Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-06-20
TEXT OF THEIR MANIFESTO
The BoIting Silver Men Issue an
Address
IN JUSTIFICATION OF ACTION
Their Newly Acquired Freedom Allows Great
Boldness of Expression.
THE DOCUMENT IS LONG AND SOUNDING
But Like W oman's Postscript. the Purpose
Is at the End-To Present Mr.. Teller
for Consideration at
Chicago.
THE DOCUMENT IS LONG AND SOUNDING

ST. Louis. Mo, June 1e.--At the secret
conference Of the bolting silver men yes
terday and last night, after much care
full consideration, the subjoined address
to the people of the United States was
agreed upon and authorized to be given
to the press. While the address con-
tains much in the nature of silver coin
age argument, the concluding para
graphs show the determination of the
boiling delegates to bring about the
nomination, if possible, of Senator Henry
M. Teller of Colorado as the candidate
for the presidency on a platform hav-
ing for its cardinal principle the free and
unlimited coinage of silver. The address
in full is as follows:
To the People of the United States:
Obeying the call of duty and justified
by the common citizenship OF this repub-
lie, we address this communication to
the people of the United States. In do
ing SO we claim no authority or right
other than that which belongs to every
man to express personal convictions, but
we respectfully solicit the cooperation
of all who believe that the time has come
for a return to the simple and more dt-
rect method of naming men for national
office than has obtained in recent years.
ROlltlCal party OfSdHlZdllOI 10 HSSSS-
sary because without 1t the individual
voter is dumb; but the party is only the
means, not the end; it is the voice and
not the sense. AS the world advances
In this wonderful epoch of intellectual
development and physical Improvement
there is a constant requirement for bet
ter things The individual feels that re-
uuirement and heeds it or fails in life's
endeavor. Parties must also obey the
same law 1t follows, therefore, that the
moment a party shall choose to stand
still or retrogress 1t is no longer efficient
to achieve the end to which the people
are necessarily destined. There is no
sanctity in mere party names; and the
mark of decay is set on individual
strength In a nation when the absolute
rule of political organizations coerces
man from the truth for the sake of ex-
pediency and establishes insincere sub
mission to party
For the Sake of Power.
Recognizing the value and the splendid
achievements of political parties In this
country, as elsewhere, We are yet con-
strained to believe that for more than
twenty years no one of them has been
entirely sufficient for the needs of the
people The great trend to better things
resting in the heart and purpose of all
men has been stayed during the latter
part of this generation by the failure of
parties to express in their achievements
the highest hope and aspiration of the
mass of people who constitute the par
ties And there has been growing in this
country-swelling with each recurrence
of national election-a great mass of in
dependent thinkers and voters which,
falling within its control, has gravitated
between the two great parties since
1872 (excepting. possibly, the election OF
1876 the pendulum has swung from side
to side with each four years. In 1872 the
republicans elected the president; in 1876
the democracy claimed the election; in
1880 the republican party elected; in 1884
the democrats elected; in 1888 the repub-
licans elected; in 1896 (until within few
weeks) it has been conceded that the re-
publicans would elect.
What has been the cause of this mighty
oscillatio of a mass which this year has
probably obtained controlling propor-
tions? Every man can answer to him
self. If he has been an observer; If he
has had interests that were affected; if
he has felt hope to see greater justice
done and has seen that hope blasted; IL
he knows that the general dissatisfac-
ton has arisen from the fact that party
promises made were broken to the people
by party performance, he knows that so
soon as the election was over and sue
cessfu candidates installed they became
the servitors of the party and the adj
vocates of narrow and non-progressive
policy within which alone there seemed
to be an assurance of selfish safety and
partisan approval. During all this pc
riod we have lacked a great constructive
administration. No new social truth has
been put forward in an effective way.
While in all the departments of physical
life there have been developments of ease
and comfort to the favored of mankind.
in the still greater and more important
domain of social reform we have
Stood Still or Retrogressed.
1t is not that the people have not felt
the stirring determination that this in
action has endured, but because of the
rule of party which has largely con-
trolled men in and out of Office. 1t has
become source of reproach to any man
that he should dare to renounce allegi-
ance to organization. Men have been
expected to submit their views to the
dictation of conventions, although it is
common knowledge that conventions
have been sWayed to views and declara-
tions not the most approved by the mass
of the people nor the most progressive
for their welfare.
We do not arrogate to ourselves one
iota more of intelligence, patriotism or
courage than is possessed by any of our
fellow citizens. But we fell that the
time has come for the performance of
duty to this country; and for our part,
though we shall stand alone, we will
make an endeavor in the direction of
that duty. Parties may outlive their
usefulness the truth never becomes OBJ
solete. Every generation of freemen
has the right to affirm the truths of past
knowledge and present requirements,
and If the enforcement of these truths of
past knowledge shall make necessary
departure from party organization, the
people have this right and will exercise
it until old parties shall return to the
truth or new parties shall be created to
enact 1t into law.
If the voices which have sounded to us
from every state in this union are an
indication of the real feeling. this year
is the appointed time for the people to
assert themselves through such medium
as may give best promise of the achieve
ment Of justice. But whether we are
mistaken or not concerning the general
sentiment in the United States. we have