Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-06-20

; Heve the United States should not
wait upon the cooperation of ether
governments or the pleasure of cred
ltors, out should themselves proceed
to reverse the grinding process that
is destroying the prosperity of The
people. and should lead by their ex-
ample the nations of TIE earth; that
the rights of the American people
that the interests Of American lab ,r
and the prosperity of American in
dustly have higher claim 10 consid-
Grafton by the peoples lawmakers
than the greed of foreign creditors, or
the avaricious demands by idle hold
erSS OF idle capital. The right 10 reg
ulate its OWN monetary system in the
interests of its own people is the right
which no free government can barter.
sell or surrender. This reserved right
is part of every bond, of every con-
tract and of every obligation. No
creditor or claimant can set up right
that can take precedence over the na-
lions obligations TO promote the V ell
fare of the masses of its own people.
This is deb. and one which it is not
only dishonest, but treasona BILE 70 g
more.
Under the financial policy that now
prevails we see a land filled with idle
and discontinued workingmen and
an evergrowing army of tramps, men
who lack work and opportunity and
have been made outcaSts and beggars.
At the other end we find a few thous-
and families own one-half of the
wealth of the country, and the cen
traliza ton of wealth has gone hand
in hand with the spread of poverty
The pauper and plutocrat are twin
children Of the same vicious and I'M
holy system. The situation is full of
to the liberties of the people
and the life of the republic. The is
sue is REIMBURSEMENT or hopeless
servitude. Whatever the power of
money can do by debauchery and cor
ruption to maintain it's grasp on the
law making power will be DONE We.
therefore, appeal to the plain people of
the nation and with perfect confidence
in their patriotism and intelligence to
arouse themselves to the full sense
Of the peril that confronts them and
defend the citidel Of their liberties
with vigilence which shall neither
slumber nor Sleep"
The reading of the resolutions was
interrupted by tumultuous
applause and they were adopted with
a hurrah, without discussion.
The following resolutions We're also
presented and adopted: THAT a COM
mittee composed of one member from
each state be appointed whose duty it |
shall be to correspond with represen-
tativeS and advocates of bimetallism
and of bimetallism societies in diff
ferent states of the union, and de-
wise measures to advance the cause of
throughout the United
States. That this committee shall
have power to call a national confer
ence Of bimetallists whenever, in the
opinion of the committee, the cause of
bimetallism can be advanced there
by"
In response to repeated calls SEN
atOr Jones, of Arkansas, and eX-Gov-
ernor Prince, of New Mexico, ad-
dressed the convention. The next
speaker was Benjamin R. Tillman,
popuIist United States senator from
South Carolina, to whose appearance
everybody had been looking forward
with great interest as his speech was
expected to furnish a sensation. IN
mild way, this expectation was rea-
liZed.
At the conclusion of Tillman's ad-
dress Governor Jones, of Colorado and
Marion Butler, of North Carolina. adj
dressed the convention At the night
session Col. A. J. Warner, Of Ohio; W.
j. Bryan and State Senator Wolc3tt,
of Indiana, were speakers. Under The
resolutions a national committee was
appointed Of which J. r. Goodwin, of
Tennessee, was elected chairman The
convention then adjourned sine die.