The herald., 1896-07-23
And Take Prompt Steps to
Obtain 1t
HENLANDS. TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN
Opens the Ball in Favor q
Fusion
MR.. ST. JOHN FOLLOWS SUIT
When Called Upon to Preside as Perma.
nent Chairman
Mr.. ST. JOHN FOLLOWS SUIT
The Only Question Is as to Means of Securlsg
Endorsement
There Was Not Overmuch Enthusiasm and
Very Few Spectators, but the Action
Taken Promises to b
Effective
Associated Press Special Wire.


ST. LOUIS, July 22.-The delegates Of
the National Silver organization were
late in assembling at Grand Music hall
this morning. and there were not enough
spectators to fill the galleries when J.
J. Mott, chairman of the national COM
mittee, called the convention to order.
When Chairman Mott came forward
to call the convention to order, the dele
gates for moment ceased the use of
their fans, reused themselves from the
torpor caused by the awful heat, and
indulged in some cheering.s
Prayer was offered. after which Miss
Lille B. Pierce OF this city read the
declaration Of independence, causing
another outburst of applause.
When the call for the convention had
been read. Francis G. Newlands of Me-
vada was introduced by Chairman Mott
as temporary chairman. Though the
galleries We're almost vacant, the dele
gates gave him vigorous reception.
In taking the chair Mr.. Newlands
said in part:
NEwLANDS SPEECH.
1.-THE national Silver party meets to-
day to determine what course will best
advance the cause which we have at
heart. The Republican party has de-
clared for the gold standard, save so
far as it's disastrous consequences may
| be averted by an international adjust
ment with the leading commercial ma
| tionS of the world. Practically this
means gold monometallism, for under
| the system of finance inaugurated by
| Harrison and continued by Cleveland.
| silver is denied it's time-honored use as
redemption money, and has become sim
ply the material upon which Is stamped
a gold promise. And so our greenbacks.
our treasury notes and silver certif1-
Gates, instead of being money, have
been turned into a gold debt, and the
primary money of the country is con-
fined to the limited amount of gold,
approximating $500, 900, 900, which an ad-
verse balance of trade is constantly de-
pleting, with all the attendant ills of
continuing bond issues.
'The Democratic party has declared
for the free and unlimited coinage OF
silver at a ratio of 16 to without wait
ing for international action. Whilst it
has made other declarations in it's plat
form, it has announced that the silver
question is the paramount issue of tho
day, and that to it are to be subordinat-
ed all other questions. 1t has nominated
candidate of unimpeachable charac-
ter, of exalted ability, of inflexible in
tegrty of high purpose, who has never
faltered for a moment in his devotion
to the cause of bimetallism. Firm, but
not headstrong; constant, but not self
sufficient; near to the people, but not
demagogic; determined for reform, yet
without single incendiary speech or
| passionate utterance to mar his record:
possessing a happy combination Of the
oratorical and logical qualities, young,
| courageous and enthusiastic, yet de-
| liberate and wise, he stands as the
| ideal candidate of movement which.
| though termed a movement for reform,
| really means return to the wise con-
| servatism Of our fathers.
The issue has been presented by a
| party which has been recently discredit-
ed before the country by the financial
and industrial disturbances which it has
created through the repeal of the Sher-
| man act, and by threatened and actual
| tariff legislation. Dragged into finan-
cial agitation by the determined will of
| an executive whom it has since repudi-
| ated, it proposes not merely to reverse
| existing legislation already enacted, but
| to go further and declare for the free and
unlimited coinage of silver, and besides
| it proposes to guarantee to the country
! against further industrial disturbances
and any agitation for further changes in
| the tariff law, except such as are neces-
| sary to make up the deficit of revenue
| The latter announcement is particularly
gratifying to many of us who believe
that the silver question and moderate
protection are twin issues, that the for
mer means protection to the American
farmer against the disastrous competi-
tion of silver countries; that the latter
means protection to the manufacturer
and his employees against the disastrous
competition of cheap foreign labor, and
that it is only by the union of the pro-
tective forces of the country, whether
in the field or the factory, for mutual
protection that the remorseless power OF
monetary contraction can be stayed.
fine the Democratic platform to the is
sues concerning which bimetallists
would not differ, thus securing the COM
plete unification of all the silver forces,
yet simple question is presented to
sincere bimetallists throughout the
country. and that is whether they will
permit differences as to non essential
issues to divide them. thus insuring the
defeat of their common cause or wheth~