Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-01
SOUND MONEY MIssOURIANs.
Three Hundred Democrats Meet In
st. Louis and state Their Position.

ST. LOUIS. MO. February 29.-At noon
to-day nearly three hundred prominent
Democrats, representing the sound-money
faction of the party throughout Missouri,
gathered I'm the parlOrS OF the Planters
Hotel for "A conference as to the course
to be pursued in the coming campaign.
Ex-Attorney-Gen Daniel II. Mcintyre,
OF Caliph. Mo-, was elected chairman,
and DR.. l.. o. Jewett, Of Shelby, was APP
pointed secretary. Ex-Governor Francis
was the first speaker.
1--WE do not agree" he said, that the
Pertle Springs platform is test of De-
mocracy I'm Missouri to-day. That con-
vention transcribed its powers and took
the machinery Of the party out OF the
hands OF the men TO whom 1t had been
entrusted by the Democracy. This was
done in spite OF the protest Of over 200
Democrats of good standing-more men,
In fact. than had participated in the cleo
ton OF delegates 10 Pertle Springs. They
OVERRIDE our wishes and called an early
convention, In order 10 shut Off free dis
cusslon Of the financial question.
81 say to you now that the men here
now assembled can prevent the disgrace
OF the Democracy Of Missouri being com
mitted to the ratio Of lG to 1. We may
differ In our views-some OF us may be
gold men, some bimetallists. and some
favorable to an international agreement
but we are all unalterably opposed to l6
to l. More than that-there is not one
Of US who IS a candidate for Office"
After appointing a committee on or
ganization. the conference took a recess
until r. VI.
When the conference committee recon
yened at o'clock It adopted lengthy
report denouncing the attempt Of the
free-silyer advocates TO commit the Dem
Ocratic party I'm this and other States
TO the free and unlimited coinage Of sill
yer at the ratio OF lG 20 l OF gold. re-
gardless OF the commercial value of the
two metals. and regardless OF the action
Of the other commercial nations of the
world. The report also says
THE free coinage Of silver at n ratio
above It's market-value Is but another
phase OF the paternalism and favor 10
the few at the expense of the many
against which the Democratic party has
always struggled. The threat of the
senator's of the Republican silver-minlne
States to oppose any further extension OF
the protective policy unless they are sup
ported I'm their demand for free silver
by the manufacturing States. attests the
selfish interests and undcmocratic motives
which prompt the debasemcnt Of the
value upon silver. which il does not COM
maud I'm the open market is TO do for the
silver barOns OF the Rocky Mountains
what has so long. under the specious guise
Of protection 10 home industry, been
done for the iron barons of the Alleghe-
MES
Public credit Is private security. Faith
I'm the integrity Of the government is es-
sential 10 business prosperity Debase-
ment OF the currency means an impair
ment OF all past Obligations. and uncer-
tainty "a tn those OF the future. Under
such conditions. financial panics and in
dustrial dcpressions are inevitable. And
the people are not blind to the teaching
OF experience. No party in this coun-
try has even succeeded to power by an
attack upon the public credit, and no
PARTY ever will. The experiment was
tried I'm 1891, and with what success We
know too well.
"The policy OF inaction or submission
by the sound-m0ney Democrats IL not
justified by the experience OF the past.
Preaching Populism will not make Demo-
Gratis. From the contest OF opinion
truth will emerge. We may trust 10
the great masses Of the marty for the
proper solution Of this question II every
man. bv every means within his power,
gives effect 10 his convictions.
at Is the highest duty Of all Demo
Gratis who bold TO the ancient faith Of
the party to no longer tamely submit
To a policy which has brought on the
party nothing but humiliation. and IS
fraught with menace 10 the best inter
ests OF the country. We. therefore. as
loyal Democrats. can upon the voters OF
the party everywhere throughout tho
State. 10 make an open. active. and or
gained opposition to the effort 10 COM
NIT the party to a policy which can only
end I'm disaster, and If all who hold with
us viii assert themselves by voice and
by vote we may yet rescue the State
from the threatened misfortune Of Re-
publican rule"