The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-17
AN ADDRESS.
Chairman Motifs Appeal to the People of
the United states.

Chairman Motifs Appeal to the People of
the United states.
Washington, Feb. 16.-J. ]. Mott,
the silver party. has issued the follow
ing address to the people:
To the people: AS chairman of the
national committee appointed by the
silver conference lately assembled in
Washington city to organize the silver
forces in the United States in the bat
tie which is to take place for the pos
session of the government this year, 1t
is thought proper that 1 should make
some statement to the people in refer
ence to it,
As the necessity of money as a me-
dunn of exchange became revealed to
the minds of men, the two metals final
ly accepted as the most suitable for
money were silver and gold. This is
natural, because they are the two most
precious metals adapted to the purpose
and were sufficiently limited in guam
tity. AS mining has developed the fact
that these two metals existed in the
earth in almost certain proportions, a
natural ratio value was assumed. This
ratio has continued as arranged by law
under the natural order as he found it.
1t was accepted by mankind as a part
of the grand plan upon which the world
was to move, and approved by philoso-
ply and common sense of all ages.
From this condition of regular order
and contentment tributing to the grad
ual elevation of all classes of society
the extension of civilization and the
general betterment of the human race,
this country and the world has been
ruthlessly torn. 1t has been done by
the rejection of one precious metal in
the interests of greed, and by this act
money changers have been enthroned
and the narrowing of the scope of mon
citation begun. AS monetization has
been narrowed. money has become
scarcer in proportion. and as the mon
ey became scarcer, prices fell in pro-
portion, and falling prices have been
the bane of the world. From the con-
traction of the currency we are now in
the throes of one of those desperate
stages of human experience. Expert
ence-a period of heartache. canker
and sleeplessness. as the foundation of
prices has crumbled. Obligations rest
ing upon the supposed firm foundation
of the price in ready money have
crumbled into dirt as the foundation of
price has crumbled. The country is
confronted by a grave emergency; fur
Their theorizing is futile.
The agitation of the money question
must be settled by peaceful methods
that will give practical results. Long
patience and dispassionate reflection
has convinced me that an independent
American financial system is absolute
ly necessary to the restoration of ne
tional prosperity, and the establish
ment of commercial conditions in this
country that will give the common
people an equal show with capital and
concentrated wealth. How can il be
effected? Can IL be done through either
the republican or democratic party, as
now constituted? No. Both organiza-
tions are under the blighting influence
of the eastern money power. What,
then. is to be done. as patriots, as
Americans who are for America
against the world; what is our first
controlling duty in this crisis? Shall
we longer heed the false promises of
party platform declarations, shall we
longer subm5s to academic discussion
of what bimetallism means, shall il be
another campaign of struggling and
equivocation. or shall the isseue be
squarely on the free coinage of silver
and gold and a president elected who
represents the people on this question?
The first step, the essential prelimi-
nary to the correction of political
abuses. the reestablishment of national
prosperity and the maintenance of our
national credit, is the election of a pres
ident whose Andrew Jackson courage
and infiexible integrity will duly infiu-
ence that spirit which prostitutes pres
idents and .cabinets. and makes the ad-
ministration of government the subject
of humiliation and reproach. Strong in
character and intention as may be the
standard bearer OF the republican or
democratic party i'm the coming cam
paign, IL will hardly be possible for him
TO rise above the influences that secured
his nomination. or the environments
that must surround him in the event OF
his election. one hope of the people, /
am convinced. is in the election OF a
president pledged. Internationally and
unreservedly. TO the free and unlimited
coinage Of silver and gold. the same as
from the foundation of our government