Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1896-03-27
THE SILVER QUESTION.
Something About The Republican
Party in New Mexico and
Bi-MetaIlism.


SANTA FEE. N. March Goth, 1885,
I observe that some democratic papers
are worried, because the late republi-
can convention did not pass resolutions
on the silver question. 1 do not know
why they should not equally criticise
the fact, that no resolution was passed
as TO the tariff, or the preservation of
the Union, or any other subject as to
which the party has a known record.
To prevent any misrepresentation,
however, perhaps it would be well TO
say that the view that was held there,
and which governed the committee on
resolutions, was that this was not the
proper convention to make platforms,
or pass resolutions as to party princi-
pies. Such conventions are held every
two years, when the candidate for del.
egate is nominated. Then, the party
sets forth, in a series Of resolutions,
the principles on which it asks the sup
port of the people, for that candidate.
The resolutions, so adopted, form the
party platform in the Territory, for
the ensuing two years, until the next
convention Of similar character. Such
conventions have been held before
every congressional election, for, fully,
thirty years. The last one occurred in
September, 1894, at Socorro. Its plat
form is the official statement Of the
principles of New Mexico republicans,
until the Territorial convention, to be
held, next fall, in Las Vegas.
Every republican platform in New
Mexico, since the restoration of hi.
metallism became an issue, has spoken
in plain and most emphatic terms on
that subject. The resolution of the
last convention, which is that which
now officially expresses republican
sentiment. is as strong as words can
make il. It's language is given below.
The republican party stands for the
protection of American industry Of all
for fair prices for American
labor and the products of that labor;
for happy American homes and the
general prosperity Of the people.
All these blessings are destroyed by
the single gold standard, all values are
reduced by the continued rise in the
value of money, competition with the
products of silver using countries is
ruin0us, and protection against them is
impossible till silver is restored to its
value; labor is debased; homes
are desolated, and prosperity turned to
and pauperism.
The republican party Of New Mexico
may always be counted on to stand for
she people as against the misers; for
America as against Europe; for the
whole country as against Wall street.
The following is our present 'ssil-
FER" resolution, as adopted at the last
nominating convention in
1894:
We affirm that the demonstration of
liver has not only reduced the value of
hat metal, but by increasing the purchas-
ng power Of gold, has correspondfngly de-
,ressed the value OF all products and COM
and increased the burden of all
lebts, thus crushing the agricultural and
Ither producing classes, as well as the sill
'er miners of the country; and no perma-
lent return of general prosperity can be
expected until bi-metailism is re. estab-
by the free and unlimited coinage Of
old aud silver, as it existed from the
oundation of the government to the year
S73, at the ratio OF 16 to l, which we in
let shall be done without waiting for the s
Of any nation or nations, and :
1e call upon all opponents OF silver to !
oint to any good that has come to this :
or the world at large by demone- :
Ising silver. =
We arraign Grover Cleveland as the !
OF silver coinage and the {
hief supporter in this country OF the mon '
metallic creditor class Of Europe, for the q
'rrupt use Of executive power and pat d
the repeal OF the Sherman purchase q
II, and for the veto OF the bill to coin q
10 government silver now lying useless III
70 treasury, and We charge that the DEM