The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-06-25
SILVER BOLTERS ISSUE AN AID
DRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF
THE UNITED STATES.
4 UNION OF ALL B|METALL|STS.
To Place the Senator From Colorado in
the Presidential Chair, Is the De-
sire-Time for Independent
Action Has Arrived.


dress, signed by the silver men who bolt
ed the Republican convention yesterday,
was issued to the public today:
10 the People of the United States
Obeying the call of duty and justified by
the common citizenship of this republic,
we address this communication to the
people and the forthcoming conventions
of the United States. In doing so we
claim no authority or right other than
that which belongs to every man to eX-
press personal convictions, but we re-
spectfully solicit the cooperation of all
who believe that the time has come for
reaction to the simpler and more direct
method OF naming men for national office
than has obtained in recent years. Po-
lltlcal party organization is necessary, be-
cause, without it, 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 it's won
derful epoch of intellectual development
ana physical improvement there is q con-
slant requirement for better things. The
individual feels that requirement and
needs it or he fails in life's endeavor.
Parties must also obey the same law.
1t follows, therefore, that the moment
boi'y Shull W Stullu SUN TeCTO-
gress. it is no longer efficient to achieve
the end to which the people are neces-
sarlly destined. There is no sanctity in
mere party names; and the mark of de-
cay is set on individual strength in q ma
ton when the absolute rule of political
organization coerces man from the truth
for the sake of eXpedency and estab-
llsheS lnsincere submission to party rule
for the sake of power. Recognizing the
and tlNn
political parties in this country as else
where we are yet constrained 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 in the
latter part of this generation by the fail
ure of parties to express in their achieve
ments the highest hope and aspiration
of the mass of people who constitute the
parties. And there has been growing in
this country-swelling with each recur-
renee of national election-a great mass
of independent thinkers and voters.
which. failing within its control. has
gravitated between the two great parties.
Since 1872 excepting possibly the cleo
ton in 1876 the great pendulum has
swung from side to side with each four
years. In 1872 the Republican party
elected the president; in 1876 the Dem
ocracy claimed the election; in 1880 the
Republicans elected; in 1884 the Demo
Gratis elected in 1888 the Republicans
elected in 1899 the Democrats elected;
in 1896 until within few weeks it has
been conceded that the Republicans
would elect. What has been the cause of
this mighty oscillation of mass which
this year has probably obtained control
ling proportions? Every man can answer
to himself. If he has been an observer:
if he has had interests that are affected:
If he has had hope to see justice done,
and has seen that hope blasted: if he
knows that general dissatisfaction has
arisen from the fact that party prom
lses made were broken, he knows that
so soon as the election was over and sue
cessful candidates installed they became
the servitors of the party and the advo-
Gates of narrow and nOn-progresSive
policy in which alone there seemed to be
an assurance of selfish safety and parti-
san approval.
During all this period we have lacked
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 and achievements of
ease and comfort to the favored of man.
kind, in the still greater and more i'm
pol tuuI uOHlulH VI SOCldl TelOTln we nave
stood still or retrogressed. 1t is not
that the people have not felt the stirring
of determination that this inaction has
endured. but because of the rule of the
party which has largely controlled men
in and out of office. 1t has become
source of reproach to any man that he
should dare to denounce allegiance to
organization. Men have been expected
to submit their views to the dictatiOn
of conventions n1tbnnuh II &c
knowledge that the conventions have
been swayed to views and declarations
not the most approved by the mass of
the people nor progressive for their well
fare. 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 feel that the
time has come for the performance of
q 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
seete. Every generation of free men
has the right to affirm the truths of past
knowledge and present requirements;
and if the enforcement of these truths
shall make necessary a departure from
party organization, the people have this
right and will exercise it until the old
parties shall return to the truth or new
parties shall be created to enact it into
laws.
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 mediums |
as may give best promise of the achieve
ment of justice.
But whether we are mistaken or not |
concerning the general sentiments in the |
United States, we have not mistaken |
our duty in withdrawing from the Re
publican convention, feeling it is better to |
he right with the minority. in apparent
defeat. than to be wrong with the ma
Jority in apparent triumph
We hold that in the great work of So
cial evolution in this country monetary |
reform stands rs the first renuisitn No |