Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-07-23
THE SILVER CONVENTION.

| flames.
THE SILVER CONVENTION.
The free silver convention in St.
Louis yesterday appointed committee
to confer with the convention of the
peoples party and started in on the
preparation of platform and of an ad-
dress to the American people. Thirty
two States were represented on the
floor of the convention by about $50
delegates.
The following telegram was received
from Senator Teller: "The money ques-
ton overshadows all other questions.
On its rightful determination depends
the prosperity of the people and the
perpetuity of republican institutions.
All other questions must be subordi-
nate to it. A vote for Bryan and Sew
all is vote for Industrial and financial
independence OF the American people
from foreign domination and control,
and they should have the support of all
opponents of the gold standard.
A motion to take recess caused
some discussion. Judge Scott, of Ne
braska, suggested an adjournment until
to-day at 10 a. N. There was no ne
cessity, he said, of being in hurry in
this matter. 1t took the republican
party q whole week in that city to
marry Grover Cleveland, and the dem
ocratic party a week in Chicago to get
a divorce from him. Laughter
The Virginia delegation last night
adopted resolution favoring the NOM
nation of Bryan upon the platform
which the convention shall adopt,
without demanding any terms in re-
| spect to patronage. The resolution
was carried by vote of SO to -.
The committee on resolutions of
the silver party convention met last
night, and subcommittee was ap-
pointed to recommend the platform
passed at the Washington, D. c., BIZ
metallic conference in January last.
There was hard fight on the part of
Gen. Warner, the Ohio member, for the
Endorsement of the democratic silver
plank in toto, but by vote of 16 to 3
the sub. committee was instructed to re-
port the following platform:
The national silver party, in conyen-
ton assembled, hereby adopt the fol-
lowing declaration of principles:
First-The paramount issue at this
time in the United States is indisputa-
bly, the money question. 1t is between
the gold standard, gold bonds, and
bank currency on the one side and the
bimetallic standard, no bonds, and gov
eminent currency on the other. On
this issue we declare ourselves to be in
favor of distinctively American fnan-
cial system. We are unalterably op.
posed to the single gold standard, and
demand the immediate return to the
constitutional standard of gold and sill
yer, by the restoration by this govern
ment, independently ofany foreign pow.
er, of the unrestricted coinage of both
gold and silver into standard money, at
the ratio of 16 to l, and upon terms Of
exact equality, as they existed prior to
1873; the silver coin to be full legal
tender, equality with gold, for all debts
and dues, private and public, and we
favor such legislation as will prevent for
the future the demonstration of any
kind of legal tender money by private
contract.
We hold that the power to control
and regulate paper currency is in
separable from the power to coin
money; and hence that all currency in
tended to circulate as money should be
issued, and its volume controlled by the
general governments only, and should be
legal tender.
We are unalterably opposed to the is
sue by the United States of interest
bearing bonds in time of peace, and we
denounce as q blunder worse than
crime the present Treasury policy, con-
Cured in by republican House, of
plunging the country in debt by hun
dreds of millions in the vain attempt to
maintain the gold standard by borrowing gold
and we demand the payment ofall coin obliga- |
tons of the United States, as provided by
existing laws, in either gold OF silver coin,
at the option of the government, and not at
the option of the creditor.
Second-That over and above all other ques- |
tions of policy, we are in favor of restoring to
the people Of the United States the time
honored money of the Constitution-gold and |
silver, not one, but both-the money of Wash |
ington, and Hamilton, and Jefferson and |
Monroe and Jackson and Lincoln, to the end |
that the American people may receive honest |
pay for an honest product that the American |
debtor may pay his just obligations in an hon. |
est standard, and not in standard that has |
appreciated 100 per cent. above all the great |
staples of our country; and to the end, furth- |
or, that the standard countries may be de- |
prived of the unjust advantage they now on
joy in the difference In exchange between
gold and silyer-an advantage which tariff |
legislation alone cannot overcome.