Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-06-25
SILYER'S PROTEST.

The following Is the protest of Senators
Teller, Dubois and Cannon and Represen-
tatve Hartman:
In announcing the purpose asserted in
this paper 1t is due to our constituents and
to ourselves that there should be a public
showing of vindlcating facts. The sole
authorized expression of the national re-
publican faith from June 0. 1892, until the
present date, has been the platform adopt
cd In national convention at Minneapolis.
Neither the utterances of State conven-
lions nor the attitude of individuals could
change the tenor OF the platform or abate
the sanctity of its binding force Every
delegate TO this convention was elected as
us advocate. True, one of its important
paragraphs has been subjected to such
n divergence of construction as to make
It's language unsatisfactory during the in
tervening time, and dangerous IL con-
tinued in the future but of the intent con-
tanned within that language there has
never been doubt. 1t is the rlghtful
province of this convention to revise the
party tenets and to announce a new party
purpose. The majority OF this convention,
In the exercise of such authority. has this
day made official enunciation of republi-
can law and gospel. With much of this
platform we agree, believing that in many
essential particulars 1t compasses the
needs of humanity, affirms the malnten-
ance of right and proposes the just rem
edy for wrong. But 1t declares one ele-
mental principal, not only In direct con-
traventlon of the expression of party
faith of 1892. but In radical opposition to
in all matters of mere method 1t
Is but Just and helpful that
minority shall yield to the will of the ma
jority. lest we have chaos in parties and
in government. But as no pronouncemcnt
by majorities can change opposing knowl-
edge or belief sincerely entertained. so It
cannot obige minorities to abandon or
disavow their principles. AS surely as It
Is requisite for peace and progress that
minorities shall yield to majorities in
matters of mere method Just so surely is
1t necessary for that same peace and pro-
groess that minorities shall not yield In
matters OF fundamental truth.
The republican platform of 1892 affirmed
that American people from tradition
and Interest favored bimetallism and de-
manded the use of both gold and silver
as standard money. This was accepted
by us as declaration In behalf of the
principle upon which rests the interest of
every citizen and the safety of the United
States. In such terms the platform was
then satisfactory to the believers In BIZ
metallism within our party; only because
of the equivocal construction and evasion
has 1t since been demonstrated to BIO in
sufficient. The platform this day adopted
In the national republican convention at
St. Louis says: 1.-The republican party Is
unreservedly for sound money. 1t caused
the enactment OF that law for the re-
sumption OF specie payment In 1879; since
then every dollar has been as good as
gold" We are unalteraby opposed to
every measure calculated to debase our
currency or impair the credit OF our coun-
try. We are, therefore. opposed to the
Tree coinage Of silver except by interna