The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-27
SILVER CONVENTION AT MEMPHIS
An Address to the People by Free Coin
age Leaders.

Memphis, May 26-The following ad-
dress 10 the public. issued by the Central
Bi-metallic League at Memphis, explains
itself:
ITO the People of the United States:
The arch enemies OF the agricultural and
producing classes of our country, moved
by greed and encouraged by price. have
conspired 10 transfer the essentially gov
ernmental function of issuing and con-
trolling the money volume Of the nation
10 system OF banking corporations aull
OF the vice of class legislation. and void
OF any virtue which commends il TO the
consideration of a patriotic citizen. Tn
daunted by the failure to secure the
sanction OF the American congress. the
promoters Of the nefarious scheme have
boldly taken the initiatory step 10 attain
the object OF their conspiracy. Backed
by the great power of eNhaustless wealth
and the influence of high official po-
sition. they have publicly convened In
the city OF Memphis and openly declare
their purpose. They demand that the
constitutional and inherently sovereign
right 20 issue money he delivered into
their hands; they hesitate at no decep-
tion. they scruple at no fraud. Knowing
the innate integrity OF our people they
pirate Of honest money Appreciating
our aversion 10 paternalism. they say
the government must so out OF the bank
ing business They hope and believe
that We VIII not stop to consider that an
exact dollar which by vicious legislation
they have made 20 cost the debtor twice
as much labor and double the amount Of
produce as the one promised. is not hon
est They expect the American people
70 accept as true the statement that the
money OF the constitution. established bv
the fathers. is dishonest. for no other
reason save the dictate OF their illustrious
accomplices and plastic tools. They hope
that the people will ignorantly confound
the sovereign prerogative and the bound
duty OF the government to coin money
and establish A system OF uniform
weights and measures. with the loans and
discount inherently appropriate to the oc-
cup0ttcn ot the private citizen. They
think that We viii forget that the true
question Is not whether the government
shall so ont 81 the banking business but
whether the banks shall so ont of the
governing business Thus thev design nv
the aid ~ the public apathy to rivet The
chains which will make free men slaves.
To ;he end that their hopes may meet
With ap7Oinfmsnt and thef- ~C0sufr-
ary with failure. that the toiling masses
Of our ~ Ople may be saved from an In
dus.~ial serf8om more cruel and degrad-
ing han chattel slavery. something must
be done 10 meet their cunning ana ,rsi1-
ious assaults. Eternal vigilance IS Tho
price or liberty. our foe Is interruptions
His greatest victory was achieved hv
steolthy ard corrupt legislative IeEer4a-
main. disgrareful 20 the men who PLANNED
it aui dtscreditshle % the peoples rep
re<eutatives who failed - teta1, IT, The
crime % 1873 cannot he explained anon
any Other hypothesis
That the people may come together
and take counsel Of each other. it has
been deemed expedient 70 call together
a convention 90 assemble a. Memrhis on
raA Isth and l3th DAYS % June 1Sa5 Ev-
cry community. every city ae5 texn srf
every state in the I'ni6n is earnestly r~-
euested and cordially invited - send dol
ezates % this convention. Every vicinity
Is urged to orsa aize bi-metsl'j- clubs. and
every clnh should be represented Il is
n~orosef that the conventions shall voi>e
,he sentiments of she psorjs. Their coua-
frv needs their best thoaEht theI~ delfN-
r~atIsn and energetic action. They have
rn money 20 employ hi-slinE ernissa~{as
Is frlu uY delegates fr0u .hr cotton ex
changes ana hasf3s or ,rsge Their own
tel1tEent Var~iofisrn IS 5A@ only fHrd 20
= hich they can appeal Ths object -
tafs convention tS 20 formulate some frs-
nfse pan NJ fatu~e srtlor. - rive 1i~e--
tfon 20 tnS cve-T-he ming rotr ~ orhlse
sent t~lant fSvorgnE rera~u to ana IS
sahtt~htng uur ff5erer fesee cF allen
Nns r-4aI fnSfttut srrs- fo devise means Fa-
ss-a a campaign of rta-sr}on Ihas hera-
such nea - TIE legislative aad exeGg-