The record-union., 1896-06-20


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 pur-
pose of all men has been stayed during
the latter part of this generation by the
failure of parties to express in their
achievements the highest hope and as
pirations of the mass of the people who
constitute the parties, and there has
been growing in this country, swelling
with each recurrence of national elec-
ticns, a great mass of independent
thinkers and voters, which failing with
in itself to control, has gravitated be-
tween the two great parties.
Since 1872 excepting possibly the
election of 1876 the pendulum has
swung from side to side with each four
years. In 1872 the Republican party
elected the President, 1876 the De-
mocracy claimed the election, in 1880
the Republicans elected, in 1884 the
Democrats elected, in 1888 the Repub-
licans elected, in 1892 the Democrats
elected, in 1896 (until within a few
weeks) it has been conceded that the
Republicans would elect.
What has been the cause of this
mighty oscillation of a mass which this
year has probably obtained controlling
proportions. Every man can answer to
himself. If he has been an observer, If
he has had interests that were affect
ed, if he has felt a hope to see greater
justice done and has seen that hope
blasted, if he knows that the general
dissatisfaction has arisen from the fact
that party promises made were broken
to the people by party performance, he
knows that as soon as the election was
over, and successful candidates inH
stalled, they became the servitorS of the
party and the advocates of a narrow
and non-progressive policy within
which alone there seemed to be an as
Surance of selfish safety and partisan
approval.
During all this period we have lacked
a great constructive administration.
No new social truth has been put for
ward in an effective way. While in all
the departments of physical life there
have been developments and achieve
ments of ease and comfort to the fa-
yored of mankind, in the still greater
and more important domain of social
reform we have stood still or retro
gressed.
1t is not that the people have not felt
the STRINGS of determination that this
inaction has endured, but because of
the rule of party, which has largely
controlled men in and out of office. 1t
has been a source of reproach to any
man that he should renounce allegiance
to organization. Men have been ex-
pected to submit their views to the
dictation of conventions, although it is
common knowledge that conventions
have been swayed to views and decla-
rations not the most approved by the
mass of people, nor progressive for
their welfare.
We do not arrogate to ourselves one
iota more of intelligence patriotism or
courage than is possessed by other of
our fellow-cftizens. But we feel that
the time has come for the performance
of duty to the country, and for our
part, though We shall stand alone, we
will make an endeavor in the direction
of that duty. Parties may outliye their
usefulness; that truth never becomes
obsolete. Every generation of free men
has the right to affirm the truths of
past knowledge and present acquire
ments, and if the enforcement of these
truths shall make necessary depart
ure from party organization, the peopYe
have this right and will exercise it
until the old parties shall return to the
truth, or new parties shall be created
to effect it into law
If the voices which have sounded to
us from every State in this Union are
an indication of the real feelings, this
year is the appointed time for the peo-
pie to assert themselves. through such
mediums as may give best promise of
the achievement of justice.
But, whether we are mistaken or not
concerning the general sentiment in the
United States, we have not mistaken
our own duty in Withdrawing from the
Republican Convention, feeling that it
is better to be right, and with the minor
ity in apparent defeat than to be wrong
with the majority in apparent triumph.
We hold that in the great work of
social evolution in this country, none
tary reform stands as the first requisite.
No policy, however promising of good
results can take it's place. Continua-
ton during the next four years upon
the present financial system will bring
down upon the American people that
cloud of impending evil. to avert which
men, and the first prayer of patriots
Our very institutions are at stake.
To-day, with the rapidly increasing
population, with widely swelling de-
mands, the basis of our money is rela-
lively contracting; ara the people are
passing into servitude, all the more
dangerous because it is not physically
apparent. The Nation itself, as to
other nations, is losing the sturdy cour-
age which could make it defiant in the
face of injustice and internal wrong.
Prices never will cease falling under
the single gold standard The restora-
tion of bimetallism by this country will
double the basis of our money system
In time, it viii double the stock of the
primary money of the world-will stop
falling prices and steadily elevate them
Until they will regain their normal rela-
ton to the volume of debts and credits
in the world
Bimetaliism will help to bring about
the great hope of every social reformer.
every believer in the advancement OF
the race who realizes that the instabil-
ity of prices has been the deadly foe of
our toilers, and the servant of the for
eign interest gatherevs.
Bimetalhsm will help to bring the
time when a certain expenditure of hu-
man toll will produce a certain finan-
cial result. Who among the great
masses of our people in the United
States but feels that his lot would be
made better, his aspirations take new
wings, if he could know in the perform
aEce of his labor what would be the
price of his product? is not this pur-
pose worth the attention of the people
as individuals, and worth the attention