The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-03-13

| WASHINGTON, D. c., March 5.-The fol-
lowing was today issued by the American
| Bimetallic League:
| statement of the issues on which the
! new party will organize:
The money question is now indisputably
the dominant issue in the United States and
| will remain so until settled and settled
| rightly. Other questions, however import
| ant, must wait for this which, to a greater
or less extent, involves all others. The is
| sue is between the gold standard gold
bonds and bank currency on the one side,
| and the bmetallic standard, no bonds and
| government currency on the other.
First, on this issue declare ourselves
to be unalterably opposed to the single
gold standard and demand the immediate
| return of the excellent standard of gold
| and silver by the restoration by this gov
| eminent, independently of any foreign
| power, of the unrestricted coinage of both
| silver and gold into standard money at the
| ratio of 16 to / and upon terms of exact
| equality; the silver coin to be d full legal
| tender, equal with gold, for all debts and
| dues, public and private.
| troll and regulate a paper currency is in
| separabe from the power to coin money
and hence that all currency intended to
| circulate as money should be issued and it's
| volume controlled by the general govern
ment only and should be legal tender.
Third, are unalterably opposed to the
| issue by the United States of interest bear
| ing bonds in time of peace and demand the
| payment of all coin obligations of the
| In either gold or silver coin, at the option
| of the government, and not at the option of
| the creditors.
| On this issue we appeal from the dicta-
ton of the money power to the intelligence
and patriotism Of the American people,
AN APPEAL.
States:
| The sgners of declaration of independ-
| ence held that decent respect for the
| opinions of mankind required that reasons
should be given for dissolving the bonds
| that had bound the colonies to Great Brit
| ain. So we, who find it necessary to sever
our relations with the political parties with
| which we have heretofore acted, and form
| new alliances in a common cause, deem 1t
proper that some of the reasons which I'M
| pei us to this action should be submitted
| to a candid public.
The monetary reform for which we con-
| tend. as above set forth is, in our judg-
| me1t, vital to the common welfare and
| so necessary to a return to conditions of
prosperity in this country. as to preclude
| longer delay in the Inauguration OF a
movement, the purpose of which is to bring
| together all who believe in the necessity Of
| the proposed reform, for this object and
| this alone. Those in favor of the gold
| standard and have been united In pur-
pose and action. Party lines do not divide
them when this issue is raised differences
| on other questions are then laid aside and
! together they "in we'll beseeming ranks
| march all one way.
On the other hand those who in
| favor of a return to the constitutional
| standard of gold and silver are split into
as many divisions there are parties
! Silver Republicans from the West and
| South. to the great delight of the leaders
| of the Republican party, insist on contend.
| ing 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 Demo
cratic party. have contest equally IN the
| the advocates of the bimetallic standard,
| through the unrestricted coinage of silver
as well as gold. now contend for their
lions
| by the gold 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. 1t is believed that there are
now and have been for 70 years rs iatge
majority of the voters in the United States
RESTORING THE FREE COINAGE
of both gold and silver, but the opportun-
| itv to vote their convictions has never
| been given them and their will has been
! continually thwarted by party chlcanery;
There has not been a congress within ~
years except for the influence OF executive
| patronage or the fear of an executive veto
would not have voted 10 open me m n 3
| gold Indeed, each house of congress mas
| at different times, separately passed Tree
| coinage bills, but their action has often
| been frustra ted by party manipulation. 1t
| is as necessary, therefore to have presl-
| dent in sympathy with the causes as 10
| have a congress in favor OF 1t.
| But enough has been said to snow the
| mpossiblity of gaining our cause as long
| as we remain divided fight only in the
ranks Of the gold party or in organizations IONS
| standard. AS we'll might our fathers nave
| expected to have won the independence or
the colonies it. while nfsad t 90 s 1ne
| arate from the Tories. Independence coulo
never have been won by fighting for liberty
| in British regiments.
| And fellow citizens this fight Will never
| be won without united action. 1t will
never be won unless those who believe in
it come together and elect congress ana
| a president on this issue There is no nope
| whatever that the Republican party, as
party, will change its policy, give up the the
| gold standard and restore the bi-metalllc
| Standard There are no grounds for such
| hope and we believe they are deluded who
| look for such a change of policy by this
party. The Republican party is committed
| nv its leaders, by it's record and by the
| press behind it, to the gold standard sup
| ported by gold bonds, and to the retirement
| Of the greenbacks and the surrender of the
| issue and control of paper currency to the
oo''Ns' THE DEMOCRATS, TOO.
No less persistent and efectlve is the
control of the money power over the organ
| ization of the Democratic party. While
| undoubtedly, large majority of the mem
bers of that party are opposed to the goid
troll the party organization against it and
much less to secure through 1t the restora
tion of the bi-metallc standard.
While this is the case 1t cannot be ex
| pected that Republicans will abandon the
| Convictions of life time other ques
| lions and go into the Democratic party ir
| victions they believe to be essential in gov
eminent and go over to the Republican
narty. or to a division Of that party. MOI
is it possible to induce Republicans an(
| democrats together to go into the POpulis
party. for the reason, If for no other. tina
the platform of that party contains declara
| lions and the party advocates theories Il
| which thew cannot give their assent Blu
we must in some way come together or
this issue or the cause Is lost, and with i
nartv ever carried through great reform
NEW bottles for new wine.
Therfore no course seems possible blu
| to Subordinate for the time being othe
questions and come tosetner IN new or
1Sa6 IN the one great issue which tn,
prosperity and happiness Of the people 81
| Ia rpely depends. 1t is believed that this
cause can be won IN no other way an(
that to continue to contend for it onl!
within the lines of existing parties is
TO COURT DEFEAT
and lose the battle in the end.
The purpose of this movement is not t,
.rrav section against section nor clas
againnst class, nor to require anybody t
@iya nm his convictions On other question
| Or to sever his party relations for an.
other purpose than to unite in common
cause. the cause of justice against injus
tice Of prosperity instead of adversely, O
continued employment of labor instead O
forced idleness of abundance and happi
ness instead of want and misery.
There can be no doubt moreover that
| return to the standard of gold and silve
| viii promote in the highest degree tn
| business interests of the entire country
e while a continuance of the present polio
| must necessarily be attended by furthe
. | fall of prices, importing business enter
= | prise still more and prOlonging indefinitel
the present stagnant condition of trade an