Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-10

port of the majority to which they can
not give their assent. Some of these are
wholly unnecessary. Some are ill-con-
sidered and ambiguously phrased, while
others are extreme and revolutionary of
the well-recognized principles of the par
ty
1.-The minority content themselves with
this general expression of their dissent
without going into specific statement
of these Objectionable features of the re-
port of the majority. But upon the fl
nancial question. which engages at this
time the chief share of public attention,
the views of the majority differ so fun
damentally from what the minority re-
gard as vital democratic doctrine as to
demand a distinct statement of what
they hold to as the only just and true ex-
preston of democratic faith upon this
important issue as follows, which is Of
fered as a substitute for the financial re-
port of the majority:
I'VE declare our belief that the expert
ment on the part of the United States
alone of free silver coinage and change in
the existing standard of value tndepend-
emily of the action of other great nations
would not only imperil our finances, but
would retard or entirely prevent the es-
tablishment of International bimetal-
lism, to which the efforts of the govern
ment should be- steadily directed. 1t
would place this country at once upon
silver basis, impair contracts, dis
turD BUSINESS, Qlnl1DlSn t1e puICIdSlIlS
power of the wages of labor and infiict
irrepara BILE evils upon our nations COM
merce and industry.
until International corporation
among leading nations for the coinage of
silver can be secured we favor the rigid
maintenance of the existing gold stand
ard as essential to the preservation of
our national credit, the redemption of
our public pledges and the keeping In
violate of our countrys honor. We in
sist that all our paper currency shall be
kept at a parity with gold. The demo-
cratic party is the party of hard money,
and is opposed to legal tender
! paper money as part OF our
permanent financial system. and
we, therefore, favor the grad
ual retirement and cancellation OF all
United States notes and treasury notes
under such legislative provisions as will
prevent undue contraction. We demand
that the national credit shall be resolute-
ly maintained at all times and under all
circumstances.
of the majority is defective in failing to
make any recognition of the honesty,
economy, courage and fidelity of the pres
ent democratic administration, and they,
therefore, offer the following declaration
as an amendment to the majority report:
1--WE commend the honesty, economy,
courage and fidelity of the present demo-
cratic national administration.
"Signed David B. HILL New York; Will
liam F. Villas, Wisconsin; George Gray,
Delaware; ] ohm Prentiss Poe, Maryland;
Irving W. Drew, New Hampshire; c. Q.
Holman, Maine; P.-J. Farrell, Vermont;
sLynde Harrison, Connecticut; David N.
Baker, Rhode Island; Thomas l.. c. Wea-
DOCK Michigan; James O'Brien, Mime
sofa; John E. Russell, Massachusetts,;
Robert E. Wright Pennsylvania; Will
Ham r. Steel, South Dakota; Allen Nc
Dermott, New Jersey"
The amendment indorsing the admins
tration of Cleveland as read was cheered.
Mr. Whitney rose with the New York
delega ton, but Mr.. Hill retained his seat.
The amendments proposed to be offered
by Senator Hill were then read as fol-
lows:
First amendment "But 1t should be
carefully provided by law, at the same
time, that any change in the monetary
standard should not apply to existing
contracts"
Second amendment: "Our advocacy OF
the independent free coinage of silver be-
ing based on the belief that such coinage
will effect and maintain parity between
gold and silver at the ratio of 16 to l, we
declare as pledge of our sincerity that
If such free coinage shall fail to affect
such parity within year from it's enact
ment into law, such coinage shaffthere-
upon be suspended"