The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-22
'T0 ALL SILVER Men
But Especially to the Demo-
Gratis OF the State.
AN URGENT CALL TO DUTY
Ex-senator n. u. Jarvis Issues
an Address.
a PLEA FoR uNITgD ACTION
He Points Out a Way by Which the
Friends of Free Coinage May
Secure Restoration of
Silver.

and the friends of silver generally:
In publication made some time last
year, ] gave it as my opinion that the
free and unlimited coinage OF silver
was the cause of humanity, and that
reyerses to this sacred cause should
not drive its advocates from it's sup
port. have seen nothing to change
these views, but, on the contrary, much
to strengthen them and to suggest to
the people earnest and constant work
and watchfulness, on their part The
tive, while its friends, | regret to say,
are inactive, disorganized or divided
into hostile camps. So long as this
state of affairs continues we need ex-
pect nothing but defeat for the silver
cause, and an easy triumph for the adj
vocates of the single gold standard.
Sooner or later, | verify believe silver
must be restored to its place as a stand
ard of value, equal in all its functions
to gold. The sooner it is done the bet
ter for the good OF humanity and the
aNt &iA3 Atlll44fS httiltOilS wiz GlCktAC
the worlds wealth. In our country
it must be done by the people, if it is
ever done at ALL They are the real
sovereigns, under our form Of govern
ment, and they must, ultimately deter
mine this as well as all other great
public questions. Tt is for them to say.
at the ballot box, whether they will
continue to struggle on under the
blighting touch of the single gold
standard, or whether they will restore
their country to the healthful infu-
ences of the use of both gold and sill
yer, on equal terms, as guaranteed by
the Constitution; and practiced in the
life work Of jefferson and Jackson.
Then the people can settle this great
question if they will, and in this noble
patriotic work the hamblest has his
equal part.
From my earliest boyhood / have
been taught to believe that the Demo
cratic party was the party Of the peo-
pie, and ] am loath, even in these days,
to believe otherwise. As / understand
it Jefferson laid, deep and broad, its
foundations: for the people of his and
all coming ages. 1T Is as good for the
people in 1896 as it was in 1906, and |
believe the people viii again restore
ii to power If ii will but hold fast to
Jeffersonian faith, principles and prac-
tices. For one, / want to see the peo-
pie rise up and take charge OF this
grand old party, which has accom-
plished so much for them in the past,
when they chose its leaders and twas
administered in their interests.
1T has often been asserted, and / be-
lieve with much truth, that three
fourfhs Of the Democratic voters of
North Carolina are in favor Of restor-
ing silver to its former nse as money.
by opening the American mints to its
free and unlimited coinage upon equal
terms with gold at the old rates. If
this be true, then the friends Of silver
ought to dictate the policy of the party
IN this State. This they can easily do,
by giving one day to the cause Of sill
YER. Under the plan Of organization
meetings Of the voters must he held in
every township in the State to appoint
delegates to county conventions,
which in turn appoint delegates to dis
trict and State conventions. So the
work begins, at and near the homes
Of the people, and they can take abso
Lutte control il they will. Now, if they
are really in favor Of restoring silver
to its money functions, equal with
gold, let them show it By attending
these township meetings, and express
ing themselves in emphatic terms, and
in the selection Of proper persons to
represent them.
It is made my duty, as the North
Carolina member of the National BIZ
metallic Democratic Committee, to
urge the friends of silver to active
work and organization. IN a few more
weeks the time for decisive action will
be upon us, and appeal to the friends
of silver not to be caught unprepared.
Let rs win the fight in our own ranks,
and then we win be in n position to
appeal to the friends Of silver, who are
fighting along other lines to unite
with as in a common fight against
common enemy the Republican party.
Whatever may be said Of the divisions
i'm the Democratic party. on this great
question, it must be admitted by all
candid men that the Republican party
is the arch enemy Of silver. This par
tn is both the creature and the creator
Of monopoiies and the worst Of these
is the money power Wherever else
one may reasonably look for the res
toration Of silver TO its full money
uses, it is certain that it is folly to look
for any favorable legislation on that
subject from the Republican party.
Any fusion or cooperation with that
party, is inconsistent with the true i'm
terests Of the silver cause. Every time
State is turned over to the Republi-
can party it Is, in effect, placing it in
the column Of the gold standard CO.
horts. ] trust no such fate is in store
for North Carolina in 1896
Then. If 1t be true that q large ma
iority of the Democratic voters of this
State are for the restoration of silver,
it is their duty, humbly suggest, to
make this fact known in a clear and
unmistakable measure. 1t cannot be
said that ones devotion to silver is
worth much, if he is not willing to give
one day to it in attending his township
and county meetings. Then let us