The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-08
REPUDIATE M'KINlEY.

REPUDIATE M'KINLEY.
The Minnesota Silver Republicans VIII
Not Support Him.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, July 2.-The most
sensational manifesto in Minnesota's
history was that issued this afternoon
by the Silver Republicans, who refuse
to support Mckinley for President,
Clough for governor, or any OF the
Republican candidates for congress.
The prominence OF the men signing it
attracts to it wide. spread attention.
Among the number are Lieutenant
Governor Frank A. Day, Congress
man Charles A. Towne, ex. Congress.
man John Lind and several State SEN
ators. The address is issued to the Re-
publicans of Minnesota and says:
1.-THE greatest issue which has arisen
ia this country since the abolition of
African slavery now confronts the
American people. The common peo-
pie have viewed with increasing alarm
the attempts of a foreign money aris'
tocracy to fasten upon this nation the
single gold standard of value. In the
past they turned with the inspiration
of faith to the Republican party for
protection against that power which
seeks to strike down one.half the re-
demption power of the world that the
other half may purchase double the
amount of the products of toll. They
had right to expect such protection.
The Republican party was born OF the
common people. It's mission has been
to dignity labor, to secure to him who
tolls in the field or mine the just fruits
of honest labor. From the day of the
party's birth until the present time no
article of Republican faith has been
more pronounced than the belief in
blmetalism. 1t has been written in
its platforms and taught by all its
great leaders. In its national conven-
ton in 1888 it condemned 1.-The policy
of the Democratic administration in its
efforts to demonetize silver.
''In 1892, in its platform adopted in
Minneapolis, it declared in favor OF
gold and silver as standard money.
In 1894 the Republican party of Min,
sofa reaffrmed its belief in bimetalism,
and that the restoration of silver as
ultimate money to the currency of the
world is absolutely necessary for the
prosperity, proper rate of wages and
the welfare of the people.
Nearly every Republican State coh-
vention in 1894, condemned, either
in express terms or by implication,
the single gold standard. James G.
Blaine well expressed the belief o.
the Republican party when he de-
clared: II believethe struggle was
going on in this country and in
other countries for a single gold
standard would, fsuccessful, produce
widespread disaster in and throughout
the commercial world"
1.-THE action of the national Repub
lican convention at ST. Louis has re.
pudiated the fundamental doctrine of
our party. The single gold standard
has been endorsed. The Republican
party no longer stands for both gold
and silver as primary money, but for
gold only. We cannot accept the new
faith, and we will hold steadfastly to
the old. The policy of gold monomet:
alism means prolonged and intensified
depression; an endless and hopeless
era of falling prices for our farmers
and other producers; continued uncer'
tainty of employment for our work
ingmen, with lessening wages follow
ing the fall in the prices of the pro.
ducts of labor; Encouragement of all
enterprises, and in the end universal
bankruptcy and gravitation of all
money into the hands of money brok-
ers. It means the obliteration of the
great middle class, the yeomanry of
the nation, and the division of the
people into the very rich and the very
poor. These Republicans who believe
in the use of both gold aud silver as
the money of ultimate payment and
their free coinage in our mints must
either submit in silence or speak out
boldly in condemnation of this policy
80 disastrous to the people. On matters
of vital principle no man can be asked
to submit to party dictation. Every
man who places country above party,
and whose sympathies are with the
producers as against the money brok-
ers and bond holders, owes duty to
his conscience and to his country
which can only be discharged by put
ting forth every effort in his power
that the blight of the single gold stand
ard may not be fastened upon this
people" "