Morris tribune., 1895-08-21

promoting thorough ana Systematic orsdni
cation of the democratic masses, so that they
may go forward as one man with resolutt
purpose to rescue the old party, founded BY
Thomas Jefferson, from plutocratic DONNA
ton & Hf1a fsrA
therefore, with this object in view, this
convention of American democrats, composed
of representatives from twenty-five OF the
leading states of the union, make the following
declaration on the monetary question which
has been forced into the leading place among
the issues of to-day. The federal copsti
tuition names silver and gold together as the
money metal of the United States The frs,
coinage law passed by congress under the con-
stitution made the silver dollar the unit OF
value and admitted gold to free coinage at a
ratio measured by the silver dollar unit.
From the beginning Of the government, fol-
lowing policy formulated by Thomas Jeffer-
son and firmly established by Jackson, the
democratic party has been the party Of bimet-
allism favoring the free coinage of both silver
and gold at the national minis and opposed to
farming out to banking corporations the
governments sovereign power of issuing and
controlling the money of the people
Act of 1873.
'The act OF 1873 demonetizing silver was
surreptitiously passed without the approval
or knowledge of the American people, and
from the time when the effect of this act in
standard was understood the democratic
party has consistently and persistently
urged that the grievous wrong be righted
1.-The rights of the American people, the in
terests of American labor and the prosperity
of American industry have higher claim to
the consideration of the peoples lawmakers
than the greed of foreign creditors or the
avaricious demands made by idle holders OF
idle capital
An InaIienabIe Right.
"The right to regulate its own monetary
system in the interest of its own people is a
right which no free government can barter,
sell or surrender. This reserved right is a
part of every bond, of every contract
and of every obligation. No creditor or
claimant can set up right that can take prece-
dence over a nations obligations to promote
the welfare of the masses of its people. This
is debt higher and more binding than all
other debts and one that it is not only dishon-
est but treas enable to ignore.
1.-The land and its products are the basis of
all developments and prosperity. The pro-
ductive capacity of country must be the
basis OF its credit In opposing the policy OF
contraction, which must inevitably depreci-
ate the values OF land and it's products, we are
the supporters of property rights and sound
credit and stand between the homes and
estates of the people and the red flag of the
auctioneer.
Duty to the people requires that the party
of the people continue the battle for bimetal-
lism until the efforts are crowned with sue
cess: therefore. be it
Resolved, That the democratic party in ma
tional convention Assem- bled should demand
the free and unlimited coinage of silver and
gold into primary or redemption money at the
ratio Of 16 to without waiting for the action
or approval of any other nation
Resolved, That it should declare its ire
vocable opposition to the substitution for
metallic money Of a panic-breeding corpora
the supply of which is so limited that it can
be cornered at any time by few banking in
in Europe and America
Resolved, That it should declare its oppo-
sition to the policy and practice of surrender
ing to the holders of the obligations of the
United States the option reserved by the law
to the government of redeeming such obliga-
tions in either silver coin or gold coin.
Resolved, That it should declare its opposi-
ton to the issuing of interest bearing bonds lu
the United States in time OF peace, and espe-
cially to placing the treasury Of the govern
ment under the control of any syndicate Of
bankers and the issuance Of bonds to be sold
by them at an enormous profit for the purpose
Of supplying the federal treasury with gold to
maintain the policy Of gold monometallism
with view to securing the adherence to q
above set forth by the democratic national
to be assembled in 1896 and of the
of candidate for the presi-
1ency. well known to be in hearty
Herewith, we hereby pledge our
mutual cooperation, and urgently recommend
10 democratic brethren in all the states to at
once begin and vigorously and systematically
the work Of a thorough organiza-
ion. and to this end the adoption of the plan
If organization herewith submitted is recon-
nended."
Mr.. Hill, Of Missouri, moved the
adoption of the address and resolu-
lions, which were agreed to by unan-
NOUS vote.
Plan of Reorganization.
The plan of organization recon-
nended by the committee was outlined
20 the conference as follows:
Believing that large maJoritv of the dem
,cratic voters of the United States are in har- |
nony with the sent, ments expressed in the |
oregofng address and knowing that full and |
rec expression of their views can only be as
and made effective through proper |
organization, we recommend the following |
,lan Of organization:
"First-There shall be national committee |
# democrats who are in favor of both gold and |
liver as the money of the constitution, which )
hail be composed of one democrat from each |
tate and the executive committee herein |
.fter provided for.
"Second-That until otherwise ordered by !
he national committee, Senators Harris of |
Tennessee; Jones. of Arkansas: Turpie, of In |
lana, and Hon. w. j. Stone. of Missouri, and |
Hon W. H. Hinrichsen. of Illinois, be and are
lereby constituted the executive committee |
nd shall have full power and authority and it |
hall be their duty at as early day as posi-
lie to appoint the members Of the national |
ommittee herein provided for and to fill va
ancies in the same.
"Third-That said executive committee shall |
ave full control and direction of the patriotic
fort of the bimetallic democrats of the nation
o secure in the next democratic convention
he maintenance of the time-honored princi-
lies and policies of the democratic party !
After adopting the address and reso-
utions, and the plan of reorganization,
he silver conference at 12:45 p. m. ad-
burned sine die.