Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-03
THE BRITISH LION.

THE BRITISH LION.
Mr.. Hallct KflbOurn Sees That Animal
Athwart the Road.
Mr.. Hallet Kilbourn. who has been taking
deep interest in the political campaign,
and who was in attendance upon all the
political conventions this year, Is an ar-
dent and enthusiastic advocate Of free sill
yer. Previous to the meeting of the Chi
cago convention, Mr.. Kilbourn wrote a re-
vised version Of the Declaration of indie
pendence from his standpoint, and it was
approvingly received by those who think his
way. Since then he has prepared another
document on the subject, which will be. 1t
is said, widely circulated by the national
silver party committee. The last produc-
ton of MIR. Kilbourn is as follows:
Shall the 7O,OOO,OOO free people of the
United States promptly adopt and maintain
their own monetary system. or will they
wait for the consent of foreign nations?
The spirit Of American patriotism and in
dependence, born In 1776. should prevail in
1896.
AS the absorbing and sole issue in the
presidential campaign Of this year Is the
money question, brief, comprehensive
statement of the situation may, perhaps,
disclose foreign influence which alone i'm
pedes the prompt adoption by the American
people of the free coinage of silver and
gold as the standard money of this country
Inc several political parties representing
the people of the United States have held
their respective national conventions and
declared their views on the paramount To-
lit1cal issue of the day follows:
Inc republican party, in It's platform,
says: eve are opposed to the free coinage
OF silver, except by International agree
ment with the leading commercial nations
of the world. which we pledge ourselves to
promote and until such agreement can lie
OBTAINED the existing gold standard must
be preserved"
Inc democratic platform proclaims: "W,
aemand the 1ree and unlimited coinage of
Dotn silver and gold at the present legal
ratio of 16 to 1. without waiting for tha
consent of any other nation"
me national silver party in their plat
form state: We are unalterably opposed
&c, 10 single gold standard. and demand the
immediate return to the constitutional
standard OF gold and silver by the restora-
llon Dy this government independently Of
any foreign power of the unrestricted coin
age OF both gold and silver into standard
money at the ratio of 16 to 1, and upon
terms of exact equality prior to 1873
Inc popuist platform asserts: I'VE de-
mand the free and unrestricted coinage of
siiver ana gold at the present legal ratio
OF IL to 1. without waiting for the consent
of foreign nations"
The Platforms All for Silver.
By these several platform declarations #
Is conclusively shown that all the national
political parties are in favor of the free
coinage of silver as a part of the monetary
system of the United States; the only diff
terence between the republicans and the
| other parties Is as to the plan or method
by which the free silver policy shall be
adopted.
The republican platform distinctly de-
clares: 1--WE are opposed to the free coin
age Of silver except by international agree
ment with the leading commercial nations
OF the world, which we pledge ourselves to
promote" The republicans have in this
declaration pledged themselves to promote
the adoption of the free coinage Of silver
in the United States through a hoped for
agreement with foreign nations.
This declaration is an absolute confession
by the republicans that the free coinage Of
silver is essential for the prosperity and
progress Of the American people, by their
pledge to exert all their influence to pro-
mote its adoption In this country by agree
ment with foreign nations.
Sound Money and the Honest Dollar.
The American people know that the
money issued by the United States govern
ment. whether in silver, paper or gold, Is
sound money. and that every dollar issued
by the government with Its value stamped
thereon Is an honest dollar
The patriotic American people who are
opposed to the visionary republican plan Of
delay and uncertainty Of results are unani-
mousy in favor of the prompt adoption of
a policy for the free coinage of silver and
gold as the basis Of the monetary system
of the 100000 free people Of the United
States, and without waiting for the con-
sent of any foreign power.
The british Lion In the Path.
Great Britain Is the controlling COM
| mercial power Of Europe. and her single
gold standard system of values reflects the
| money policy of that continent.
Without the consent of Great Britain it
Is idle to attempt to secure an interna-
tional agreement of the leading commercial
naions Of he world"
The failure of twenty years appeal to
Great Britain to agree to international
bmetallism is evidence of her fixed pur-
pose to maintain the single gold standard
Of values.
Domestic and Foreign Interests.
Statistics show that fully 95 per cent
OF all the productive interests and COM
mercial transactions of the people Of the
United States are conducted within and
between themselves. while but per cent
are transacted with foreign nations, of
which Great Britain gets the largest por-
ton.
By adopting the republican plan Of set
Ting the money question the 50 per cent
Of the commercial business and productive
industries Of the people of the United
States must remain in allegiance to the
British gold standard policy, until such
agreement can be obtained with the lead