The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-02-19
A NATIONS VEAL.
Chairman Mott Issues an Address
to the Silver Men of the
Country.

Washington. D. c., Feb. III. J. Mott,
chairman Of the national committee OF the
silver party, has issued the following ad-
dress to the people:
LAS chairman of the national committee,
appointed by the silver conference assem-
bled 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 I should make some
statement to the people in reference to it.
GAS the necessity of money as a medium
of exchange became revealed to the minds
of men, the two metals finally accepted
as the most suitable for money were sill
yer and gold. This was natural because
they were the two most precious metals
adapted to the purpose and were sufficient
ly limited as to quantity. AS mining has
developed. the fact that these two metals
existed in the earth in almost certain pro-
portions, a natural ratio of value was as
sumed. This ratio has continued as ar
ranged by man under the natural order
as he found it. 1t was accepted by man
kind as a part Of the grand plan upon
which the world was to move, and APPROX
ed by the philosophy and common sense
of all ages.
From this condition of regular order
and contentment, contributing to the grad
ual 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
of the precious metals in the interests of
| greed and by this act the money changers
have been enthroned and the narrowing OF
| the scope of monetizatiOn begun. AS
monetization has been narrowed, money
| has become scarcer in proportions, and as
money became scarcer prices fell in pro
portion, and falling prices have been the
bane of this world. 1t was predicted after
| the decentralization of silver that great
suffering would follow.
This suffering is already here. From
contraction of the currency, we are now
in the throes Of one of these desperate
! stages of human experience, period Of
| heart ache, canker and sleepless nights
| as the foundations of prices have crumb-
| led 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
Further theorizing is futile. The agita-
| ton of the money question must give prac-
teal results. Long, patient and dispas-
sionate reflection has convinced me that an
independent American financial system is
| absolutely necessary to the restoration Of
| national prosperity. and the establishment
OF commercial conditions in this country
that will give the common people-agri-
cultural and laboring classes-an equal
| show with ca pital and concentrated wealth.
| How can it be affected? Can it be done
| through ether the Republican or Demo-
cratic party is now constituted? No. Both
| organizations are under the blighting in
fluence of the Eastern money power The
record of every national convention of bot h
parties for years is plain proof that it is
impossible as a 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
| p,atform declarations? Shall we longer
submit to the academic discussion of what
bimetalism means? Shall it be another
canlraicn of straddling and eQuivocation -?
or shall the issue be squarely on the free
coinage of silver and gold and president
elected who represents the people on that
| great question!
"The first step-the ESSENTIAL preliminary
| 70 the correction of present abuses. the re-
establishment of national prosperity and
the maintenance OF our national credit
is the election of presl ent whose Andrew
| Jackson courage and inflexble integrity
will defy the influences that prostitutes
nresidents and cabinets and make the adj
ministration of the government a subject
of humiliation and reproach.
strong in character and intention as
NAV be the standard bearer OF the Repub
loan or Democratic party in the coming
namnaign, it will hardly be possible fol
him TO raise above influences that secured
his nomination. or the environments tina
must surround him in the event of hi.
election.
..'rhe one hope of the people. I am con
vinced is in the election of a preSiden
pledged. Internationally and unreservedly
ia The, free and unlimited coinage of siive
and gold the same as fran the foundation
of our government until 1873. And also un
conditionally pledged in favor of Il ma
tional currency without the Intervention
of banks of issue and against the issuance
of interest bearing bonds in time of peac
, for any purpose whatever.
, | Il appeal not only to Republicans in m.