The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-16
Address to the People Issued by the
Harris-JOnes-Turpic Conference
mt Washington.
SOUND MONEY MEN SCORED
AND DEMOCRATS URGED TO WORK
FOR SILVER MONOMETALLIsM.
Cleveland Bond Deal Criticised
by the Republicans Of Maryland.

here concluded their labors by adopting an
address to the people and mapping out a
plan of organization. The address to the
people disclaims speaking with party au-
thority, the assemblage being a voluntary
one. but strongly represents the opinion of
the conference that the party should de-
clare for free coinage of silver. The address
follows:
AT a conference between a number OF
Democrats from different States who at
ly assembled at Memphis Tenn. for the
purpose or promoting the cause OF free
silver coinage, which conference was held
after the adjournment of the convention,
committee consisting of Senator'S Jones, OF
Arkansas, Turpe. of Indiana, and Harris.
OF Tennessee, was appointed and author
lied 70 invite representative Democrats
from the several States to meet them at
Washington for consultation with the view
Of securing cooperation and concert OF ac-
ton among those Democrats throughout
the Union who believe in adhering to the
cardinal Democratic policy of actual bimet-
allism, and who are opposed to committing
the. PARTY to the plutocratic doctrine. OF
ence is the result of the action then taken.
This is purely voluntary assemblage and
therefore dos not assume to speak with
party authority.
''Disclaiming all right to bind. any person
by cur utterances, but profoundly conscious
that the Democratic party to-day confronts
and fraught with far-reaching perils to the
people and the country. we are assembled
a individual Democrats to take counsel to-
gether and for the undisguised purpose of
inausurating and pro;aoting thorough and
systematic organization Of the Democratic
masses, SO that they may go forward as
one man with a resolute purpose to rescue
the old party founded by Thomas Jefferson
from plutocratic domination. Therefore,
with this object in view, this convention OF
American Democrats, composed or repre-
10 m
States of the Union. make the following
declaration on the monetary question,
which has been forced into the leading
plare among the issues OF to-day.
The federal Constitution names silver
and gold together as the money metal OF
the United States. The first coinage law
made the silver dollar the unit of value and
admitted go d to free coinage at ratio
measured by the silver dollar unit. From
the beginning Of the government, following
and firmly established by Jackson, the
Democratic party has been the party OF
bimetallism. favoring the free coinage OF 81
and opposing the farming out to banking
corporations the governments sovereign
power of issuing and controlling the money
of the people.
THE "CRIME OF 1873"
''The act of 1873 demonetizing silver was
surreptitiously passed without the approval
"
from the time when the effect Of this act
In fastening upon this country the single
gold standard was understood. the Demo-
cratic party has consistently and persist
emily urged that the grievous wrong be
righted. Failure to accomplish this object
has resulted in the steady appreciation Of
gold and a corresponding fall in the price
of commodities produced. by the people, a
heavy increase in the burden OF all debts.
public and private; the enrichment or the
money lending class; paralysis OF INDUSTRY
and the impoyerishment OF the people ana
unexampled distress in all gold standard
countries. Experience has shown that
while under the single gold standard there
may be an occasional revival OF business
activity accompanied by enhanced prices OF
limited number OF commodities, such re-
vival is due to artificial and temporary
causes and cannot permanently alleviate
the sufferings due to the falling OF prices
brought about by the appreciation OF gold
and the inadequate supply OF primary or
redemption money.
..The rights of the American people. the
interests of American labor and the pros
perity Of American industry have higher
lawmakers than the greed of foreign cred
itors or the avaricious demands by idle
holders of idle capital. The right to regu-
est est Of IL its " own people is right which no
free government can barter. sell or sur
render: This reserved right Is 2 part OF
Obligation. No creditor or claimant can set
UP right that can take precedence over
Fare Of the Of it's People This
is a debt higher and more binding than all
other debts. and one that 1t Is not only dis
THE land and its products are the basis
OF all development and prosperity. Ine
capacity 1 OF nnosyp be
icy of contraction. which must inevitably
further depreciate the value of land and its
rights and sound credit. and stand between
the homes and estates OF the people. and
the red flag of the. auctioneer. The policy
of gold monometallism has been character
lied by repeated and disastrous financial
panics. The farmers have found their pros
perity and independence constantly waning
under it's blighting influence. Manufacture
the prices of sale falling below the produc-
failing prices they are often compelled to
tured goods. Neither manufacturer nor
merchant can prosper unless the mass OF
products and labor as to supply themselves
literally with the. necessities and Injuries
for under depressed conditions there is less
and less competition for his labor.
CHAMPION OF BIMETALLISM.
'"The Democratic party is the traditional
friend and champion of bimetallism. Its
strength. and power. and POPULARITY has been
largely pu1lt on It's SteduIdSt opposition 10
the decentralization of silver and its record
of unwearied effort to restore 1t to its his
toric place as a full money equal with gold
The effort at this late day to make 1t par
excellence the champion of gold mono-
metallism. the enemy of the policy ii has
upheld and the defender of the crime ii has
denounced. is effort to dishonor its rec
ord, its promises and its principles. The
moment the Democratic party Is forced into
past and crowns its great adversary with
glory and honor.
DUTY to the people requires that the par
ty of the people continue the battle for b.
I.ietallism until its efforts are crowned with
success: therefore, he II
Resolved, That the Democratic party in
national convention assembled should de-
mand the free and unlimited coinage OF sill
yer and gold into primary or redemption
money at the ratio OF Is to /, without wait
ing for the action or approval OF any other
nation.
Resolved. That IL should declare its IT,
revocab,e opposition to the substitution for
metallic money OF a panic breeding COR
poration credit currency, based on sing.e
metal. the supply of which is so limited
that IL can be cornered at any time by a
America.
Resolved. That II should declare It's op-
position TO the policy and practice OF CUR
rendering to the holders Of the OBLIGATIONS
of the United States the option reserved
by the lot of the government redeeming
such obligations in either silver coin or
Resolved. That 1t should declare its op-
position to the issuing OF interest-bear ng
.1c IF he rpff I'D f~f