Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-06-25
A PROTEST.
Document Of the Silver Men Read
in the Convention.
senators Teller, Cannon and Others Enter
Their Objections to the Republican
PIatform-The American Poo
pie Favor Bimetaliism.

ST. Louis, June 49, Following is the
protest of Senator Teller and col
eagues against the platform:
To the Republican National Convention OF
ihe United States: In announcing the purpose
asserted in this paper, it is due to our constit-
tents and to ourselves that there shall be
public showing OF v1nd1catlng Facts. Inc sole
authorized expression of national republican
aith from June 9. 1890. until the present date
aas been the platform adopted in the national
convention at Minneapolis. Neither the utter
snces OF state conventions nor the attitude or
individuals could change the tenor OF that
platform, or abate the activity of its binding
iorce. Every delegate to this convention was
elected as its adherent and its advocate. True
one of it's most important paragraphs has been
subjected to such divergence OF construction
IS to make its language unsatisfactory during
che intervening time and dangerous If con-
sinued in the future, but OF the intention con-
Gained within that language there has never
oeen'a doubt.
It is the rightful province Of this convention
80 revise the party tenets and to announce
anew the party purpose. The majority of this
convention in the exercise of such authority
aas this day made official apnunciation OF re-
publican law and gospel With much of the
platform we agree, believing that in many es-
Sential particulars it compasses the needs of
humanity, aff1rms the maintenance OF right and
proposes the just remedy for wrong. But 1t
declares one elemental principle not only IN
direct contravention of the expression OF party
faith in 1892, but in radical opposition to cur
solemn conviction.
:. We recognize that all matters OF mere
method it is but just and helpful that the mi
nOr1ty shall yield to the Will OF the majority,
lest we have chaos in parties and in govern
ment. But as no pronouncement by MAORI
ties can change opposing knowledge or belief
sincerely entertained. so it cannot oblige mi
noritie to abandon or d1Savow their pr1nc1-
pies. Assuredly, it is requisite for peace
and progress that minorities shall yield to ma
jorities in matters of mere method, just so
surely is it necessary for the same peace and
progress that minorities shall not yield in
matters Of fundamental truth.
The republican platform of 1892 affirmed that
the American people from tradition and inter-
est.favored bimetallism and demanded the use
of both gold and silver standard money.
This was accepted by us as a declaration in be-
half Of the principle upon which rests the IN
terest of every ciliZen and the safety of the
United States. In such terms the platform
was then satisfactory to the believers in BIZ
metaliism within our party. Only because Of
eQu1vOca1 construction and evasion. has 1t
since been demonstrated to be insufficient.
AS the declaration of 1892 has been by a ma
jority of the party construed to justify single
gold standard for our monetary basis, and as
the recent trend of the official power Of the
party has been in that direction, we can but
assume that the money plank Of the plat
form being much more favorable to perpetuate
gold recommendation, will be determinedly used
in behalf of that idea. The republican party
has won its power and renOwn by pursuing its
purposes courageouSly and relentleSSly. 1t is
therefore only in accordance with the party's
history to assume that If it shall come to
present authority in the United States it will
crystalline into law and administration under
this tempting platform the perpetual single
gold standard in our finances This, if long
continued will mean the absolute ruin of the
producers of the country and finally of the ma
lion itself
s The American people not only favor bmetal-
IiSm from tradition and interest, but from that
wise instinct which has always been manifest
Il
worlds leadership. Under the operation Of
our great demand for advancement we have
become to other nations the greatest debtor
nation of the world. We pay the vast charges
which every year accumulate against US in the
clearing house of the world with the money of
the world, procured by the disposal of our COM
modities in the markets of the world. We are
a nation OF producers. Our creditors are ma
tions of consumers. Any system of information
al or national finance which elevates the price
of human product makes our burden lighter
and gives promise of that day when it shall be
entirely left and our country freed financially.
as it is politically, from the domination
OF monarchy and foreign autocracy. Any
system of finance which tends to depre-
ciate the price of human productions which we
must sell abroad but in so far adds to the bur-
den OF our debt, and conveys a threat of the
perpetual Servitude of the producers of our
btor nation to the consumers Of creditor ma
tionS. To US it is a folly without parallel that
this country. or any political party therein,
should deliberately accept a money system
which enriches others at our expense.
History, philos ophy, morals, all join with
the commonest instinct of seif-preservation in
demanding that the United States shall have
just and substantially unvarying standard
composed of all available gold and silver and
with it our country will progress to financial
enfranchSement But with a single gold
standard the country will go on to worse de-
Struction: to continued falling prices, until our
people would become the hewerS of wood and
drawers of water for the consumers in creditor
nations OF the earth.
To such unholy end we will not lend our
selves. Dear as has been the republic name
to its adherents, that name is not dear as
the faith itself And We do not sacrifice one
jot or little of the mighty prin CT pies by which
republicanism has uplifted tn world when we
say that at the parting of the ways, cling to
the faith. let the name go where it will We
truth: that the triumph of such secession
would be the eventual destruction of our free
dom and our civilization To that end the peo-
pie will not knowingly follow any political
party: and we choose to take our place In the
ranks of the great mass of citizens who realize
that the hour has come for Justice.
Did we deem this issue less important to hu-
manity, would yield, since the associat ions
of all our political lives have been intertwined
with the men and the measures of this party
OF past mighty achievements. But the people
cry aloud for relief they are bending beneath
burden growing heavier with the passing
hours endeavor no longer brings its just re-
ward: fearfulnesS takes the place of courage
and despair usurps the throne of hope and un-