The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-12
HOLD UP
HIS HANDS.
Remarkable Address Issued By
the National BimetalIists.
Throw No Obstacles In the
Way of Major Mckinley
And His COadjutors In Their
Efforts
TO BRING PROSPERITY
Give Them Time to Fulfill
Their Promises.
Resume Agitation Only When
Their Failure Is Apparent.


Lane, chairman of the national bimetal-
lie committee, has issued the following
address:
San Francisco, Dec. 10, 1896
To the Bimetallists of the United
The contest of 1896. which for some
months has engaged public attention,
was determined at the ballot box upon
the 3rd ult. in favor of the Republican
candidate.
While the supporters of Mr.. Bryan
ana the great principles which he es-
poused have no reason to regret the
effort made in his behalf, and which we
viii renew when occasion requires it, it
is only the part of wisdom to accept
with the utmost good faith the decision
OF the American people upon this or
any other question submitted to their
deliberate Judgment which is always
sure in the end to be correctly decided
by that tribunal.
The struggle was one of great import
to the material interests of the republic
and was contested with unusual inter
est by the cOntenGing parties.
1t was from the very outset one of
marked inequality in point of influence
and power, and may well be consid-
cred, as it has many times been justly
denOminated, a contest of might against
right of the combined influence of
wealth against the unprotected inter
ests of the common people, and the re-
suit of the issue, considering the in
equality of conditions, was such as to
challenge the admiration of every pa
triotic citizen
The cause of bimetallism, which was
the watchword of the Republican
forces, has not been abandoned by its
friends and advocates, nor are we dis
heartened or dismayed at this tempOr-
airy defeat. We are as firmly con-
vinced now of its ultimate triumph in
the United States as that the American
flag is the emblem of constitutional
liberty and while principles for
by sophistry and truth obscured
by the screen of deception or
intrigue, they will finally arise above
the darkened horizon and assume their
rightful position as the guiding stars
of popular government
Our position was met and antagOn-
lied by the combined wealth of two
continents 1t was sought to be OBJ
epithets. dishonest methods and parti-
san zeal. Every intrigue which wealth
could inspire or ingenuity suggest was
brought into requlsltlon- The debtor
class was threatened by its creditors
the laboring class by its employers and
the patrons Of savings banks and in
surance companies were made the vic
tins of INSCRIPTIONS demagOgueS, who
declared that their investments in
these institutions were to be sacrificed
if free coinage of silver should be ac-
complished as the result Of the cleo
ton.
These methods of political warfare
We're as dishonest and unjust as the
advantage gained IS heeting and des-
tined to ultimate defeat NO success
secured by misrepresentation can have
more than a temporary lOdgment in
the hearts of a generous and right
thinking people and the results of this
election viii prove in the end a more
signal victory for those who went down
in apparent defeat than for those who
are now flushed with apparent victory.
The safety of a government like ours
trammeled exercise Of the elective fran
chise. where each citizen shall have the
right to exercise his choice. without
fear or favor, according to his under
standing of the merits of the contend
ing parties Every effort which ap-
peals to the judgment OF the voters
upon the issues to be determined by
their suffrages is within the legitimate
domain of partisan ethics. But when
resort is had to prOdigate expenditure
of money and other less questionable
but equally potent methods OF in
ducing the voter to abandon his prin-
ciples, so much in evidence in the last
campaign, it is high time for the people
to set their seal of condemnation upon
these practices. which are subversive
of popular government and menace
to the perpetuity Of our free lnstitu-
tions
But the election has been accomp-
Hshed and it is now the duty of every
citizen to accept the result in a spirit
rancor and unembarrassed by factiOus
agitation of the issues which have Just
been fought out While we as bimet-
alists still adhere to the conviction
that there can be no permanent relief
to the people based upon the single
gold standard and that time viii dem
onstrate the accuracy of our position,
we a. the same time regard it as
duty enjoined upon every citizen to do
everything in his power to assist the
president-elect in every effort to pro
mote the welfare Of the people by any
policy which he may consider VIII ac-
complish that result.
To this end we earnestly advise all our
friends and cOadjutors throughout the
United States to suspend active agitation
Of the subject Of free silver further
than simple mobilization of the free sill
Yer clubs throughout the union and the
keeping up of the club rolls for future
service BY this means we shall furnish
to our adversaries every opportunity 10
fulfill the promise " which they made TO the
people during the campaign OF restoring
to the United States that measure or
prosperity which its resources and com
rnercfal standing entities it TO enjoy
among the nations of the earth and II 1t
shall be demonstrated that the incoming
administration shall be able to accom-
plish this result for the people we snail
have no reason to regret the outcome Of
the issue at the polls. If It can be DEM
onstrated by actual experiment that the
theories advanced by the Republican
the people the promised relief every BIZ