Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-16
SILVERlTE ADDRESS.
Resolutions Adopted by The Democratic
Conference al Washington.
THE pLAN OF ORGANIZATION.
A National Committee Made Up Oh
One Member from Each Stn'c'
General Executive Committee In
AdlItfon-Ctubs.

WASHINGTON. August l5.-seh"'o'
y1arris called the silver conference 10
order promptly at 10 O'CLOCK ''-'"'
soon as the delegates were se''ou "0
stated that the Committee on heso'u''ons'
enough IL had worked most OF the hish''
,,os not vet ready 20 report bnt "ouio
- 20 do 80 in about an hour. IL was
a,-oed n devote the hour Of waiting for
tho committees report to experimenting.
,r,o conference was then held with open
doors
Tho conference was addressed by Colo
mol Casey Young of Tennessee; ex-Re-
presentative Fithian. OF Illinois; Repre-
sentative Livingston. Of Georgia; Senator
can. Of Florida. and MIR. i'm, OF Mis-
sour.
When the committee reports were an
nounced complete. shortly before noon,
Senator Jones took the chair and Gov
ernor stone. Of Missouri. presented an
address. lie announced that it was sub
stantially the same as that partially
adopted by the Texas silver convention,
and adopted In toto by the Mississippi
convection.
Mr.. Hin. OF Missouri. moved adoption
Of the address and resolutions, and the
motion was adopted by a unanimous vote.
ADDRESS.
The address is as follows:
"At conference between a number Of
Democrats of different States who at
iended the non-partisan convention re-
Gently held at Memphis. Tenn. for the
purpose Of promoting the cause of free
silver coinage (Which convention was
held after the adjournment OF Congress).
n committee. consisting OF Senators Jones.
Of Arkansas. Turpie Of Indiana. and
Harris OF Tennessee, was appointed and
authorized 10 invite representative Demo-
Gratis from the several States 10 meet
them at Washington for consultation.
with the view Of securing cooperation
and concerted action among those Demo
Gratis throughout the Union who believe
in adhering to the cardinal Democratic
policy OF actual bimetallism. and who
are opposed TO committing the party 10
the plutocratic Republican doctrine of
sod monometallsm. The present confer
tnce is the result Of the action then
taken This IS purely a voluntary assem-
b'age. and therefore does not assume TO
sneak with party authority. and disclaims
all right to bind any person by our Ut
terances: but profoundly conscious that
the Democratic party to-day confronts
crisis the most momentous In its history,
and fraught with far-reaching peril 10
the people ard the country. we are as
seinbled as individual Democrats to take
counsel together and for the undlsguised
purpose of inaugurating and promoting a
thorough and systematic organization Of
the Democratic masses. so that they may
20 forward as one man. with n resolute
purpose 10 rescue the old party founded
by Thomas jefferson from piutocratic
domination.
Therefore. with this object In view
this convention OF American Democrats,
composed Of representatives from twen-
ty-two Of the leading States OF the
Union. makca the following declaration
on the monetary question. which has
been forced into the leading place among
the issues Of to-day:
The Federal Constitution names sill
YER and gold together as the money
metals Of the United States. The first
coinaee-law passed by Congress under
the Constitution made the silver dollar
the unit Of value. and admitted gold to
free coinage az a ratio measured by the
silver dollar unit
From the beginning Of the govern
tnent following policy formulated by
Thomas jefferson. and firmly established
hv Jackson. the Democratic party has
,oen the marty of bimetallism, favoTing
the free coinage Of both silver and gold
al the national minis, and opposed 10
n farming out TO banking corporations
OF the governments sovereign power OF
issuing and controlling the money OF the
people. -.
THE act Of 1873 demonetizing silver was
srrreptitiously passed, without the APP
,roval or knowledge OF the American
reople. ana from the time when the ehec'
~ mis- act I'm fastening upon this country
the single gold standard was UNDERSTOOD
The Democratic party has consistently ana
rersIstantly urged that the bfleVous
wrong be rightcd.
FAILURE 10 accomplish this object mas
resulted In the steady appreciation OF
F.l and a corresponding fan I'm the price
~ commodities produced by the people a
heavy increase in the burden OF an
debts. public and private; the enrichment
q fna money-lending class. paralysis
q Industry, and the impoverishment Oh
the r.o-lc and unex8mpled distress IN
an g0.-standard countries. Experience
has shown that while under the single
gi standard there may be an ocVd-
scal revival Of business activity. ac-
oomuanied by enhanced prices OF limit
e. number Of commodities. such revival
is due % artificial and temporary causes.
and canno, permanently alleviate the sur
feruCa due 10 the falling OF prices
brought about 10y the appreciation Of gold
ana the inadequate supply OF primary OF
n ienp,ior-m0ney.
THE rights OF the American people, the
rights OF American labor. ana the pros
perity Of American industry have higher
claim TO the consideration Of the peoples
lawmakers than the greed OF foreign
creditors or the aVaricious demands made
hy idle holders OF idle capital The right
% regulate It's own monetary system in
the interest OF rs own people is a RICH;
which TO free government can barter
sell. or surrender. This reserved right Is
part Of every bond. Of every contract,
and OF every obligation. No creditor or
claimant can set up a right that can
.ake precedence over its obligation 10
promote the welfare OF the masses OF
rs people. THIS IS a debt higher and more
binding than all other debts. and one that
IS not only dishonest but reasonable
T. ignore.
The land and is products are the basis
u an development and prosperity. The
Productive capacity OF a country must be
the basis Of It's credit. In opposing the
policy o. contraction. which must inevta-
tiy depreciate the value OF land and its
products, We are the supporters Of pro-
perry rights and sound credit, and stand
between the homes and estates OF the
people and the red flag OF the auc-
tlOuecr.
GOLD MONOMETALLLSM.
''rhe policy OF gold monometallism has
been characterized BY repeated and dis
astr0us financial panics. The farmers
have found their prosperity and independ-
crce constantly waning under Its blight