Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-06-27
SILvER'S PROTEST.
Paper Read Before the Republican
Convention
Senator Teller and His Collie agues Give
Their Objections to the Platform-They
Declare That the Anne rican Peo-
pie Favor BimetaIism.

ST. LOUIS. June 19-After the adop-
ton of the platform by the convention
Senator Teller asked that Senator
Cannon be allowed 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 pa per, it is due our constit-
uents and to ourselves that there shall be a
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
ances of state conventions the attitude of
individuals could change the of that
platform, or abate the activity of its binding
force Every delegate to this convention was
elected as its adherent and its advocate. True
one of its most i'm portant paragraphs has been
subjected to such . divergence of construction
as to make its language unsatisfactory during
the Intervening time, and dangerous il
tinued in the future, but Of the intention con-
tanned within that language there has never
been.a doubt
1t is the riRhtful 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 official annunciation of re-
publican law and gospel With much OF the
platform agree. believing that in many es-
sential particulars it compasses the needs of
humanity, affirmS the maintenance of right and
proposes the just remedy for wrong But it
declares elemental principle not only in
direct contravention of the expression of party
faith in 1892, but in radical opposition to Gus
solemn conviction.
We recognize that 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 pronouncement by MAORI
ties can change opposing knowledge or belief
sincerely entertained, SO it cannot oblige.mi-
noritieS to abandon diSavow their prfnci-
pies Assuredly, as it is requisite for peace
and progress that minorities shall yield to ma
1or1tleS 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 affirmed that
the American people from tradition and inter-
eSt.favored bimetallism and demanded the use
of both gold and silver standard money
This was accepted by a declaration in be-
half of the principle upon which rests the n
terest of every citizen and the safety of the
United States. In such terms the platform
was then satisfactory to the believers in BIZ
metallism within our party. Only because Of
equivoca1 construction and evasion. has it
| since been demonstrated to be insufficient
As the declaration of 1892 has been by
jority 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, can but
| assume that the money plank of the new plat
form being much more favorable to perpetuate
gold recommendation, will be determinedly used
in behalfsof that idea The republican party
has won its power and renown by pursuing its
purposes courageously and relent1essly. It 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
crystalline into law and administration under
this tempting platform the perpetual single
gold standard in our finances This, if long
continued, will mean the absolute ruin of the
producers Of the country and finally of the ma
t1on itself
lism from tradition and interest, but from that
wise instinct which has always been manifest
in the affairs of people destined for the
worlds leadership Under the operation of
our great demand for advancement have
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 COM
| modities in the markets of the world. We are
nation OF producers Our creditors are ma
tions OF consumers Any system of internation-
| al or national finance which elevates the price
| of human product makes our burden lighter
and gives promise of that day when it shall be
entirely left and our country freed financially,
as 1t is politically. from the domination
system of finance which tends to depre-
ciate the price OF human productions which WI
| must sell abroad but in SO far adds to the bur-
den OF our debt, and conveys threat OF the
perpetual servitude of the producers Of our
| de btor nation to the consumers of creditor ma
tions. To US it is folly without parallel that
this country. or any political party therein,
| should deliberately accept a money system
which enriches others at our expense.
History. philos ophy, morals, all join with
the commonest instinct of self-preservation in
demanding that the United States shall have
Just and substantially unvarying standard
composed of all available gold and silver and
with it our country will progress to financial
enfranchisement But with single gold
standard the country will go to de-
struction: to continued falling prices, until our
people would become the hewers of wood and
drawers of water for the consumers in creditor
nations OF the earth.
To such unholy end will not lend our
selves. Dear as has been the repu bic name
to its adherents, that name is not dear as
the faith itself. And do not sacrifice one
jot or little of the mighty prin CT pies by which
republicaniSm has uplifted tn world when we
say that at the parting OF the ways, cling to
the faith, let the name go where it will We
hold that this convention has seeded from the
truth: that the triumph of such secession
would be the eventual destruction OF our free
dom and our civilization To that end the peo-
pie will not knowingly follow any political
party: and'we choose to take our place IN the
ranks of the great mass of citizens who realize
that the hour has come for justice.
Did deem this issue less important to hu-
manity, we would yield, since the associations
OF all our political lives have been intertwined
with the men and the measures OF this party
of past mighty achievements But the people
cry aloud for relief: they bending beneath
q burden growing heavier with the passing
hours endeavor no longer brings its just re-
ward: fearfulnesS takes the place of courage
and despair usurps the throne of hope and un-
less the laws of this country and the policies
of political parties shall be converted into me-
dfums of redress. the effect of human despera-
ton may sometime be witnessed here as in
| other lands and in other ages
Accepting the fiat of this convention the
present purpose of the party. withdraw
| from this convention to return to our constitu-
| entS the authority with which they invested
US. believing have better discharged their
%Ls- soh tn hon