The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1896-02-20
Chairman Of the National Conn.,
mittee Issues An Address.
THE DOWNFALL OF SILVER
He Appeals to the Rank and File of the
Two Old Parties TO CO.
operat>.

chairman of the national committee of
the silver party, has issued the follow
ing address to the people:
AS chairman of the national commit
tee appointed by the silver conference
lately assembled in Washington city
| to organize the silver forces in the
United States, in the battle which is to
| take place for the possession of the gov
ernment this year, it is thought proper
| that l should make some statement to
| the people in reference to it.
AS the necessity of money as a me-
| dium 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 was
| natural because they were 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, the natural
ratio of value was assumed. This ratio
has continued as arranged by man un-
der natural order as he found it. They
were accepted by mankind as part of
the grand plan upon which the world
| was to move, and were approved by
| the philosophy and common sense of
all ages.
REJECTION OF SILVER.
From this condition or regular order
| and contentment, contributing to the
| gradual elevation of all classes of So
ciety, the extension of civilization and
| general betterment of the human race,
| this country and the world has been
ruthlessly torn. 1t has been done by
the rejection of one of the precious
metals in the interest of greed, and by
this act the money changers have been
enthroned and the narrowing of the
scope of monetization begun. AS mon
etization has narrowed money has be-
come scarcer in proportion, and as
money became scarcer the prices fell
in proportion, and falling prices have
been the bane of the world
From contraction of the currency
we are now in the throes of one of those
desperate stages of human experience
"a period of heartache, canker and
sleeplessness, as the foundation of
prices has crumbled. Obligations rest
ing upon a supposed firm foundation of
price in ready money have crumbled
into dirt as the foundation of the price
has crumbled. The country is con-
fronted by a grave emergency. Fur
ther theorizing is futile.
MUST BE SETTLED PEACEFULLY.
The agitation of the money question
must be settled by peaceful methods
that will give practical results Long
patience and dispassionate reflection
have convinced me that an independent
American financial system is absolute
ly necessary to restoration of national
prosperity and the establishment of
commercial conditions in this country
l L. ~, l..
equal show with capital and concen-
trated wealth.
How can it be effected? Can it be
done through either the republican or
democratic party as now constituted ?
| No, both organizations are under the
| blighting influence of the eastern mon
ey power What, then, is to be done
as patriots, as Americans, who are for
America against the world? What is
our first and controlling duty in this
crisis? Shall we longer heed false
promises of party platform declara-
tions? Shall we longer submit to an
academic discussion of what bimetal-
lism means? Shall it be another cam
paign of struggling and equivocation
or shall the issue be squarely on free
coinage of silver and gold and a presi-
dent elected who represents the people
on this question?
+ THE FIRST STEP.
! The first step essential preliminary
to the correction of political abuses, tn,
re-establishment of national prosperit.
] | and the maintenance of our nationa
credit, is the election of a presiden
n whose Andrew Jackson courage ant
infiexible integrity will defy the inhu
ence that prostitutes presidents ant
= | nd mo lxac q ~ DIM INF fro . To,
= of the government a subject of humilia
ton and reproach. Strong in characte
and intention as may be the standar,
=. bearer of the republican or democrats
party in the coming campaign 1t will
=. hardly be possible for him to rise abov
- the influences that secured his nomna
=, ton or the environments that must sur
round him in the event of his election
One hope of the people, 1 am convinced
-, is in the election of a president pledged
a Internationally and unreservedly, I
a free and unlimited coinage of silver an
II gold, the same as from the foundatio
Q of our government until 1873, and ais
r. Internationally pledged i'm favor of ma
tional currency without the interventio
of the banks of issue and against tn
E issuance of interest bearing bonds
time of peace for any purpose what
h ever
HIS OWN SACRIFICE.
], Il appeal not only to the republican
} in my own state, who can appreciat
,r the sacrifice 1 make in renouncing part
m obligations on this question in advanc
g of party action in the premises, but
the people throughout the countr,
D. without regard to party, to co-operat
r in this non-partisan patriotic America
I'd movement to sustain the industrial an
lg financial independence of the Unite
er States in the pending irrepressible col
fiict
This influences me to accept the chat
" manship of the national silver part
A. / shall give to this movement the be
services and thought, and successf
s or otherwise, I shall realize the satisfa
ton of having done my duty to n
people and my country, as / see al
understand it,
st APPEALS TO BOTH PARTIES.
Is I'm my own state / confidently appe
d. to the rank and file of both parties
support my efforts. North Carolina