Great Falls weekly tribune., 1896-10-02

This platform declared in no uncertain
terms that the United States should be-
gin the free and unlimited coinage of
silver and gold at the ratio of l6 to l
without waiting for the aid or consent OF
any other nation on earth. (ApplRuse. }
This convention was followed shortly
afterward by two other conventions as-
sembling in the city OF st. Louis, upon
the same day, and they likewise, in clear,
concise and unequivocal terms, put forth
their platforms upon the question OF
finance, declaring that the United States
of America, without waiting for the aid
or consent Of any other nation, should
proceed to the free and unlimited coin
age of silver at the present ratio of 16 to
/. (Applause.)
The republican platform is declara.
ton of dependence upon European pow
ers. The democratic and populist plat
forms are declarations of independence.
One is suppliant petition to the
crowned plutocracy Of the Old world, ask
ing for change; the other is bold,
defiant declaration, relying upon the
power and strength of the American peo.
pie to attend to their own affairs and
manage their own financial institutions.
(Applause) And it is for the people to
say which one of these propositions they
will sustain at the ballot-box. If
you have faith in the American
people, if you have faith in our
ability to take care OF our own
institutions and our own affairs, il you
have faith in our strength and power to
maintain any proposition that we under
take, then vote for these platforms,
promulgated by the democratic and pop
uliet parties, and for that peerless young
Lochinvar Of the west William Jen-
nings Bryan of Nebraska. (Tremendous
applause.) He is fighting the battle Of
the common people, marching with the
grandest army that was ever led by any
prince. The great army of Xerxes was
nothing compared with the army Of the
common people that is behind William
J. Bryan in this battle. Who is it,,
l ask you, my friends, that is con-
ducting the campaign of the re-
publican party and urging the election of
Major William Mckinley? What influ-
was it that dictated his nomination in
the republican convention? Who is his
manager in this campaign? "a voice:
Mark Hanna) Mark Hanna, the arch
fiend of labor in this country, is the
ulauS ludt udu WIZ Ad6 uOu0 ulOIo W
crush out organized labor than any other
man perhaps in the United States is the
chairman of Mr.. McKinley's national
committee. Who upholds him in this
campaign? Why, sirs, the Rockefellers,
William G. Whitney, August Belmont, j:
Pierpont Morgan, all the combines and
trusts and aggregated wealth in this
country, including the great railroad
,,,%oo,, ~ <h;, bo coorar.
and directors of each, are urging the
election of Mr.. Mckinley.
There never has been in the history of
this country, perhaps, a campaign where
coercion so largely entered into the con-
sideration of the question.
want to lay down this proposition in
political writer's agree upon this ques-
ume OF currency in any country the dol
of every class or description diminishes
ume of currency the dollar depreclates
and the prices Of all other property rise.
| Now. let US see what is the situation in
this country and what has been the stu
alton here for the last quarter of a CEN
tury. say that it has been one of con-
traction for the last % years.
We have only reached the final and
complete gold standard within the last
few years, and that is one of the reasons
we feel so oppressively at the present
time the conditions that surround U.s..
In 1873 1--WE have all heard this story be-
fore) the silver of the country, the con-
stitutional coin and money was stricken
frop, fhn ot of nfac NV an MT of roprrall
that denied it access to the mints of this
country. Shortly after that, by this act
though, they did away with at least
one half of the metallic currency Of the
United States; shortly after that they
undertook further to contract her cur
rency by destroying the greenbacks;
over $15O,OOO,OOO Of these were destroyed
when that act was repealed, on account
of the public pressure that was brought
to bear upon congress against the
further destruction of that money,
saving to the people some 534G,-
100000 of currency at that time.
In 1878 partial restoration of silver
took place by the passage of the Bland
Allison act, which provided for the coin
age of not less than S2,000,0OO nor more
than S4,OOO,OO0 of silver. Under the
operation of this act some S30,O0O,O0O
was added to our currency, until 1890,
when it was repealed. In 1890 the Sher-
man act was substituted for it, provid-
ing for the purchase of S4,5OO,OOO of sill.
yer each month at the market price,
provided 3714 grains did not exceed
81, and. instead of coming it, issuing
in lieu thereof coin certificates. Under
the operations Of this act sew
eral millions of paper currency, OF
certificates, we're put into circulation
each month. This remained in force
until 1893, when, at the extraordinary
session of congress, convened by Mr.
Cleveland, that act was repealed without
substituting anything instead thereof
and, by construction Of the law, placet
upon 1t by two secretaries of the treasury
Mr.. Foster aud Mr.. Carlisle-they
have proceeded to redeem all classes O
paper money, that call for coin, in gold
in other words, they have refused to us'
silver in the redemption of any of these
, obligations OF the government and golt
alone has been paid out Of thu
treasury to redeem these obligations