The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-06-27
SILVER MEMS MANIFESTO.
An Address to the People of the
United States.

@1A G10lAICSS W bll6 ECODl0 Ol Lll0
United States.
ST iSuIs, June 19.-At the confer
ence of the bolting silver delegates from
the Republican National Convention yes
terday and last night, after much careful
consideration, the subjoined address to the
people of the United States was agreed
upon and authorized to be given to the
press.
PARTY ORGANIZATION NECESSARY.
To 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 peo-
pie and the forthcoming Convention of the
United States. In doing so, we claim no
authority or right other than that which
belongs to every man to express personal
conviction, but we respectfully solicit the
co-operation of all who believe that the time
has come for return to the simpler and
more direct method of naming men for ma
tional service than has obtained in recent
years. Political party organization is neces-
sary because, without it, the individual
voter is dumb; but the party is only the
means, not the end; it is the voice, not the
sense. As the world advances in this
wonderful epoch of intellectual develop
ment and physical improvement, there is a
constant requirement for better things.
The individual feels that requirement and
heeds it, or he fails in life's endeavor.
Parties must also obey the same law.
1t follows, therefore, that the moment a
party shall choose to stand still or retro
gress it is no longer efficient to achieve the
end to which the people are necessarily
destined. There is no sanctity in mere
party name, and the mark of decay is set
on individual strength in nation where
the absolute rule of political organization
coerces men from the truth for the safe of
expediency, and establishes insincere sub
mission to partisan rule for the sake of
power.
INDEPENDENT THINKERS.
Recognizing the value and the splendid
achievements of political parties in this
country as elsewhere, 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
of better things, resting in the heart and
purpose of all men, has been stayed during
the latter part of this generation by the
failure Of parties to express in their achieve
ments the highest hope and aspiration of
the mass of the people wko constitute the
parties, and there has been growing in this
country, swelling with each recurrence of
national election, great mass of independ-
ent thinkers and others, which, failing
within itself to control, has gravitated
between the two great parties.
HOW THE PENDULUM SWUNG.
Since 1872 (excepting possibly the
election of 1870 the pendulum has swung
from side to side with each four years.
In 1872 the Republican parry elected the
President; in 1876 the Democracy claimed
the election; in 1880 the Republican party
elected; in 1884 the Democrats elected;
in 1888 the Republicans elected; in 1892
the Democrats elected; in 1896 (until with
in few weeks) it has been conceded that
tbs Republicans would elect What has
been the cause of the mighty oscillation of
a mass which this year has probably OBJ
tanned controlling proportions? Every man
can answer to himself IF he has been an
observer, if he has had interests that were
affected, if he has felt hope to see greater
justice done and has seen that hope blasted,
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 so soon as
the election was over and successful candi-
dates were installed they became the ser
vitors of the party and the advocates of a
narrow and progressive policy, within
which alone there seemed to be an assur-
ance of selfish safety and partisan 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 de-
partment of physical life there have been
developments and achievements of ease and
comfort 10 the favored of mankind, in the
still greater and more important domain of
social reform we have stood still or retro
gressed
ALLEGIANCE TO ORGANIZATION.
1t is not that the people have not felt
that stirring of determination that this in
action has endured, but because of the
rule of party which has largely controlled
men in and out of Office 1t has become
a source Of reproach to any man that he
should dare to renounce allegiance to or
ganization. Men have been expected to
submit their views to the dictation of con-
ventions, although it is common knowledge
that conventions have been swayed to
views and declarations not the most APP
proved by the mass of the people nor pro-
gressive for their welfare
A DUTY TO THE COUNTRY.
We do not arrogate to ourselves one iota
more of intelligence, patriotism or courage
than is possessed by any of our fellow citi-
zens, but we feel that the time has come
for the performance of duty to the coun-
try, and, for our part, though we stand
alone, we viii make an endeavor in the di-
rection of that duty. Parties may outlive
their usefulness; the truth never becomes
obsolete Every general contention of
freemen has the right to affirm the truths
of past knowledge and present acquire
uent, and if the enforcement Of these
truths shall make necessary departure
from party organization, the people have
this right and will exercise it until old par
ties shall return to the truth or new par
ties shall be created to effect it into law.
THE APPOINTED TIME.
If the voices which have sounded to us
from every State in this Union are an indi-
cation 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 achievement of
Justice. But whether we are mistaken or