The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-06-25
THE PROTEST OF SILVER REPUBLICANS,
THE HOLrEKS ISSUE AN EXpLA.
NATION.
Ihcy Cannot Ronuin With Party
Adhering to the Cold Standard.

In announcing the purpose asserted
IN this paper, it is duo to our con
stltuonts and to ourselves that ther,
shall be u public showing OF vindicat
ing facts.
Tho sole authorized expression o
national Republican faith from Jun,
., 1898, until the present date has beer
the platform adopted in national con
ventlOn at Minneapolis. Neither the
uttoranccs of State conventions no,
the attitude Of individuals can chang,
the tenor Of that platform Or abate tho
sanity OF its binding force. The dele
gates to this convention were elected
us it's adherentS and advocates. True
one or its most Important paragraph.
has been subjected TO such Il divcrgt nc,
OF construction us to make it's language
unsatisfactory during the Intervening
time and dangerous If continued in
the future, but OF the intent contained
within that language thcro has never
been u doubt.
1t is the righLful province OF this
convention TO revise party tenets and
to announce anew the party purpose
The ma ajOrity Of this convention in the
exercise OF such authority has this
date made official enunciation Of Re-
publican law and gospel. With much
ot the platform we agree, believing
that in MANY essential particulars it
compasses the needs OF humanity and
pronoses the just remedy for wrong.
Built declares one elemental principl
not only in direct cOntrsLventlon Of The
expression OF party faith in 1872. but
| In radical opposition to our solemn
! convention. We recognize that ia ali
matters OF mere methods it is but lust
and helpful thaC the minority shall
yleld to the will Of the majority, lest
we nave chaos in party and in govern
lhent. But rs no pronOuncement by
maJorltles can change opposing know
ledge or belief sincerely entertained.
SO it cannot obiige minUrities to aban-
don or disavow their principles. AS
surely as it is requisite for peace and
progress that minurities shall yield to
maJoritles in matters Of mere method,
just so surely Is it necessary for that
same peace and progress that minOri-
ties shall not yield in matters to funda-
mental truth.
affirmed that the American pcople
from tradition and interest favored
blmetallism and demanded the use Of
both gold and silver as standard
money. This was accepted by US as Il
declaration in behalf OF tho principle
upon which rest the interests OF every
citizen and the safety of the United
States. in such terms the platform
was satisfactory to the believers in
bcmitp llism within our party; only
because Of equivocal constr action and
evasion has it since heen demonstrated
to be insufficient. The platform this
day adopted says (Quotes the financial
plank
AS declaration Of 1892 has been bv
majority 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, wo can but
assume that the money plank of the
new platform being much more favor
able to perpetuate gold monometalism
will be doterminedly used by us in
behalf of that idea. The Republican
party has won it's power and renown
by pursuing its purposes cOurageously
and relentlessly. 1t is, therefore, only
in accordance with the party's history
to assume that if it shall come TO
present authority in the United States,
it will crystaliZe into law and admins
tration under this tempting platform,
the perpetual single gold standard in
our finances. This, if long continued,
duccrs Of the country and finally Of the
nation itself.
The American people not only favor
bimctalism from tradition and inter-
est. but from that wise instinct which
has always been manifcs leo in affairs
destined for the worlds leadership.
Under the operation Of our great de-
manl for advancement we have be-
come to other nations the greatest deb
tor nation of the world. Wo pay the
vast charges which every year accumu-
late against us in the clearing house
Of the world, in the money of tho
world, procured by the disposal OF
our commodities in the markets of the
| world. We are nation OF producers.
| Our creditors arc nations OF consumers.
| Any system OF international or national
finance which elevatcs the price of the
human product makes our burden
| lighter and gives promise OF that day
our country freed financially as it is
politically, from tho domination of
monarchy and foreign autocracy. Any
system OF Office which tonds to deprc-
ciatc the price Of human productions
| which we must sell abroad but insofar
adds to tho burden OF our debt and
conveys threat of the perpetual
scrvitudc of the producers Of our deb
tor nation to the consumer Of the
creditor nation.
TO us. it is folly without q parallel
that this country or any political party
therein should deliberately accept q
money system which enrichcs others
at our cost. History, philosophy,
morals--all join with the commoncst
instinct OF preservation in demand
ing that the United States shall have
q just and substantially unvarying
standard composed OF all available
gold and silver. But with a single
| gold standard the country will become
the hcwcrs Of wood and the drawers Of
water for the consumers in creditor
nations Of the earth.
To such an unhOly end we will not
lend ourselves. Dear as has been the
Republican name to its adhcrcnts, that
namo is not SO dear as the faith Itself,
and we do not sacrilie one jOt or title
OF the mighty principles by which Re-
pubicanislr has upIiftcd the word when
we say that at the parting of the ways
we cling to the faith. Let the name