The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-06-26
THE SILVER AEB'S PROTEST.
Z Statement Justihng the Bolt at the Re-
publican Convention.
Senator Cannon Reads to tae Convention
the Principles Upon Which the Sill
yer Men Stand

Senator Cannon Reads to tbe Convention
the Principles Upon Which the En-
yer Men stand
After the st. Louis republican con
vention had adopted the financial de-
elaration in favor Of gold, Senator Tel
Ter asked that Senator Cannon be al
lowed to read a personal statement
prepared by the silver men, which was
granted. The statement was as follows:
To the Republican National Convention OF
the United States In announcing the purpose
asserted in this paper, it is due to our eoHstits
Gents ana 10 ourselves that there shall be
public showing Of Vindicating fats. The sole
authorized expression Of national republican
faith from June g. 1899, until the present date
has been the platform adopted in the national
convention at Minneapolis. Neither the utter
auces OF state conventions HoF the attitude Of
individuals could change the tenor Of that
platform or abate the activity OF its binding
force Every delegate TO this convention was
elected as its aGherent and its advocate. True
one Of its most important paragraphs has been
subjected TO such divergence of construction
as to make its language unsatisfactory during
the intervening time, and dangerous if con-
tinued il the future, but Of the intention con-
tanned within that language there has never
been a doubt
It is the rightful province OF this convention
to revise the party tenets and to announce
anew the party purpose. The majority of this
convention in the exercise Of such authority
has this day made of1cisl annuneiation Of re-
publican Law and gospel With much Of the
platform We agree, believing that in many es-
seltiai particulars it cOmpasses the needs OF
humanity, af1Fms the maintenance OF right and
proposes 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 III all matters Of mere
method it is but just and helpful that the mi
nority shall yield to the will Of the majority,
| lest we have chaos in parties and in govern
ment, But as no prou0uncement by majori-
ties can change opposing knowledge or belief
| sincerely entertained, so it cannot Oblige ME
nOrities to abandon or disaVOW their princi-
! pies. Assuredly, as it is requisite for peace
and progress that minOrities shall yield to ma
| jOrities in matters Of mere method, just so
! surely is it necessary for the same peace and
/ progress that minorities shall not yield in
matters Of fundamental truth,
The republican platform Of 1892 afiEmed that
| the American people from tradition and inter-
| est favored bimetallism and demanded the use
Of both gold and silver as standard money.
! This was accepted by US as declaration in be-
/ half Of the principle upon which rests the IN
! terest Of every citizen and the safety Of the
| United States. IN such terms the platform
| was then satisfactory to the believers in bi-
metallism within our party. Only because Of
! eQuiTOcal construction and evasion, has it
! since been demonstrated to be insufficient
! AS the declaration Of 1892 has been by a ma
! iOrity 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
| assume that the money plank Of the new plat
! form being much more favorable to perpetuate
! gold monometallism, will be deteTminedly used
in behalf Of that idea. The republican party
has won its power and renoWn by pursuing its
! purposes courageoUsly and relentlessly. It is
therefore only in accordance with the paFty's
history to assume that If it shall come to
present authority in the United States it will
| crystalline into law and administration under
this tempting platform the perpetual single
| gold standard in bur finances This, if long
continued, will mean the absolute ruin Of the
| producers of the country and finally Of the ma
| tlon itself
The American people not only favor bimetal-
ism from tradition and interest, but from that
| wise instinct which has always been manifest
In the affairs Of a people destined for the
worlds leadership. Under the operation OF
become to other nations the greatest debtor
nation Of the world We pay the vast charges
which every year accumulate against US in the
clearing house Of the world with the money of
the world, procured by the disposal Of our CON-
mOdities in the markets Of the world, We are
a nation of producers. Our creditors are IA
lions Of consumers. Any system Of information
/ al or national finance which eleVates the price
Of human product makes our burden lighter
and gives promise OF that day when it shall bl
entirely left and our country freed financially
as it is politically, from the domination
Of monarchy and foreign autOcTacy, Any
/ system OF finance which tends to depre
eiate the price Of human productions which VI
must sell abroad but in so far adds to the bur
den Of our debt, and conveys a threat OF the
perpetual servitude Of the producers Of Oul
debtor nation to the consumers Of creditor ma
tons. To us it is a folly without parallel tina
this country, or any political party therein
should deliberately accept money system
which enTiches others at our expense.
History, philo5 ophy, morals, all join will
the commolest instinct Of self-pFeservation il
demanding that the United States shall havt
q just and substantially unVaTying STANDARD
composed Of all available gold and silver anC
with it our country viii progress to financial
enfranchisemeHt But with a single golC
standard the country will 90 or to worse de-
struction; to continued falling prices, until our
people would become the hewers Of wood ant
drawers Of water for the consumers in creditor
nations Of the earth.
To such an unholy end We will not lend our
selves. Dear as has been the republican nam
TO its adherents, that name is not so dear a
the faith itself. And We do not sacrifice on
jCt or little Of the mighty prime pies by whicl
republcanism has uplifted the world when W
say that at the parting Of the ways, We cling Il
the faith, let the name go where it will We
hold that this convention has seeded from th'
truth: that the triumph Of such secession
would be the eventual destruction Of our free
dom and our civilization. To that end the PEG
pie viii not knowingly follow any politiea
party; and we choose to take our place IN the
ranks Of the great mass Of citizens who realize
that the hour has come Tor justice.
Did We deem this issue less important to hui
mGnity, We would yield since the association
Of all OUT political lives have been intertwinet
with the men and the measures OF this part
Of past mighty achievements. But the people
cry aloud for relief; they are bending beneaU
d burden growing heavier with the passin
hours endeayor no longer brings its just re
ward; fearfulness takes the place Of eourag
and despair usuFps the throne Of hope and IN
less the laws Of this country and the polieie