The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-07-10
VEST NOMlNATES BLAND.

scntion: Revolutions do not begin with
therich and prosperous. They represent
the protest of these who are sHtferlng from
present conditions and whose demands for
reile1 are denounced by the benetlciaries
OF unjust and oppressive legislation.
When a profound sense of wrong,
evolved from years Of distress, fastens
upon the public mind in a free country,
ana the people are determined to have re-
oress, a leader Is always found who is a
platform in himself and to whom they in
stinctively turn as the logical exponent Of
their hopes.
The people are not iconoclasts, nor false
10 their convictions. They followed JEFF
Ierson when he assailed the centraliZing
ana monarchial doctrines of the old Fed
erallsts, and was denounced asa commun-
list and leveler by the wealth and culture
OF New England and New York; They
ollowe jackson when he took the United
states bank by the throat, and was pro-
claimed a tyrant by the usurers and money
kings. They followed Lincoln when he
attacked the slave power and declared that
thls country could lot exist half slave
and half free"
The great movement for bimetallism-
the free and unlimited coinage of gold and
silver at the ratio of Ii to land the
restoration of silver to its constitutional
status, is mo sapling chance sown by the
fountain, Blooming at Beltane, in winter
to de 1t has come to stay.
1t Is a protest against the wrong and
outrage of 1873, when, without debate,
and with the knowledge of only a few
men in congress the silver dollar was
stricken from the coinage and the red
despot Of gold made supreme as to all
values.
1t Is a declaration by the free men of
America that the United States must
withdraw from the conspiracy which was
formed to destroy one-half the metallic
money of the world in order to establish
the slavery of greed and usury, more de-
grading han the tyranny of armed force.
1t is the stern demand of unrequitted
toll, bankrupt enterprise and ruined
homes for a change in the money system
which for years has brought disaster and
desolation.
In this crisis of our country and party
we must take 40 step backward in plat
form nor candidate. We want no uncer-
tain nor doubtful leader, no 'laggard in
peace or bastard in war" no latter day
saint, but a griZzled and SCARED veteran
who has borne the heat and burthen of
the day, and whose breart Is marked from
edge of sword ali point Of lance3on a
hundred fields.
Twenty years ago the battle for silver
was begun in the halls of by "a
modest, unpretending, brave man, not an
irridescent nor meteoric statesman, but of
the people and for the people, who has
never faltered for an instant in the great
struggle. Others doubted and wavered,
some yielded to the Establishments Of
patronage and are 10 holding office I'm
der the gold power; others misrepresented
their constituents and have been provided
for in the national intirmary Of the pres
ent administration, but Richard Parks
Bland stand now where he stood then.
the living, breathing embodiment of the
silver cause. He struck with steel point
the golden shield of the money mOnopo-
lists, as did Ivanhoe that of the proud
Templar in the lists at Ashby, and has
neither asked nor given quarter. Nor is
he "a narrow, one-ideaed man. For 20
years in congress he fought in the front
ranks for Democratic principles and poll
cies, as taught by jefferson. He stood by
the side of Randall and risked health> and
life to defeat the first force bill. He op-
posed ably and earnestly that browning
tariff infamy, the Mckinley act, and again
was among the foremost opponents of the
last force bill which passed the house but
was defeated in the senate. He intro
duced the first coinage measure in con-
gress, and was the author Of the seignior-
age bill which passed both houses and
was vetoed by President Cleveland.
If this be an obscure record, where can
be found the career of any public servant
which deserve the plaudits of his country
men.
The Democrats of Missouri who have
passed through the fiery furnace of Re-
publican prescription seven times heated,
and whose state flag has always been
placed beneath the great Oriflame of the
national Democracy, make no apology nor
excuse when offering such a candidate for
the presidency.
If you ask Whence comes our candi-
dater" we answer: Not from the usur-
ers' den, nor temple of Mammon, where
the clink Of gold browns the voice of pa
triotism, but from the farm, the work
shop, the mine-from the hearts and homes
of the people"
To reject him is to put a brand upon
honesty and undaunted courage. and to
chill the hearts and hopes of those who
during all these years nave waited for this
hour of triumph. To nominate him is to
make our party again that of the people,
and to insure success.
"Give us Silver Dick, and silver quick,
And we will make Mckinley sick"
In the ides of next November.