The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-03-19

MAJ. WILSON IN COMMAND
ALMOST SOLID FOR SILVER

Platform OF ZeDuiOn ..
| Vance.
| Morganton, n c., March 16. (Spe-
cial) The non-partisan silver conyen-
| ton called to meet here to-day was
| largely attended. There were many
Democrats and Populists present and
a few Republicans, and the resolutions
we're adopted with but one dissenting
voice, and that a Republican. Col. c..
Houk, eN-Democratic member Of the
Legislature, was made chairman of the
| meeting. Prior to this MIR. John H.
Pearson read the call and made few
pertinent remarks. Jerome Hicks was
made Secretary.
Maj. James w. Wilson was chairman
of the committee on Resolutions, and
while the committee was out Mr.. Jim
Gudger, OF Dunconbe, made a speech
that was very witty and entertaining.
In presenting the resolutions Maj.
Wilson made a very sensible talk of
about half an hour. He was followed
by Mr.. VIII Pearson who denounced
the administration financial policy
in very severe terms.
The resolutions adopted are as fol-
lows:
THE RESOLUTIONS.
1t was resolved
|. That the interest and happiness OF
every producer, laborer and debtor in
the land is largely bound up in and de-
pendent upon the triumph of the silver
cause, and the consequent overthrow
of the wicked and unconstitutional
method devised by the minions of cap
ital to destroy the work of our fore
fathers and fasten upon us the single
gold standard of England.
2. That while we are assembled
neither to sever old party ties nor to
form new ones, we believe, that in the
coming campaign the question,
whether the mints of this country shall
be opened for the coinage of silver, in
the ratio of 10 TO and to their full ca
pacity. will be considered by the people
devoted to agriculture as paramount to
all other issues, and that farmers. who
have felt the curse of the single stand
ard shrinkage in the diminished values
Of their homes, and in the inadequate
remuneration of their toll, viii not
tolerate an attempt ON the part of any
party to deceive them with janus-faced
planks in their platform or uncertain
or deceptive delivelances upon this
vital subject.
3. We ask no novel legislation, we
advocate no financial experiment, we
urge no new policy, but desire and de-
sign to reinstate the law in force from
the time of !, ashington to the time of
Grant, and insist, that money good
from the days of Abraham till the
financial reign of John Sherman will
maintain its parity in the old ratio, if
the hand of hostile Legislation and I'M
friendly administration be once re-
moved.
a. We denounce as unjust, unprece-
dented and oppressive the attempt to
fix the gold standard upon MS at a cost
of S263, 100000 of Understanding
bonds in single year, and we condemn
all persons in authority in every de-
partment Of the government, who have
lent their influence to this wicked
scheme to further enslaye the people
by subjectfng their land and labor TO
such mortgage and to deprive them
of the power to resist the sway of Ma
tional banks by needless reduction of
the currency issued by the govern
ment. But we commend TO public con
fdence the gallant defenders of the
white metal-the money of the poor
man and the producing nations who
in the Senate of the United States have
withstood the temptations of patron
age and the abuse of that portion Of
the press controlled by capital and
have adhered with fidelity to the cause
of the people.
5. We cannot close our eyes to the
fact, that popular Indignation has been
justly aroused against the policy of the
present administration in discrediting
silver and enhancing the value of gold
and allying itselfwith the leaders of the
party nominally opposed to it to carry
out its plans. We believe that the re-
volt against our own State government,
the overthrow Of those in power in
Maryland, and the marked changes in
political sentiment in other States are
unmistakeable evidences of purpose to
rebuke the disposition in high places
to yield to the dictation of banks and
chambers of commerce in the admins
tration of the financial affairs Of the
government.
D. we denOunce as an effort to mislead
and deceive the people of North Caro-
lima any attempt TO compromise by
providing for limited coinage, con-
fined to fixed amount or to the pro-
duct OF the mines of the Northwest, be-
cause of the fact, that our interest as
an agricultural people depends not
upon consuming the output of particu-
lar mines but upon doubling the
amount of redemption money and re-
storing the old values of our lands, our
crops and our labor.
r. We solennly pledge our best efforts
10 promote the restoration of silver to
the functions performed by it before
the ubiquitous legislation of 1873, re-
serving TO ourselves the right TO exer-
else our best judgment as to the means
OF accomplishing the end. We believe,
that in pursuing the course marked