The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1896-04-23
MAJORITY FOR SILVER
The Great Mass of Our People Believe
in Bi Metallism.
WE MUST UNITE OUR FORCES
The Gold MoDO- Metallists Hold Power
Only Through Their Success in
Keeping the Friends of
Silver Divided.
E MUST UNITE OUR FORCES

1t is firmly believed, says the Phil |
adelphia American, that those believ-
ing in bi-metallism form Il great ma
jority of our people and that if all bi-
metallists could be brought to unite Oh
a common platform and common can
didate they would sweep the country.
1t IS, therefore, our first and most i'm |
portant task to unite our forces, SO that |
the votes cast by those believing that
the restoration Of prosperity is bound
up with the restoration of bi-metallism
be not scattered and our voting strength
wasted.
The gold mono -metallists have taken
we'll to heat the old maxim "Divide
and Rule and it is on their faith in
their ability to divide the forces of
those insisting on the restoration Of BIZ
metallism by independent action on the
part Of the United States and without
waiting for the consent or cooperation
Of any foreign power, into different
and warning factions, that they pin
their hopes of victory next November.
Ever since silver was demonetized in
1913 the gold contractionists have sue
| ceeded i'll dividing, and thus nulli-
flying the voting strength Of those de-
manding the restoration Of silver to its
place as money. By dividing the
forces Of their opponents they have sue
ceeded since 1907, when, as it be-
came known that the mint act of Feb
| l,l I'll ~
lar from the list of coins, the demand
for the restoration of silver became
general in preventing the re-opaning
Of oar mints to the free coinage of sill
ver And what they have succeeded
in doing in the past they expect to sue
ceed i'll doing in the future.
Though numerically weak the gold
contractionists have had, and have
the strength that is born of unity of
action and purpose, and which is ire
sistible when directed against a divided
opposition. By dividing the bi-metal-
lists against themselves the gold mono
metallists have been enabled to hold
the balance of power and to dictate the
financial policy Of the country. Our
people have time and :gain elected rep
resentatives pledged to work for the
restoration of i-metallism, but lack
ing organization, without leadership,
unable to agree Oh a common plan Of
action among each other and conse-
quently working at cross purposes,
their efforts have been futile. In 1878
the presidential veto and fiually com
promise defeated free coinage, and
again in 1890 compromise was the
weapon successfully used by the gold
mono -metallists to combat those work
ing for the reconciliation of silver.
The chosen representatives of the
people failing year after year to carry
out their pledges, the people have ma
leaders. And taking advantage Of this
the gold mono metallists are doing all
in their power to foment such jeal-
Ousies and mutual distrust between the
bi-metallists who have hitherto acted
with the different parties as to make
the union OF their forces impossible
By harbOring such mutual distrusts and
jealOusies the bi-metallists among all
parties are playing into the hands of
the gold no-cOnstractiOnists.
Those of all parties who believe that
the restoration of silver to it's place as
money can alone bring prosperity to
our producing classes must put aside
mutual dislikes and petty jealousies
cease to work at cross purposes and
unite their forces Unless they do so
their efforts will be fruitless. If the
money cliques can succeed in keeping
-metaiillsts who have hitherto acted
with republican or democratic or pop
ulist parties apart, and at loggerheads
with each other, their plan Of cam
paign so persistently and successfully
followed of "Divide and Rule will
again be crowned with success.
divide and Rule is the subtle plan
lists. Bi-metallists can only success
fully combat it by taking we'll to heart
and acting on the old rallying cry Of
the patriots Of 1776, "United We
Stand, Divided We Fall. - United and
working with fixed and concentrated
purpose the bi-metallistic strength will
be irresistible divided it will be pow
erless. A common platform must be
adopted and a candidate nominated for
president, standing for an American
policy. for financial and industrial as
we'll as political independence-for the
restoration of silver to its place as
money at the ratio of Is to 1 by the in
dependent action of the United States,
and for government control over all is
sues of paper money. Such candi-
date, standing on such platform,
would command the united and cheer
full support of those of all parties op-
posed to foreign dictation and the
party-let it be called the American
party-putting forward such platform
and such candidate would sweep the
country. But let it ever be kept in
mind that SO long as there is division
in our own ranks the money cliques
will rule