The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-03
MINNESOTA REPUBLICANS FAVOR
ING THAT METAL ISSUE A
MANIFESTO.
THEY DISOWN THE NEW FAITH
WHICH DECLARES FOR THE SINGLE
GOLD STANDARD, NOTHING
MORE.
GEN. sANBoRN HEADS THE LIST.
Of Those Whose Names Are Attach
ed to the DOcument-Towne
Is There.

Minnesota free silver Republicans is
sued their manifesto yesterday. 1t is
the wedge which splits the party in
this state carrying on the silver side
a number of men who have heretofore
stood prominently in the councils of
the Republican party. Following is
the document:
To the Republicans of Minnesota: The
greatest issue which has arisen in this coun-
try since the abolition of African slavery
now confronts the American people, The
common people have viewed with increasing
alarm the efforts Of 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 redemption money of the world that the
other half may purchase double the amount of
the products of toll. They had q right to ex-
pect such protection. The Republican party
was born Of the common people. Its mission
has been to dignity labor; to secure to him
who tolls in field in shop 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 bimetallism. 1t
has been written in its platforms and taught
by all its great leaders In national conven-
ton in 1888 it condemned "the policy of the
Democratic administration in its efforts to
demonetize silver In 1892 in its platform
adopted at Minneapolis it declared in favor
of both gold and silver as standard money
In 1894 the Republican party of Minnesota
reaf1rmed its belief Sin bimetallism and
that the restoration Of silver as ultimate
money to the currency of the world is abb
solutely necessary for business prosperity
proper rate of wages and the welfare of the
people" Nearly every Republican state con-
yention In 1894 condemned, either in express
terms or by implication, the single gold
standard. James G. Blaine we'll expressed
the belief of the Republican party when
he declared II believe the struggle now
countries for a single gold standard, would, if
successful produce widespread disaster in
and throughout the commercial world"
The destruction of silver money and es-
tablishing gold as the sole unit of value must
have ruinous effect all forms of prop
erty except those investments which Weld
fixed return in money. These would be
enormously enhanced in value and would
gain disproportionate and unfair advan-
tage over every other species of property. If
as the most reliable statistics affirm there
are nearly s1O00, oO0,0 600 of coin or bullion in
the world, not very unequally divided be-
tween gold and silver, it is impossible to
strike silver out of existence as money with
out results which will prove distressing to
millions and utterly disastrous to tens of
thousands.
Il believe gold and silver coin to be the
money OF the constitution; indeed, the money
Of the American people, anterior to the con-
rec
ognized as quite Independent of its exist
ence."
The action of the national Republican con-
vention at st. Louis has repudfated this
fundamental doctrine Of our party The
single gold standard has been indorsed in
connection with the proposition that the free
coinage Of silver upon any basis or ratio
is not to be permitted without the consent
Of foreign despotic and aristocratic powers
first obtained. The Republican party no
longer stands for both silver and gold az
primary money, but for gold only We can
not accept the new faith, and we will hold
steadfastly to the old. This policy of gold
fed depression; an endless and hopeless era
of falling prices for our farmers and other
producers; continued uncertainty of employ
ment for our workingmen, with lessened
wages following the fall in prices of the
products of labor; encouragement of all en-
ruptcy and the gravitation of all money into
the hands Of money brokers. 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. Those Republicans who believe in the
OF ultimate payment, and their free coinage
in our mfnts, must either submit in silence
or speak out boldly in condemnation of this
policy SO disastrous to the people, On mat
ters Of vital principle man can reason
ably be asked to submit to party dictation.
Every man who places country above party,
and whose sympathies with the pro-
ducers as against the money brokers and
bondholders owes duty to his conscience
and to his country which can only he dig
charged by putting forth every effort in his
power that the blight of the single gold
standard may not be fastened upon this
people.
fcsono5l