The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-23
Text Of Platform Adopted By
the Silver Convention.
Opposed to Gold Standard and
Gold Bonds,
ALSO BANK CURRENCY.
Favor Bimetallic Standard and
Government Currency.
Coin Obligations to Be Paid at
Government Option.

st. Louis. July 2S.-The committee on
resolutions Of the silver party met last
night and a subcommittee was ap-
pointed to recommend the platform
passed at the Washington, D. c., BIZ
metallic conference in January last.
There was a hard fight on the part Of
Gen. Warner, the Ohio member for
the Endorsement of the Democratic sill
yer plank in toto, but by vote of 16
to the subcommittee was instructed
to report the following platform:
The national silver party in con-
vention assembled hereby adopts the
Following declaration of principles:
Ffrst-The paramount issue at this
time in the United States is indisputa-
bly, the money question. 1t is between
the gold standard, gold bonds and bank
currency on one side and the bimetallic
standard, no bonds and government
currency on the other.
On this issue we declare ourselves to
be in favor OF a diStinctively American
financial system. We are unalterably
opposed to the single gold standard
and demand the immediate return to
the constitutional standard of gold and
silver by the restoration by this gov
eminent, independently of any foreign
power, of the unrestricted coinage of
gold and silver as the standard mon
ey at the ratio of 16 to l and upon
terms of exact equality as they exist
ed prior to 1873; the silver coin to be a
full legal tender equally with gold for
all debts and dues, public and private,
and we favor such legislation as will
prevent in the future the demOnetiza-
ton of any kind of legal tender money
by private contract.
We hold that the power to control
and regulate a paper currency is in
separable from the power to coin mon
ey; and hence that all currency in
tended to circulate as money should be
issued, and its volume controlled, by
the government only and should be le
gal tender.
We are unalterably opposed to the is
sue by the United States of interest
bearing bonds in time of peace, and
we denOunce, as a blunder worse than
crime, the present treasury policy
cOncurred in by Republican house of
plunging the country in debt by hum
dreds of millions in the vain attempt
to maintain the gold standard by Dor
rowing gold, and we demand the pay
ment of all coin obligations of the Uni
ted States as provided by existing
laws, in either gold or silver coin, at
the option of the government and not
at the option of the creditor.
SecOnd-That over and above all 9TH
er questions of policy we are in favor
of restoring to the people of the United
States the time nOnOred money of the
constitution, gold and silver, not one,
but bOth-the money of Washington,
and Hamilton, and Jefferson, and Mon
roe, and Jackson, and Lincoln, to the
end that the American people may re-
ce1Ve honest pay for honest products;
that the American debtor may pay his
just obligations in an honest standard
and not in a standard that has appre-
ciated 100 per cent above all the great
staples of our country; and to the end
further that silver standard countries
may be deprived of the unjust advan-
tage they now enjoy in the difference
in exchange between gold and silver
an advantage which tariff legislation
cannot overcome.
We, therefore, confidently appeal to
the people of the United States to
leave in allegiance for the moment all
other questions, however important
and even mOmentous they may appear
to sunder, if need be, all former party
ties and affiliations, and unite in one
supreme effort to free themselves and
their children from the domination of
the money pOwer-a power more de-
structive than any which has ever been
fastened upon the civilized men of any
race or in any age. And upon the SON
summation of our desires and efforts
We invoke the gracious favor of Divine
Providence.