Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1895-03-19
TUESDAY. MARCH 19.
DEMOCRACY AND SILVER,

To the Democrats of the United
States:
Washington, Mch. 4.--We the un-
dersigned Democrats, present for
your consideration the following state
ment: We believe that the establish
ment of gold as the only monetary stand
ard and the elimination of silver as a
full legal tender money will increase the
purchasing power of each dollar, and so
the burden of all debts, decrease the mar
ket value of all other forms of property
and continue and increase the business
depression and finally reduce the ma jority
of the people to financial bondage. We
believe no party can hope for enduring
success in the United States SO long as it
advocates single gold standard, and
that the advocacy of such a financial
policy would be especially dangerous to
party which, like the Dem ocratic party
derives it's voting strength from those
who may without reproach be called the
common peoples and we point to tho
overwhelming defeat of the party in 1894,
to the opposition aroused by the veto of
the seigniorage bill and to the still more
unanimous protest against the issue of
gold bonds as proof that the Democratic
party can not be brought to the support
of the gold standard policy.
We believe that the money question
will be the paramount issue in 1896, and
will SO remain until it is settled by the
intelligence and patriotism of the Ameri-
can voters.
We believe majority of the Demo-
Gratis of the United States favor bimetal-
lism and realize that it can be secured
only by the restoration of the free and
unlimited coinage of gold and silver at
the present ratio, and we assert that the
majority has and should exercise the
right to control the policy of the party
and retain the party name.
We believe it is the duty of the ajor-
ity and within their power to take charge
of the party organization and make the
Democratic party an effective instrument
in the accomplishment of needed re-
forms.
1t is not necessary that Democrats
should surrender their convictions on
other question in order to take an active
part in the settlement of the question
which at this time surpasses all others in
Importance. We believe that the rank
and file of the party should at once as
sert themselves in the Democratic party
and place it on record in favor of the i'm
mediate restoration of the free and un-
limited coinage of gold and silver at the
present legal ratio of 16 to l, as such
coinage existed prior to 1878, without
waiting for the aid or consent of any
other nation, such gold and silver to be
full legal tender for all debts, public and
private.
We urge all Democrats who favor the
financial policy above set forth to asso-
ciate themselves together and impress
their views upon the party organization.
We urge all newspapers in harmony with
the above financial policy to place it at
the head of the editorial column and as
sist on the immediate restoration of bl-
metallism.
Signed: R. T. Bland, Missouri; W. J.
Bryan, Nebraska; H. A. Coffeen, Wyom-
ing; George W. Fjthian, Illinois;J. I.
Cockrell, Texas; John L. McLaureD,
South Carolina; James O. Mcclure, Cali
fornia; George Ikert, Ohio; Justin B.
Whiting, Michigan; G. Snodgrass, Ten
nessee: George f. Richardson, Michigan;
M. A. Smith, Arizona; A. w. Odgen Lou1-
siana; J. c. Capeheart West Virginia; W.
l.. Moore, Kansas; Il. D. Money, Missis-
sippi; W. R. Ryan, Missouri B. F. Grady,
North Carolina; Chas. F. Morgan, Mis-
souri; g. w. Shell, South Carolina; Ed
ward Lane, Illinois; d. Donovan, Ohio;
A. G. Latimer, South Carolina; Marshall
Arnold, Missouri W. H. Demon, Ala
bama; W. j. Talbert, South Carolina;
John s. Williams, Mississippi; I. j. Stait,
South Carolina; A. I. Caminetti, Cali
fornia; W. F. Bowers, North Carolina;
Antonio Joseph, New Mexico; Evan P.
Howell, Atlanta Constitution; j. Floyd
King, ex-member of congress, of Loui-
siana.