The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-03-06
THI IIIT PIRTYS PLEA
Address to the People by the
American Bimetallio League.
OPPOSING THE SINGLE STANDARD.

The Address Declares That There Is No
Hope for Bimetallism Through Existing
Parties-Congressma sibley Mentioned
as a Possible Presidential Candidate.
WASHINGTON, March 6-The American
Bimetallic League issues an address to
the people calling for the organization of
a new national party. The address is in
part rs follows:
The money question is now indisputably
the dominant issue in the United States,
and will remain so until settled, and set
tied rightly. Other questions, however
important, must wait for this, which, to a
greater or less extent, involves all others.
The issue is between the gold standard,
gold bonds and bank 'ourrency on the one
side, and the bimetallic standard, no
bonds and government currency on the
other.
On this issue we declare ourselves to be
unalterably opposed to the single gold
standard, and demand the Immediate re-
turn to the constitutional standard of gold
and silver, by the restoration by this gov
ernment Independently of any foreign
power, of the unrestricted coinage of both
silver and gold into standard money, at
the ratio of 16 to 1, and upon terms of
exact equality; the silver coin to be full
legal tender, equally with gold, for all
debts and dues, public and private.
We hold that the power to control and
regulate paper currency is inseparable
from the power to coin money, and hence
that all currency intended to circulate as
money should be issued and its volume
controlled by the general government only,
and should be legal tender.
We are unalterably opposed to the issue
by the United States of interest bearing
bonds in time of peace, and demand the
payment of all coin obligations of the
United States as provided by existing
law, in either gold or silver coin, and at
the option of the government, and not at
the option of the creditor. On this issue
we appeal from the dictation of the money
power to the intelligence and patriotism
of the American people.
The monetary reform for which we con-
tend is, in our Judgment, so vital to the
common welfare and so necessary to a re-
turn to conditions of prosperity in this
country as to preclude longer delay in the
Inauguration of movement the purpose
of which is to bring together all who be
lieve in the necessity of the proposed re
FORM for this object and this alone, Those
in favor of the gold standard are and have
been unit purpose and action. Party
lines do no. aIvide them when this issue
is raised.
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 there are parties. Silver Re
publicans from the west and south, to the
great delight of the leaders of the Repub-
lican party, insist on contendng for their
! cause only within the lines of that party,
and southern and western Democrats,
earnest silver men, equally to the delight
| of the leaders of the Democratic party,
continue the contest on their part only
within the lines of the Democratic party,
Hence, however Jealous in the cause one
may be, no results are possible, because
| his party refuses to carry out his views or
| to permit them to be carried out.
This great cause will never be won with
! out united action. 1t will never be won
unless those who believe in it come to
| gether and elect a congress and presi-
| dent on this issue. 1t cannot be expected
| that Republicans will abandon convictions
of a lifetime on other questions and go
into the Democratic party in body, or
| into a wing of that party. Nor will Dem
ocrats give up convictions they believe to
be essential in government and go over to
the Republican party, or to a division of
that party. Nor is it possible to induce
Republicans and Democrats together to
go into the Populist party, for the reason
if for no other that the platform of that
party contains declarations to which they
cannot give their consent. No course
seems possible but to subordinate for the
time being other questions, and come to
gether in a new organization to fight tn,
great battle of 1896, on the one great issu,
on which the prosperity and happiness o
the people so largely depend. 1t is be
lieved that this cause can be won in nC
other way.
While not unmindful of the interests o
| the people of other countries in this ques
ton, it is not an issue that can be safely
submitted to the decision of foreign gov
ernments, or be made to depend on wha
other countries may do or may not do
"Beware of entangling alliances in thi
as in other matters, and especially of al
lurements of international conferences, t,
delay action in our own behalf in the de
lusive hope that other countries will car
for our interests better than we can our
selves No other country has ever askeC
our approval of its financial policy,
If the conference had authority from tn
people to name a candidate for president i
would name Joseph Q. Sibley, Of Penn
sylvania but not having such authority
can only suggest the name and invite ex
pressions from the people. 1t is under
stood that 1t is the desire of the leagu
that Republican should receive the nom
nation for vice president.
The address is signed by the exeoutiy
committee of the league including Pres
dent A. j. Warner, Senators Jones an
Stewart, and Congressman McLaurin.
The Advance in Psns,on.