San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-08-27
Villas WARNING.
DEPICTS THE DANGERS OF FREE
SILVER.
Democrats Should Stand to Their Guns and
Not Admit Traitors to
the Party.

DtudtOI lbs
delivered the following address:
Il think no man can more seriously
lament the conditions which distress
the Democrats today than / do most
deeply the division of the fraternal
ranks in Wisconsin. My whole life
has been one of constant urgent sup
port of the principles of our party and
all my political affiliations and friend
ships are with its members. Through
all the years of early manhood until
/ have advanced into middle age
those years when the joys of victory
seemed greatest to men l fought its
losing battles and bore with brave as
sociates the pangs of continuing de-
feat, learning early to prefer the sal
walton of fight for right to the ap-
plause and spoils of mere success.
Yet out of that hard discipline it was
given to me to assist in and share in
the party's triumphs when most faith
full to its principles their approval at
last gave us the victory both in nation
and states. My political friends and
attachments and all bonds of politi-
cal fraternity are with and among the
Democrats, chiefest and dearest the
Democrats of Wisconsin. l have no
other and cannot have any other.
therefore feel with poignancy Of
pain which stings in every nerve and
bone that 1 see this good fellowship
threatened with disruption, friends
and brothers divided one against an
other rn6 the old party of constitu-
tional liberty menaced with desiruct-
ion. We've one to consult mere declar-
atoms of ease and public prudence he
might i'm such a case seek to withdraw
himself to some safe covert and let
the whirling storm pass by. But ev-
cry impulse of manhood rebels against
it. Upon this issue depends the well
fare of our country and the peace and
happiness of our countrymen. Moth
ing but coward will hesitate now.
The course of duty is plain now.
Laying fast hold upon the golden con-
victions of life, one must go where
they illuminate the way. 1t should
not matter were it the fact that the
multitude rush with impetuous claims
upon the opposite course. No true
man can see his fellows moving to
counsel of wisdom or safety. He
huOWS ny IL tlOuSuuu ieSSOuS VI Ills
tory how often the maddenlng inn
pulse has overthrown truth to bring
misery to mankind. Whatever the
event, whatever the consequence, he
must take his stand for the right and
without Impotence, without anger,
without fear, insist upon the over
whelming reasons which denounce the
folly and injury threatened to his
countrymen. Never in the past has
such controversy controlled political
parties as is now presented to us. All
the differences, issues and contentious
that have divided parties i'm the past
have been swept off the political
field by the action of the Chicago con.
vention and new, most extraordinary
and perilous proposition has taken
their place. The old Democratic par
ty has been successfully raided, its
flag captured and the insignia of par
ty leadership seized by new and for
eign hands. Strange voices issue the
words of command and new leaders
cry aloud: "This is the way of Dem
ocracy," and point to a path avoided
by our fathers. Some in our-fanks
have rebelled in anger, resentfully re-
NlC patty btlld. az anu
claiming against it's captors "If you
be of Israel we go rather with the
children of Belial." Others fall blind
ly saying: Is not this the party flag?
Do not these wear the uniform of par
ty generals?" But many stand silent
ly lamenting the wild confusion, seek
ing earnestly for some path of honor
to themselves or future safety for
their party. OF them and for them is
this assemblage gathered. 1t was
born of an exigent necessity and it's
inspiration is party devotion and pa
triotism. l congratulate and rejeice
for the old party that so many repre-
sentative Democrats compose this au-
dience inspired by these sentiments.
Well may we take heart OF hope that
in the darkest cloud there has seemed
there is yet saving grace to restore the
power and usefulness of the old party
of our fathers. What are the condi-
tiOns presented to our deliberations?
On all hands it must be seen that there
is but one overshadowing and domin-~
ant issue to be decided In this cam
paign. That truth Mr.. Bryan has rec
0gnized. He avowed it in New York.
Whatever the interest or faulty Of
any may lead them to assert, whatever
appeals may be made to the ghosts Of
past controversies this fact must be
recognized by every intelligent man.
The impending crisis in our political
affairs turns all upon the solution Of
this one overruling question. Shall
the existing standard of money be
swept away with all its fatal conse-
quences to business, labor and to en-
terprise and a new, debased and un-
certain standard be substituted?
"For such is the proposal, that the
United States shall open its mints to
the free and unlimited coinage Of sill
yer at the ratio Of 16 to 1. If any
1rhorn In The ,,nirorcn narnaaratc