The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-06-20

still greater and more important domain
of social reform we have stood still or
retrogresSed.
1t is not that the people have not felt
the STRINGS of determination, that this
inaction has endured; but because of the
rule of party which has largely controlled
men in and out of office. 1t has become a
source of reproach to any man that he
should dare to rcnOunCe all allegiance to
organization. Men have been expected to
submit their views to the dictation of
conventions, although it Is common
knowledge that conventions have been
swayed to views and declarations not the
most approved by the mass of the people
nor progressive for their welfare.
Truth Never Becomes Obsolete.
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 of a duty to
| the country and for our part, though we
shall stand alone, we will make an en-
deavOr in the performance of that duty
Parties may outlive their usefulness; the
truth never becomes obsolete. Every gen
| Grafton 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 depaIt-
| ure from party organization. the people
have this right and will exercise it until
other parties shall be created to effect it
into law.
If the voices which have sounded to us
| from every state in the Union are an indi-
cation of the real feeling, this year is the
appointed time for the people 10 assert
| themselves, through such mediums rs
| may give best promise of the achievement
| of justice. But whether we are mistaken
| or not concerning the general sentiment
| In the l nited States, we have not mis-
taken our own duty in withdrawing from
| the Republican convention, feeling 1T Is
better to be right and with the minority
in apparent defeat than to be wrong with
| the majority in apparent triumph.
Money Reform the First Requisite.
| WehOld that in the great work OF social
evolution in this country, monetary re-
| form 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 tlnan-
cial system will bring down upon the
American people that cloud of impending
|
thought of statesmen and the first prayer
of patriots Our very institutions are 1T
stake. Today, with the rapidly increas-
ing population, with widely swelling de-
mands the basis of our money is srelatively
contracting; and the people are passing
intoa servitude all the more dangerous
because it is not physically apparent. The
nation itself, as to other nations Is losing
the sturdy courage which could make 1t
@ss4sant in the face If inj ustice and internal |
wrong.
All Shrink From Giving Ofense.
From the farmer and tradesman to the
government there is apparent the shrink
ing from giving offense, lest the ven
geance of some offended financial power
should descend The business man sub
mits some portion of his Judgment and
his WILL and the nation submits some
portion of it's international right lest son e
mighty foreign creditor shall make de-
structive demands Where will all this
end if the people shall decline to assert
themselves Where will it end if the
older parties. in their determination to
maintain themselves in power for power g
sake alone, shall refuse to recognize the
right and the hope of humanity? This
|
and independent against all the rest Of the
world, nor can its people much longer be
free in the noblest sense Of the term if the
United States II debtor nation, shall fol-
low policy dictated by creditor nations,
We produce all Of the necessaries of life.
Other nations consume our product In
the race for existence it is Il constant
Struggle Between Producer and Consumer.
Our present system of money deliberately
submits to the desire and the profit of
creditor nations, leaving us in the mass
and as individuals, prey to the money
gathering and the deadly cheapening OF
the old world. AS the debt to creditors
increases on the masses Of the nations, the
price of human production on the farm
and in the workshop is decreased with
appalling rapidity, exacting more and
more toll from our citizens to meet the
given demand and holding over theil
heads threat of the day when confisca
; ton to meet their obligations will leave
them bare and defenseless. The only rem
; edy is to stop falling prices-the deadliest
curse Of national life. Prices will never
cease falling under the gold standard.
What Bimetallisn viii DO.
The restoration of bimetallism by thi.
country will double the basis of our money
. system In time 1t will double the stock
of primary money Of the world-will stol
, falling prices and steadily elevate then
until they will regain their normal rela
: ton to the volume Of debts and credits IL
the world. Bimetallism will bring abou
. the great hope of every social reformer
D every believer in the advancement Of th'
race who realizes that the instability o
: prices has been the deadly foe of our toll
) ers and the ser want Of the foreign interes
. gatherer Bimetallism will help bring tn
time when certain expenditure of hu
man toll will produce certain financia
result Who among the great masses 0
our people In the United States but wha
feels his lot would be made better, hi
; aspirations take new wings, If he coul'
' know in the performance of his labor wha
\ would be the price of his product:
= Is 1t Not Worth Attention?
i L. not this purpose worth the attention
t of political conventions yet to be held il
Q this year of 1876? Is not this so great a
8 end that all who believe in the possibilit
Of attaining it by the means Droposed ca