The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-14
SPEAKS STRONG WORDS FOR SILVER.

Republican party IN the west must have
been uppermost in the mindof any thought
full observer of the past two days proceed
ings in the great silver convention which
has been in session at the Auditorium.
Both sides of this proposition were dis
cussed to-day in imprisoned speeches
and strong argumentative appeals to
the 1900 delegates and visitors who
attended the big mass-meeting.
The first warning of the approaching en-
counter was heard last night in the bold
utterances of Congressman Joseph C. Sib-
ley of Pennsylvania in favor OF a silver
party-an aggressive campaign for the re-
monetization of the white metal without
regard to previous party ties.
To-day all disguise was thrown off. The
men who favor a silver party, with one
purpose and one idea, under the leadership
OF Sibley, Tillman of South Carolina But
Ter OF North Carolina, Stewart of Nevada
and Adams of Colorado, told of their plans
without reserve and asked their hearers to
decide between the party and Nation. On
the other hand those in favor of the settle
ment of the silver question within
party lines urged conservative action, Wig
orous agitation for free silver, but bearing
in mind that there were other questions of
Importance to the political future of the
country which should cause the voter to
think well before casting off the party
affiliations of years and giving his I'M
divided suffrage to the one cause of silver.
The money question, they claimed, should
and would be settled within party lines.
The conservative element prevailed in the
committee on resolutions, and the declara-
tions of that body, which were made by
the convention, did not go beyond a strong
presentation of the views of the free
silverites gathered here. But the conven-
ton adjourned with a schism in it.
One faction advocates the Sibley ''idea"
and the capture of the Democratic conven-
ton, and, failing in that, independent poll
teal action, while others were fighting the
issue strictly within party lines.
Marion Butler, the Populist Senator
from North Carolina, said the convention
was the most important and remarkable
ever held in this country. He announced
that he was a thorough-going Populist and
believed that the Government should own
the railroad and steamship, but did not
want them to own them while the Roths.
childs and other money kings owned the
Government. Mr.. Butler said the biggest
plank in the Populist platform was the
silver plank, that the party increased 200
per cent last year and would increase 400
per cent next year.
The North Carolina Senator spoke at an
unfavorable time. The crowd had been
deluged with such food of oratory all
day that 1t was somewhat tired, but it &C
corded him respectful hearing and then
took recess until evening.
At 10:15 o'clock Rev. Dr. Brooks of Mem
phis opened the convention with prayer,
after which the arrival of delegates from
Arizona and Arkansas was announced.
Chairman Turpie then announced that the
committee on resolutions was not ready to
report, and introduced Senator Stewart of
Nevada, who addressed the convention.
Senator Stewart spoke as follows:
The object lessons of the last three years
show that the American people are face to
face with concentrated capital, the enemy
which destroyed all previous civilizations.
shrinking volume of money as compared with
population and business produces falling
prices, paralyzes industry and compels the
producers of wealth to pawn their property to
continue the struggle against impending fate.
The modern colossus, the Rothschilds COM
bination, is the greatest brokerage establish
ment the world has ever seen. 1t deals with
corporations and nations, which force from
the people their earnings either by monop-
olizing the necessaries of life or through the
sovereign power of taxation. 1t furnishes
money for its customers by selling their bonds
TO the public for vastly more than the cost to
the combination. The vast bonded debts of the
United States and Europe have passed through
their hands for nearly century, and the in
dependent of their numerous associates, is
estimated at two thousand millions. This
combination robbed the United States of gold
to convert the silver debt of Austria into gold
obligations and made four hundred millions
in the transaction.
In 1893 the vaults of the United States
treasury were opened, and more than
500, 0OO, 900 of gold was shipped to Austria,
with the aid of the administration, which re-
fused TO exercise the option provided by Con-
gress to pay in either gold or silver. By this
means the great combination wrecked the
finances OF this country and created the panic
of 1893. Gladstone and Cleveland were willing
agents of the gold trust. They suspended
coinage in India, and repealed the purchasing
clause of the Sherman act to make it easier for
the combination to control the standard money
of the Western world. France and Germany
made no objection to the wicked work of the
y
the fortunes of the American people, but they
protected themselves by refusing to furnish
gold for the Austrian speculation. Each, when
gold was demanded for export, paid their obli-
cations in silver, as the Congress of the United
States authorized the Secretary of the Treasury
to do. The success of the gold combination in
repeating the purchasing clause of the Sher-
man act, and thereby ratifying and confirming
the infamous act of 1873 demonedzing silver,
placed the fortunes of seventy millions of
people at the mercy of the gold kings.
The temporary lull in the financial storm
which the country now enjoys was bought.
President Cleveland contracted with the Roths-
childs' combination to cease their raids on the
United States for eight months. The price he
paid for peace and protection shows the pros
trate condition of the people of this country
before the power of the gold monopoly. He
gave them $12,0oO,000 in the difference
between the market price and what he received
for 500, O00, 900 of United States bonds and
further agreed in consideration OF such protec-
ton TO allow the combination TO purchase
whatever bonds might be issued before the
meeting of another Congress- What further
proof is required than this contract to demon
strate that the gold of the world is cornered?
A banking corporation contracts to change the
currents in international commerce and agrees