relative pro-
auctions From the earliest period o:
our history up to 1873 the right OF
tne'debtor to choose whether he should pay his
debts in silver or gold coin was always recog-
nized- The subsequent policy has been &c
transfer this right TO the creditor, thus tend.
ing to constantly increase the value OF the
dearer metal and destroy the parity betwees
them Believing that it is absolutely neceS-
sary to reverse this Ubiquitous and ruinOuS
/ policy. We. therefore, resolve:
That we favor the immediate restoration Of
| silver to its former place full legal tender
| standard money, equal with gold, AID the fres
and unlimited coinage OF both silver and gOle
at the ratio OF 10 to /, and upon terms of exac'
\ equality; that while We should welcome tia
| cooperation OF other nations, We believe thai
| the United States should not wait upon thu
pleasure OF foreign governments, or the con
sent OF foreign creditors. but should them
selves proceed to reverse the grinding pro-
| cess that is destroying the prosperity of TIA
! people, and should lead By their own example
/ the nations OF the earth.
That the rights of the American people. tn.
interests of American labor and the prosperity
/ OF American industry have higher claim x
| the consideration OF the peoples lawmaker.
than the greed of foreign creditors, or thI
| avaricious demands made By idle holders o
| idle GA pital" The right to regulate its Owl
monetary system IN the interests OF its owl
people is a right which no free goverlmen
can barter, sell or surrender.
Under the financial policy that now prevail
we see the land filed with idle and discoa
tented workingmen and an ever CROWN;
army Of tramps; men whom lack Of wori
| beggarS- A. the other end We Ind tha
few thousand families own one-hal
the wealth OF the country.
| We therefore appeal 70 the plain people o
! the land. with perfect confidence IN their patri
| otiSm and intelligence. to arouse themselve
| TO full sense OF the peril that confroatS then
! and defend the citadel Of their liberties Wit
1 -fCf7 hal hall oie har G1F 7flar m