The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-04-08
TO MESSRS. TOWNE. LIND AND
MANY OTHERS.

Gentlemen: You are consistent and
gold and silver. You consider this one
Of the dominant issues of the day. You
have ably taught the people how the con-
spiracy to contract and appreciate the
influences to rob and Cypress the pro-
ducing classes and depress trade and in
dustry. Your followers now look to you
as patriotic leaders of patriotic peo-
pie, to take up your and their cause on a
free coinage platform with a free coin
age party.
Up to date you have affiliated with
the Republican party. That party in
the nomination of delegates to the ma
tional convention atSt. Louis, adopted
plank expressly condemning free coin
age. 1t has taken up the New York single
thrown the Minneapolis platform of 1892
maintaining the double standard of sill
yer and gold. 1t has overthrown the
pledges of the state platform of 1894 in
favor of reinstating silver. In so doing it
has served due notice upon you and upon
all other friends and champions of free
coinage, that you are no longer wanted in
the Republican ranks and that the place
for you is in the ranks of free coinage
party.
When the old Wing party, after years
of evasion and straddling on the slavery
question, finally went over to the side of
slavery, such patriotic Wings as Abra
ham Lincoln and William H. Seward did
not hesitate to leave the party which had
overthrown their cause, and ally them
selves with the new party which in plat
form and purpose was welded to the
cause of freedom. BY this act they
demonstrated their own sincerity, patri
otism and courage, and more than that,
they made possible the victory of their
cause and the triumph of the people over
the slave power. That same courage,
sincerity and patriotism are needed IN
1896 as in 1856.
The attitude of the Republican party
toward the money power is an exact du-
plicate of the attitude of the Wing party
toward the slave power. 1t first evaded,
then straddled, and at last has gone
over to the enemy-body, soul and
breeches. The gold organs prophesy
that you will CO. too. They say that
you will surrender and recant your prin-
ciples for the sake of party. The Min
neapolis Tribune boasts that "the free
silver Republicans will come down." 1t
boasts that "Pettigrew of South Dakota,
who has been one of the most aggressive
and pestiferous of the free and unlimi-
ted coinage advocates, has been obliged
to make a complete surrender" and
Swallow Mckinley, gold standard and
ALL"
It also boasts that nov young Mr.
Towne of the sixth Minnesota district,
who jumped so jauntily into the ring
about year ago and took the contract
Of placing the Republican party upon a
free silver platform, feels impelled to give
in his adhesion to the financial plank
of the Minnesota Republican platform
adopted at Minneapolis a few days ago,
and which declares in set terms against
free and unlimited coinage of silver at
the ratio of 16 to by the United States
alone.''
The announcement is also made that
Senator Hansbrough of North Dakota
will receive the same kind of discipline
| at the hands of the Republican party"
In this connection the party organ ten
| ders to you the following consolation:
1T is bitter pill for the Republican
silver extremists to swallow-but only
one of two courses is open to them. They
! must either stand up and take their med
! icine like men: or fall outside the party
breastworks and become, as did the ban