Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1895-08-22


dissenting voice the delegates to the
silver conference on Thursday adopted
free coinage resolutions, appointed a
provisional committee to perfect a
national organization. made speeches
anything but complimentary of the
administration and adjourned sine die.
The Address.
The main portion of the address fol-
lows:
and declaring that 1t was .'purely voluntary
assemblage and therefore does not speak with
party authority" it proceeds as follows:
PROFOUNDLY conscious that tho domoorartc
party to-day confronts Q crisis the most
momentous in its history and frauYht
with far-reaching peril to the people and
the country. we are assembled as individual
democrats to take counsel together and for
the undisguised purpose of inaugurating and
promoting q thorough and systematic organi-
zation Of the democratic masses, so that they
may 60 forward as one man with q resolute
purpose to rescue the old party. founded BY
Thomas Jefferson, from plutocratic domina-
ton.
Therefore. with this object in view, this
convention of American democrats, composed
of representatives from twenty-five OF the
leading states of the union. make the following
declaration on the monetary question which
has been forced into the leading place among
the issues of to-day. The federal cOrsti-
tuition names silver and gold together as the
money metal of the United States Tho first
coinage law passed by congress under the con-
stitutiOn made the silver dollar the unit OF
value and admitted gold to free coinage ut a
ratio measured by the silver dollar unit
From tho beginning of the governments, fol-
lowing policy formulated by Thomas Jeffer.
son and firmly established by Jackson. the
democratic party has been the party Of bimet-
sllism favoring the free coinage OF both silver
and gold at the national minis and opposed to
farming out to banking corporations the
governments sovereign power Of issuing and
controlling the money of the people
Act Of 1873.
''The act Of 1873 demonetizing silver was
surreptitiously passed without the approval
or knowledge Of the American people, and
from the time when the effect OF this act In
fastening upon this country the single gold
standard was understood the democratic
party has consistently and persistcntly
urged that the grievous wrong be righted
"Failure to accomplish this object has re-
suited in the steady appreciation Of gold and q
corresponding fall in the price of commodities
produced by the people, q heavy increasein the
burden of all debts, public and private; the
enrichment of the mOney-lending class;
paralysis of industry and the Impoverished
Of the people and unexampled distress in all
gold standard countries. Experience has
shown that while under the single gold stand
ard there may be an occasional revival Of
business activity accompanied by enhanced
prices Of . limited number of commodities
such revival Is due to artificial and Temporary
causes and cannot permanently alleviate the
suf1erings due to the falling Of prices brought
about by the appreciation Of gold and the In
adequate supply Of primary or redemption
money.
forests Of American labor and the prosperity
Of American industry have higher claim to
the consideration Of the peoples lawmakers
than the greed OF foreign creditors or tile
avaricious demands made by idle holders oil
Idle capital Isl. q 81
An lnalIenable Right.
"The right to regulate its own monetary
system In the interest OF Its own people Is 8
right which no free government can barter
sell or surrender. This reserved right is q
part Of every bond, Of every contrac,
and Of every obligation. No creditor OF
claimant can set up . right that can take prece-
dence over nations obligations TO promote
the welfare Of the masses Of its people. This
Is debt higher and more binding than all
other debts and one that It is not only dishon.
est but reasonable to ignore.
t.The land and It's products arc the basis Of
all developments and prosperity. The pro-
ductive capacity Of 8 country must be the
basis Of Its credit In opposing the policy Of
contraction, which must inevitably depreci-
ate the values OF land and its products, We are
tho supporters OF property rights and sound
credit and stand between the homes and
estates Of the people and the red flag Of the
suctioneer. s s as5sS
..The policy Of gold recommendation has been
characterized by repeated and disastrous
financial panics. The farmers have found
their. prosperity and independence constantly
waning under It's blighting Influences"
Manufacturers are Interested to opposeit
for they find the price OF sale falling below the
cost Of production. Merchants should OPP
pose It. for with the falling prices they are
often compelled to sell for less than they
paid for manufactured goods. Neither manu-
lacturer nor merchant can prosper unless the
mass OF consumers realize such prices for
their products and labor and supply themselves
literally with the necessities and Injuries 81
life, nor can the wage Garner prosper, for
less competition for his labor.
Traditional Friend Of Bimetallism.
"The democratic party u the traditional
friend and champion Of bimetalltsm. Its
strength and power and popularity has been
largely built upon its steadisst opposition "a
tho demonstration Of silver and tta
record Of unwearied effort to restore Il
TO It's historic place as money metal equal
with gold Tho effort at this late day to make
II par excellence the champion Of gold mono
metallism. the enemy Of the policy II has up
held. and the defender Of the crime
It has denounced, is an effort to dishonoz
IL record. Its promises and Its principles.
The moment the democratic party is forced