The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-07-05
RUSSELL'SGOLDPL PLEA
The Long Address Of the Ex-Governor
Of Massachusetts,.
SILVER IS CHEAP STUFF
He implores the delegates to Save
the Party From Disoredlt and
Everlasting Defeat by
Following Him.

chicago. July 4.-The gold mass meet.
Ing tonight was marked by the alb
sence of David b. Hin. william c.
whitney was present but did not speak.
The principal speeche OF the night was
thai made by Ex-Governor Russell Of
Massachusetts,.
Governor Russell said in part: I'VE
meet with no personal ambition to
serve. with no threat upon our lips and
with no purpose To question the sim
cerity aud honesty OF any democrat,
however radical the difference within
our ranks: but we are painfully con-
sclous OF the palpable fact that for
the ilrst time within a generation and
for the second time only In Its 100 years
of honorable life. the great democratlo
party IL on the point OF sectional and
seometrical division. The door ls open
for division but not for dishonor. Wa
see new faces and new principles urg-
Ing us on. but we have not yet crossed
its threshold. May God save us from
the fatal step In a spirit 81 unhinch-
Ing loyalty. we ask the representatives
OF our party to pause and. without
prejudice or passion. to consider well
before committing democracy TO a rad
ical and novel policy which we believe
affects our nations honor and we know
must break the ties which bind the
South and North, East and West to-
gether In an enduring and triumphant
democracy. In true democratic con-
yention each member carries his man
hood under his own hat, conscience
dominates instruction. and the welfare
OF his country and the life Of his party
are more important than any sectional
interest or personal success.
in the belief that now, as formerly.
our party meets In this spirit anxious
to rally under the old flag all OF It's
old soldiers and TO win recruits from
every section. and ready to accord free
dom Of speech and action. we have
gathered here tonight to make our
appeal for union. IL would be folly to
overlook the gravity VI the crisis but
II would be cowardly to abandon hope.
and undemocratic to assume that our
appeal will fall upon deaf ears. Our
great national party fears no contest
except within Its ranks. IL cannot die
except by suicide. II has been and IL
the peoples party. fighting for their
cause against selfish. sectional and
class interests. which control the re-
publican party within its ranks. Thus
far there has been no room. thank God,
for sectional prejudice. proscriptive
bigotry. controlled by selfish interests
on any influence which would divide u
on geographical. religious or GLASS iineA
The democratic party Is urged to
make the cardinal principles Of tts
faith and the leading issue Of M cam
paign silver monometallism. Q new
| and deprectated standard Of value
| The dema nd Is for free coinage Of silvsP
at Is to l. which means that The p0wop
| and force Of the government are 10 b
invoked 10 change our unit OF value
and TO substitute 50 cents Of suvsf tor
q dollar In gold; and then to adjust
business concerns all wage eaynings
and savings. all debts and creditA al
public obligations ana national honor
TO this deprecated standard :
The demand comes from . ssottoe
and class and appeals 20 . paesraA
government to give value who're nooa
exists. Is this demand o sound 0sme.
cratic principle7 Does Il aocord WIN
the teachings and record OF our pArtyS
with the faith Of Jefferson end Clsvoe
land; with its unfiinching poSeftcn a.
ways In favor of sound and hard moo
| ey; with tts opposition TO Q patePnAl
| government and Sherman's silver billa;
with Its constant. undying struggle
against paternalism and protection and
its proud boast Of being the psople's
party. broad as the nation, controlled
by no class or section or selfish inter-
est7 May the delegates here gathered
TO proclaim our old demooratio faith
put this question to their consciences
before they plunge us into heresy and
schism assert that the demand OF .
section OF our party is q new and radi-
cal Departures; that II Is In conflict
with the vital principles for which wo
have successfully fought: that Il repu-
dates our past democratic platforms
and administrations; that logically II y
q republican principle and historioai-
ly republican policy. and thar II V
fiaught with perh to our country ana
disaster to our party.
Never yet has this demand been Q
plank In any national democratic plat
form. II was expressly repudiated IN
the convention OF 1876 and thereafter
abandoned. No power under heaven
ever has established and maintained or
ever can a blmetallc standard at re-
tlos where one coin 10 given double fts
intrinsic value. To make 80 cents worth
OF silver by force OF government eQuaA
To- a dollar In gold will. by the inexora-
BILE laws Of nature. over which II 10
powerleSs drive out gold. contract our
currency. depreciate our standard. un.
settle business. impair credit. reduce all
savings and the value OF all wages.
And the masses OF the people will be
the heaviest losers and the greatest
sufferers.
Every law which. for q generation.
has threatened the stability Of our na-
tlonal currency and crsdtt has come In
republican administrations. Green
backs, imitation OF silver-all ara the
children OF republican rule. and now.
Il has nominated as It's candidate .
man whose record Is more shaky even