St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-02-17
MOTIFS BON MOT.
HEAD OF THE SILVER PARTY
MAKES AN APPEAL TO THE
PEOPLE.
TIRED OF POLITICAL LINES
CALLS ON ALI TO RALLY TO THE
SILVER STANDARD REGARD
LESS OF PARTY.
ALL ILLS ARE TO BE CURED
By the Restoration of White Metal
to the Place 1T Occupied in
Ancient Times.
TIRED OF POLITICAL LINES
ALL ILLS ARE TO BE CURED

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-J. J. Mott,
chairman Of the national committee
of the silver party, has issued the
following address to the people:
AS chairman of the national committee, ap-
pointed by the silver conference lately as
sembled in Washington city to organize the
silver forces in these United States, in the
battle which is to take place for the pos
session of the government this year, it is
thought proper that l should make some state
ment to the people in reference to it.
AS the necessity of money as a medium Of
exchange became revealed to the minds of
men, the two metals finally accepted the
most suitable for money were silver and gold.
This was natural because they were the two
most precious metals adapted to the purpose
and were sufficiently limited as to quantity.
AS mining has developed the fact that these
two metals existed in the earth in almost
certain proportions, natural ratio of value
was assumed. This ratio has continued as ar
ranged by man under the natural order as he
found it. 1t was accepted by mankind as a
part OF the grand plan upon which the world
was to move, and approved by the philosophy
and common sense of all ages From this con-
dition of regular order and contentment con-
tributing to the gradual elevation of all classes
OF society, the extension of civilization and
the general betterment of the human race, this
country and the world has been ruthlessly
torn. 1t has been done by the rejection of one
and by this act the money changers have been
enthroned and the narrowing of the scope
OF monetizatfon begun. AS monetization has
been narrowed, money has become scarcer in
proportion and as money became scarcer
prices fell in proportion, and falling prices
have been the bane of this world. 1t was pre-
dicted after the decentralization Of silver that
great suffering would follow. This suffering
is already here. From a contraction of the
currency, we are now in the throes of one
OF these desperate stages of human experience,
n nd nf ,.f1 c1,a
nights as the foundation of prices have
crumbled The country is confronted by
grave emergency. Obligations resting upon
the supposed firm foundation of price in
ready money have crumbled into dirt as the
foundation of the price has crumbled.
THEORIZING IS FUTILE.
The agitation of the money question must
be settled by peaceful methods that will give
practical results Long, patient and dispas-
sionate reflection has convinced me that an
absolutely necessary to the restoration of ma
tfonal prosperity and the establishment of
commercial conditions in this country that
will give to- common people-the agricult-
ural and laboring classes-an equal show
with capital and concentrated wealth. How
can II be effected? Can it be done through
as now constituted? No. Both organizations
are under the blighting influence of the East
ern money power. The record of every
tional convention of both parties for years
is plain proof of the assertion. The legisla-
ton of both parties of congress is proof that
it is impossible as party question.
What then, is to be done? AS patriots, as
Americans who are for America against the
world, what is our first and controlling duty
in this crisis? Shall we longer heed the false
promises of party platform declarations?
Shall we longer submit to the academic dis
cusson of what bimetallism means? Shall it
be another campaign of straddling and equiv
ocation? Or shall the issue be squarely on
the free coinage of silver and gold and
hn cQnfc fha 10
that great question?
The first step-the essential preliminary
to the correction Of present abuses, the re-
establishment of national prosperity and the
maintenance of our national credit, is the
election of a president whose Andrew Jack
son courage and infexible integrity will de-
fly the influence that prostitutes presidents
and cabinets and makes the administration
OF the government subject of humiliation
and reproach.
Strong in character and intention as may
be the standard bearer Of the Republican or
Democratic party in the coming campaign,
1t will hardly be possible for him to rise
above influences that secured his nomination,
or the environments that must surround him
in the event of his election. The one hope
of the people, 1 am convinced, is in the cleo
ton of a president pledged Internationally
and unreservedly, to the free and unlimited
coinage of silver and gold the same as from
the foundation of our government until 1873
And also Internationally pledged in favor Of
national currency, without the intervention
of Understanding bonds in time of peace
for any purpose whatever
appeal not only to Republicans in my own
state who can appreciate the sacrifice l make
in renouncing party obligations on this ques-
ton in advance of party action in the prem
ises, but to the people throughout the country
without regard to party to cooperate in this
great non-partsan, patriotic American move
ment to sustain the industrial and financial
independence of the United States in the
pending
IRRESISTIBLE CONFLICT.
This sentiment influences me to accent the
Craftsmanship of the national silver party. I
shall give to this movement my best services
and thought, and successful or otherwise /
shall realize the satisfaction of having done
my duty to the people and the country as I
see and understand 1t. In my own state l
confidently appeal to the rank and file of both
parties to support my efforts. North Carolina
is an agricultural state and nine enths of
Its people are directly and disastrously af-
fected by the operation of the single gold
standard. l appeal to them to lay aside par
ty feelings. ignore party obligations on this
question. disregard party appeals forget the
exasperatlons OF past party contention, and
spurn the offer of place and emolument
We have the example and experience of the
last campaign in North Carolina to show the
practicability and safety of men of different
pa n,o cooperating to carry out great
pie, where neither of the parties fayoring il
could effect it alone. That was cooperation
on one issue, the issue of fair elections 1t
is now arranged to extend the same plan
through all the states another vital issue
OF even greater Importance to this country.
NO one party can do this, but majority of
the people in all the parties want it done and
they can do it if they will cooperate. The
peril that menaces the people in the election
OF president whose administration of the
government means perpetuation of the pres
ent financial system can only be ayerted
by the people themselves. It may be too late
four years hence Present abnormal condi
lions do not warrant belief in the peaceful
submission of the people to further oppression
and impoverishment. The gold gamblers NAV
deride the popular ebullition as system of
harmless Socialism," but if they are wise
they will heed the admonition and not per-
expense of the toiiing and suffering people
The plain patriotic duty of every Ameri
can who loves and honors his country, who
would jealousy guard its institutions, who
would die for the principles that have made
1t the greatest, the richest, the proudest.
the most Independent nation on the faceSof
the globe, is to assert his manhood and sub
ordinate party success to the country's well
fare in the impending conflict.
Let us have this metal money restored
and in the proportions found in natures
storehouse, and as it existed in Washing
tons time, when the flag and the constitu-
ton were fresh and God seemed to speak
to the people from an open book
The men who are for gold stand together
no matter what party they belong to. They
have control of both the Republican and
Democratic parties The people in their dis
tress striking at entrenched power knock
out first one and then the other party. but
no matter which turn Is taken. uold Is nm