St. Paul daily globe., 1896-02-17
MOTIFS BON MOT.
HEAD OF THE SILVER PARTY
MAKES AN APPEAL TO THE
PEOPLE.
TIRED OF POLITICAL LINES
CALLS ON ALL TO RALLY TO THE
SILVER STANDARD REGARD
LESS OF PARTY.
TIRED OF POLITICAL LINES
ALL ILLS ARE TO BE CURED
| By the Restoration of White Metal
to the Place it Occupied in
Ancient Times.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-J. ]. Mott,
chairman of the national committee
of the silver party, has issued the
following address to the people:
AS chairman Of the national committee, ap
pointed by the silver conference lately as
sembled 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 should make some state
ment to the people in reference to it.
AS the necessity Of money as medium of
exchange became revealed to the minds Of
men, the two metals finally accepted as the
most suitable for money were silver and gold.
This was natural because they were the two
most precious metals adapted to the purpose
and were sufficiently limited as to quantity.
AS mining has developed the fact that these
two metals existed in the earth in almost
certain proportions, a natural ratio of value
was assumed. This ratio has continued ar
ranged by man under the natural order as he
found 1t. 1t was accepted by mankind a
part of the grand plan upon which the world
was to move, and approved by the philosophy
and common sense of all ages. From this con-
dltion OF regular order and contentment, con-
tributing to the gradual 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 ruthessy
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 monetZation begun. AS monetization has
been narrowed, money has become scarcer in
proportion and as money became scarcer
prices fell in proportion, and falling prices
have been the bane of this world. 1t pre-
dicted after the decentralization of silver that
great suffering would follow. This suffering
is already here. From a contraction of the
currency, we are now In the throes of one
of these desperate stages of human experience
a period of heartache, canker and sleepless
nights s, as the The foundation of prices have
crumbled The country is confronted by a
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.
THEoRIZING IS FUTILE.
The agitation of the money question must
be settled by peaceful methods that will give
practical results. Long, patient and dispas-
sionate reflection has convinced that an
Independent American financial system is
absolutely necessary to the restoration of ma
tional prosperity and the establishment of
commercial conditions in this country that
will give t.. common people-the agricult-
ural and laboring casses-an equal show
with capital and concentrated wealth. How
can IL be effected? Can it be done through
either the Republican or Democratic party
as now constituted? No. Both organizations
are under the blighting influence of the East
ern money power. The record of every ma
tfonal convention of both parties for years
is plain proof of the assertion. The legisla-
ton of both parties of congress is proof that
it is impossible as 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 platform declarations?
Shall we longer submit to the academic dis
cussion of what bimetallism means? Shall it
be another campaign of straddling and equiv
ocation? Or shall the issue be squarely on
the free coinage of silver and gold and a
president elected who represents the people on
that great question?
The first step-the essential preliminary
to the correction Of present abuses, the re-
establishment of national prosperity and the
election of a president whose Andrew Jack
son courage and infleXible integrity will de-
fy the influence that prostitutes presidents
and cabinets and makes the administration
of the government a subject of humiliation
and reproach.
Strong in character and intention as may
be the standard bearer of the Republican or
Democratic party in the coming campaign,
it will hardly be possible for him to rise
above influences that secured his nomination,
or the environments that must surround him
in the event of his election. The one hope
of the people, / am convinced, is in the elec-
ton of a president pledged, uncondtionally
and unreservedly, to the free and unlimited
coinage of silver and gold, the same as from
the foundation of government until 1873
And also Internationally pledged in favor of
a national currency, without the Intervention
of banks of issue and against the issuance
of Understanding bonds in time of peace
for any purpose whatever.
| appeal not only to Republicans In my own
state who can appreciate the sacrifice l make
in renouncing party obligations on this ques-
tion in advance of party action in the prem
ises but to the people throughout the country
without regard to party to cooperate in this
great non-partisan patriotic American move
ment to sustain the industrial and financial
independence of the United States in the
pending