The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-07-25
a Bryan and SewalI Are the Nof11i=
nees of the National
Silver Party.

ard on the other.
ON this issue we declare ourselves to
be in favor OF a distinctly American finan-
cial system. We are unalterably opposed
to the single gold standard, and demand
the immediate return to the constitutional
standard OF gold and silver by the reSto-
OF any foreign power, of the unrestricted
coinage Of sold and silver as the standard
money at the ratio of 16 TO l, and upon
terms OF exact equality as they existed
prior to 1878 the silver coin TO be fu
legal tender, equally with gold for al
debts and dues, public and private, and
we favor such legislation as will prevent
for the future the decentralization of any
kind of legal tender money by private
contract.
We hold that the power to control and
regulate d paper currency is inaeP;.s sgd
from the power 10 coin money, and hence
That all currency intended to circulate
as money should be issued and its volume
controlled by the general government only
and should be legal tender.
we are unaiteraby opposed to the
issue by the United States OF interest
bearing bonds in time of peace, and We
denounce as a blunder worse than a crime
the present treasury policy, incurred by
a republican house, of plunging into
debt by hundreds Of millions in the vain
attempt to maintain the gold standard
by borrowing gold; and we demand the
payment Of all coin obligations of the
United States as provided by existing
laws, IN either gold or silver coin, at the
option of the government and not at the.
option of the creditor. The denonetiza-
ton Of silver in 1873 enormously increased
the demand for gold, enhancing the pur-
chasing power and lowering all prices
measured by that standard and since that
un1ust and indefensible act, the prices
OF American products have fallen upon
an average, nearly 30 per cent, carrying
down with them proportionately the
money value of all forms of property,
a of Il Il.
profits of legitimate industry injuring the
producer for the benefit of the non-pro-
oucer, increasing the burden of the debtor
yelling the gains of the creditor, para
lying the productive energies of the Amer
lean people, RELOCATING to idleness vast
numbers OF willing workers, sending the
shadows of despair into the home of the
honest toiler, filling the land with tramps
and paupers ard building up colossal for
tunes at the money centers.
In the effort to maintain the gold
standard the country has within the last
two Years IN time of profound peace
and plenty been loaded down with 1857 :
10000 of additional interest bearing debt
under such circumstances as TO allow a
syndicate of native and foreign bankers
10 realize new profit OF millions Oh a
single deal.
1t stands confessed that the gold stand
ard can only be upheld by so depicting
our par currency as to force the prices
OF our product below the European and
ana
US 10 sell in foreign markets thus agra
Natlng the very evils Of which our peo-
PIE so bitterly complain, degrading Amer
lean labor and striking at the founda-
lions OF our civilization itself
The advocates of the gold standard
persistenuy claim that the cause of our
distress is over production-that we have
produced so much that it has made US
poer-whlch implies that the true remedy
IS 10 close the factory, abandon the farm
and throw a multitude of people out of
employment; doctrine that leaves us UNI
nerved and disheartened and absolutely
without hope for the future.
we afilrm 1t to be unquestioned that
there can be no such economic paradox
as over production and at the same time
tens of thousands OF our fellow citizens
remaining half clothed and half fed and
VINO are plteously clamoring for the COM
mon necessities of life
Second-That over and above all other
questions OF policy we are in faver of re-
storing 70 the people of the United States
the ume-honored money of the constitu-
tion-goed and silver, not one but both
the money of Washington and Hamilton
ana Jefferson and Monroe and Jackson
and ldncoln-to the end that the Ameri-
can people may receive honest nav for an
honest product; that the American debter
may pay his just obligations in an honest
STANDARD, and not the standard that has
appreciated 100 per cent. above all the
great staples of our country; and to the
tries may be deprived OF the unjust adj
vantage they now enjoy in the difference
IN exchange between gold and silver
an advantage which tariff legislation cam
not overcome.
I'VE, therefore, confidently appeal to
the people of the United States to leave
in allegiance for the moment all otheq,
questions, however important and even
molneEtouS they may appear, 10 sunder if
need be all former party ties and affilia-
tons, and unite in one supreme effort to
free themselves and their children from
the domination of the money DoWer-a
power more destructive than any which
has ever been fastened upon the civilized
men OF any race or in any age. And upon
the consun nation of our desires and eff
forts, we invoke the gracious favor of
divine providence.
"Inasmuch as the patriotic Majority of
the Chicago convention embodied in the
plank of its platform the prin-
caples enunc.ated in the platform of the
American Bimetallic party, promulgated
at Washington, D. c., January % 1885,
and herein reiterated which is not only
the paramount but the only real issue
In the pending campaign; therefore, rec
ognizing that their nominees ernbody
these patriotic principles, we recommend
that this convention nominate William ].
Bryan of Nebraska for president and Ar
thur Sewall of Maine or vice president. -
A motion to adopt the platform was
MI. Hess. of Illinois. objected and
wordy wrangle followed. 1t ended in
the adoption of the platform.
1t was decided by the chairman that
the recommendation regarding the
was not part of the plat
form and should be acted upon separ-
atelv.
Mr.. Page, Of Nebraska. moved that
the convention proceed to the nonina-
ton of a presidential candidate. 1t
prevailed.
General Warner said it would be
necessary to nominate a candidate
rather than to endorse, in order to
avoid some Of the peculiarities of state
ballot laws.
D. E Little, Of Kansas. nominated
William J. Bryan, of Nebraska. He
said that through a long term of years
this country had experienced a de-
preston in business that had never be-
fore been seen on this earth. He spoke
Of the denial of trial by jury to Ameri-
can citizens and Of the platform adopt
ed by the Republican national conven-
ton.
Its proposition. if carried out, would
double the debts of the poor. 1t en-
dorsed Cleveland and nominated Nc
Kinley, and continuing, he referred to
the Wall street barons.
Christ he said, "forgave the thief
and pardoned the courtesan, but the