Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-07-03
THE REASON WHY.
PROTEST OF THE MEMBERS WHO
WITHDREW

WITHDREW
From the 81. Louis Convention,
and the Reasons Which ImpcIIc
Them TO Take That Step.
Cannon OF Utah, before announcing
the withdrawal OF the silver delegates
from the convention, read the ap.
pended carefully prepared protest:
The sole authorized expression Of
national Republican faith from June
8, 1892, until the present date has
been the platform adopted in National
Convention at Minneapolis. Neither
the utterauces of State conventions
nor the attitude of individuals could
change the tenor of that platform, or
abate the sancity OF its binding force
Every delegate to this convention was
elected as its adherent and its adyo-
cate. True, one OF its most important
paragraphs has been subjected TO such
a divergence of construction as to
make its language unsatisfactory dur
ing the intervening time and danger
GUS if continued in the future, but of
the intention contained within that
language there has never been doubt.
1t is the rightful province OF this con-
vention to revise the party tcnets and
to announce anew the party purpose.
The majority of this convention in
the exercise Of such authority has
made official enunciation of Republi-
can law and gospel. With much of
the platform we agree, believing that
in many essential particulars it COM
passes the needs of humanity, affirms
the maintenance of right and pro.
poses the just remedy for wrong. But
it declares one elemental principle not
only in direct contravention of the
expression OF party faith in 1892. but
in radical opposition to our solemn
conviction. We recognize that in all
matters of mere method it is but just
and helpful that the majority shall
yield to the will of the majority lest
we have chaos in parties and in gov
ernment. But as no pronouncement
by majorities can change opposing
knowledge or belief sincerely enter
tanned, SO it cannot oblige minorities
to abandon or dissvow their principles.
Assuredly as it is requisite for peace
and progress that minorities shall
yield to majorities in matters of mere
method, just so surely is it necessary
for that same peace and progress that
minorities shall not yield in the mat
ters of the fundamental truth.
The Republican platform OF 1892
affirmed that the American people
from tradition and interest favored
bimetallism and demanded the use Of
both gold and silver as standard
money. This was accepted by us as
a 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 bimetallism within our party; be-
cause of equivocal construction and
evasion has it since been demonstrated
to be insufficient. The platform this
day adopted in the National Republi-
can Convention at St. Louis says
"As the declaration OF 1892 has been
by majority of the party construed
to justify single gold standard for
our monetary basis, and as the recent
trend of the official power OF the
party has been in that direction, We
can but assn me that the money plank
of the new platform, being much
more favorable to perpetuate gold
monometallism, will be determinedly
used in behalf of that idea" The Re-
publican party has won its power and
renown by pursuing its purposes
courageously and relentlessly; it is
therefore only in accordance with the
psrty's history to assume that if il
shall come to present authority in the
United States it will crystallize into
law and administration under this
tempting platform the perpetual sin.
gle gold standard in our finances.
This, if long continued, will mean the
absolute ruin of the producers of the
country and finally of the nation it.
self.
The American people not only favor
bimetallism from traditions and inter-
est, but from that wise instinct which
has always been manifest in the af-
fairs of the people destined for the
worlds leadership. Under the opera.
ton of our great demand for advance
ment we have become to other na-
tons the great debtor nation OF the
world. We pay the vast charges
which every year accumulate against
us in the clearing houses of the world
with the money of the world procured
by the disposal of our commodities in
the markets OF the world. We are a
nation of producers. Our creditors
are nations of consumers. Any sys-
tenn Of international or national
finance which elevates the price Of
human product makes our burden
lighter and gives promise of that day
when it shall be entirely lifted and
our country freed financially. as it is
nol;,;ooIlv from, the dOmin ation of the