The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-06-26
Address to the Silver Men.

When the delegates from the silver
States of the West walked out of the coll
vention at St. Louis headed by Senator
Teller, they published ringing address
to the American people giving their rea-
sons for their action. The following ex-
tract contains the pith of the Address
THE SILVER scHIsM.
We do not arrogate to ourselves one iota more
of intelligence, patriotism or courage than is
possessed by any of our fellow-citizens But we
feel that the time has come for the performance
OLA duty to the country and for our part, though
we stand alone we will make an endeavor in the
direction of that duty. Parties may outlive their
usefulness; the truth never becomes obsolete.
Every general convention of freemen has the
right to affirm the truths of past knowledge and
present requirement; and if the enforcement of
these truths shall make necessary a departure
from party organization, the people have this
right and will exercise it until old parties shall
return to the truth or new parties shall be created
to effect it into law.
If the voices which have sounded to us from
every State in this Union are an indication OF the
real feeling, this year is the appointed time for
the people to assert themselves, through such
mediums as may give best promise OF the achieve
ment of justice. But whether we are mistaken or
not concerning the general sentiment in the
United States, we have not mistaken our own duty
in Withdrawing from the Republican convention,
feeling that it is better to be right and with the
minority in apparent defeat than to be wrong
with the majority-the majority in apparent
triumph.
We hold that in the great work of social evolu-
ton in this country, monetary reform stands as
the first requisite. No policy, however promising
of good results, can take its place. Continuation
during the next four years upon the present
financial system will bring down on the American
people that cloud of impending evil to avert
which should be the first thought of statesmen,
and the first prayer of patriots
Our very institutions are at stake. To-day, with
the rapidly increasing population with widely
swelling demands, the basis of our money is rela-
lively contracting and the people are passing into
a servitude all the more dangerous because 1t Is
not physically apparent The nation itself, as to
other nations, is losing the sturdy courage which
could make it defiant in the face of injustice and
international wrong. From the farmer and the
tradesman to the Government there is apparent
the same shrinking from giving oifense, lest the
vengeance of some offended financial power shall
descend The business man submits some portion
of his international rights lest some mighty for
eign creditor shall make destructive demands
Where will all this end if the older parties, in
their determination to maintain themselves in
mower for powers sake alone, shall refuse to rec
ognize the right and the hope of humanity.
SILVER OFFERS A PANACEA.
The only remedy is to stop falling prices, the
deadliest curse OF national life Prices never VIII
cease falling under the single gold standard. The
restoration of bimetallism by this country VIII
double the basis of our money system. IN time IL
will double the stock of primary money OF the
world will stop falling prices and steadily elevate
them until they will regain their normal relation
to the volume of debts and credits in the world.
Bimetallism will help to bring about the great
hone III every social reform every believer i'll the
advancement of the race who reallZes tnat the
instability of prices has been the deadly Zoe OF our
toilers and the servant OF the foreign interest
gatherer. ...., ~ a.,
neople as individuals and worth the attention OF
people as individuals and worth the attention OF
political conventions yet to be helu IN TINS year
1896? Is not this so great an END that al VINO
believe in the possibility of attaining IL by tne
means proposed can yield something OF tnelr
partnership, both in conventions ana NJ the poilT
1t is in the hope that the masses anu ttie Ie th
ing conventions will have the courage ana the
generosity to unite for this purpose that we nave
dared to offer our views to the people OF the
United States and because in the past tnete nus
lacked rallying point for the misses mo t nU.1
as we do to this belief. venture an act, trust
ing it will be received in the same sPirlt Oh CON
Citation. concession and hope with which we put
it forth. -. a..
matter before the ewes of our fellow -cltl2ens we
invoke the union of all men ana all parties VINO
believe that the time has come for the triumph o.
justice 1t is an hour when the people may sPea peas
for themselves as individuals, and througn con-
| ventons yet to be held. 1t IS the rlSht OF every
citizen to indicate his preference.