The morning times., 1896-01-24
BUILD THEIR PLATFORM
Silver Men Adopt an Address
kllng Old Lines.
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLE
They Denounce the Demonstration of
Silver, DepFecate the Gold Basis,
and Bla me All Evils on These Condi-
Unconstitutional Bank Circulation
Another Cause of Regret.

The convention of free silver advocates,
] now in session here. last night gave out
the following address, after the commit
tee on organization had reported in favor
| OF a Convention in ST. Louis on July %:
The paramount issue at this tine in the
Uniteu states is Inuisputabiy the money
question. IL is Letween the gold standard,
gold bonds and bank currency on the one.
s.,4e ;tiii tiic bifleia!JC STANDARD, no bonds
and government currency on TIE other.
On this issue we declare ourselves 10 be
in iayor OF Il distinctive American financial
system. We are uDaiterably opposed to
Tie single gOId stanG2ru and demand the
immaculate return TO the Constitutional
standard of goid ana silver by the Iesiora-
tion by This government, independently OF
any iorelgn power, OF Tie unrestricted
coinage or both gold and silver into
standard money at the ratio or 10 TO l
ana upon terms OF exact equality, as they
existed prior 10 1873; tie silver Coin to
ne "A 1Un legal tender, equally with gold,
for all debts and dGes, public and private.
AGAINST THE BANKS.
We hold tnat the power 10 control and
regulate paper currency Is inseparable
from the power to coin money, ana hence
that all currency intended 10 circulate as
money should be issued. and its volume cun-
trolied, by the general government ouly,
and should be legal tender.
We are unalterabiy opposed to the issue
by the United states or Understanding
bonds in time Of peace, and we denounce is
Il blunder worse than u crime, the present
Treasury policy. concurred in by kepub
iican House, OF plungIng the country in
debt by hundreds OF millions in the vain
attempt to maintain the gold standard by
borrowing gold, ana we oenounCe the pay
ment OF all coin obligations or the United
States, as provided by existing laws, in
either gold or silver coin, at the option of
the government, and not at the option OF the
creditor
The address then denounces the deinoneti-
zation of silver, the single gold standard
aliudes to the business depression. which it
charges to these conditions, and continues:
Therefore BE 1t Resolved. That over and
above all other questions of policy, we are
10 favor OF restoring to the people of the
United States the me-honored money
OF the CoBstitutio1-gold ard silver, not
one, but both--tke money or Washington
and Hamilton, and jefferson. and Monroe
and Jackson, and Lincoln, TO the end that
the American debtor may receive honest
pay Tor an honest product; the American
debtor pay his just Obligation in an honest
standard, and not In the standard that is
appreciated 100 per cent above all the
great staples of our country; and 10 the
end, further, that silver standard ceun-
tres may be deprived or the unjust adj
vantage they now ENJOY in the difference
in exchange between gold ard silver, an
advantage which tariff legislation alone
cannot overcome.
We therefore confidently appeal to the
people OF the United States To leave in
allegiance for the moment all other cues
tons, however important and even mo-
mentous they may appear, to sunder If
need be all former party Ties and affilia-
tons, and unite in one supreme effort to
free ourselves and their children from the
nominations of the money power "a pOyyer
more destructive than any which has ever
been fastened upon the civilized men OF
any race OF in any age And upon the
conSummatiOn of their desires and efforts
we invoke the gracious favor OF Divine
Providence. -t