Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1896-07-10
MINNESOTA IS FOR SILVER.
Silver Republicans Of Minnesota Issue
an Address to Their Party.
THE ISSUE BEFORE THE PEOPLE.

THE ISSUE BEFORE THE PEOPLE.
The silver Republicans Of the state
issued an address TO the members
of their still unorganized party in the
state. Here it is:
To the Republicans of Minnesota: The !
greatest issue which has arisen in the
country since the abolition Of African
slavery now confronts the American
people. The common people have viewed
with increasing alarm the efforts Of a
foreign money aristocracy to fasten upon
this nation the single gold standard of
value. In the past they turned with the
inspiration Of faith to the Republican
party for protection against that power
which seeks to strike down one-half the
redemption money of the world that the
other half may purchase Gouble the
amount of the products of toll. They
had a right to expect such protection.
The Republican party was born OF the
common people. It's mission has been to
dignity labor; to secure to him who tolls
in field in shop or mine the just fruits of
honest labor. From the day Of the party's
birth until the present time no article Of
Republic faith has been more pro-
nounced than the belief in bimetallsm.
1t has been written in its platforms and
taught by all its great leaders. James 6.
Blaine wei! expressed the belief Of the
Republican party when he declared, 81
believe the struggle now going on IN this
country and IN other countries for a
1,v = II
pro- luce widespread disaster in ana
throughout the commercial world.
'The destruction of silver as money
and establishing gold as the sole unit Of
value must have ruinous effect on all
ments which yield fixed return in
money. These would be enormously
enhanced in value, and would gain Il
disproportlonate and unfair advantage
over every other species of property. If,
as the most reliable statistics affirm.
there are nearly 81, 900, 900, 900 of coin or
bullion in the world, not very unequally
divided between gold and silver, it Is
| impossible to strike silver out of existence
as money without results which will
prove distressing to millions and utterly
disasterous to tens Of thousands.
II believe gold and silver coin to be the
money of the constitution; indeed, the
money OF the American people, anterior
to the constitution which the great
organic law recognized AS quite lndepen-
dent of its existence.
The action Of the national Republican
convention at ST. Leuis has repudiated
this fundamental doctrine Of our party.
The single gold standard has been in
dorsed. The Repu ublican party no longer
stands for both gold and silver as primary
money, but for gold only. We cannot
accent the new faith, and we will hold
steadfastly 10 the old. The policy OF gold
monometallism means prolonged and IN
tensif1ed depression; an endless and hope.
less era Of falling prices for our farmers
and other producers; continued uncer-
tainty Of employment for our working
| men, with lessening wages following the
fail in prices of the products Of labor:
discoura cement of all enterprise and in
the end universal bankruptcy and the
gcavit8tion OF all money into the hands of
money brokers' 1t means the obliteration
of the great middle class. the yoemanrv
Of the nation. and the division OF the
people into the very rich and the very
moor. Those Republicans who believe in
the ,rse Of both gold and silver as the
money Of ultimate payment, and their
| free coinage in our mints. must either
submit i'm silence or speak out bodily in
condemnation of this policy SO ,lisatrous
to the people. On matters OF vital prin-
ciple no man can reasonably be asked to
submit to party dictation. Every man
who places country above party, and
whose sympathies are with the producers
as against the money brokers and bond
holders, owes a duty to his conscience
and to his country which can only be
discharged by putting forth every effort
IN his power that the blight of the single
gold standard may not be fastened upon
this people. (Slgned0
JOHN B. SANB0RN,
FRANK A. DAy,
S. H. MoER.
D. F. MORGAN,
D. G. CASH,
FRANK M. NYE.
CHAs. F.. ROGERS,
CLINTON MARKELL.
JOHN LIND.
CHAs A. TowNE,
JOHN DAY SMITH,
R. S. MUNGER,
S. B. HOWARD.
JAS r. BENNETT.
II. e. HOARD,
J. H. TRIGGs.
H. E. SroCKER.