The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-07-25


any kind of legal tender money by pri-
rate contract.
Z We hold that the power to control and
regulate a paper currency is insepara-
bic from the power TO coin money, and
hence that such currency intended to cir
.ulate as money should be issued and its
volume controlled by the government
only and should be legal tender.
We are unalterably opposed to issue
oy the United States of Understanding
bonds in time Of peace and we denounce
aS blunder worse than a. crime the
present treasury policy, concurred in by
Republican house, of plunging the
country into debts of millions in the
vain attempt to maintain the gold stand
ard by borrowing gold, and we demand
me payment of all coin obligations OF
the United States, as provided by exist
ing laws, in either gold or silver coin,
at the option of the government and
not at the option Of the creditor.
The demone ttzation Of silver in 1873,
enormously increased the demand for
old. enhancing its purchase 8 p wer
and l0v~r ng all -sOes mea.,rai by
that standard and since that unjust and
indefensible act, the prices of American
products have fallen, upon an average,
nearly so per cent, carrying down with
them prOpOrtionatly the money value of
adj forms Of property. Such fall of
prices has destroyed the profits of legi-
innate industry, inpjuring the producer
FOR the benefit of the non-producer; in
pressing the burden of the debtor swell
ing the gains Of the creditor, paralyZing
the productive energies of the American
people, relegating to idleness vast num-
bers of willing workers, sending the
shadow of despair into the homes of the
honest oiler. filling the land with tramps
and paupers, and building up colossal
fortunes at the money centers.
In the effort TO maintain the gold
standard, the country has within the
last two years, in a time of profound
peace and plenty, been loaded down with
$3.50, 100000 OF additional interest-bear-
ing bonds under such circumstances as
10 allow a syndicate of native and for
eign bankers TO realize a net profit of
millions on a single deal.
IT stands confessed that the gold
standard can only be upheld by so de-
pleting our paper currency as to force
the prices Of our products below the
European, and even below the Asiatic,
level, and enable us to sell in foreign
markets, thus aggrevalting the very
evils of which our people so bitterly
complain, degrading American labor
and striking at the foundations of our
civilization itself
TIE advocates of the gold standard
pe:'SiStently claim that the cause of our
distress is r-productiOn-that we
have produced so much that it has made
us poor, which implies that the true
remedy is 10 close the factory. abandon
the farm and throw multitude of peo-
pie out of employment; a doctrine that
leaves us unnerved and disheartened
and absolutely without hope for the
future. We affirm it to be unquestion-
cd that there can be no such economic
paradox as over-production and at the
same time ten. IF tn or~ands of our fell
low-citizens remaining half clothed and
hlf fed, and who are piteously clamor-
ing for the common necessities of life.
Escond-That, over and above all
other questions of policy, we are in IA
vor Of restoring TO the people of the
United States the time-honored money
OF the constitution-gold and silver
not one, but both-the money of Wash
tngton and Hamilton and jefferson and
Monroe, and Jackson and Lincoln, to
en- 1T the American people may
"ceive honest pay for an honest pro-
duct; that the American debtor may pay
hrs just obligations in an honest stand
ard and no Ia : standard that has de-
preciated 100 per cert above all the
great staples of our country: and to the
end, further. that silver standard coun-
tries may be deprived OF the unjust ad-
vantages they now enjoy in the differ
ence in exchange between gold and sill
ver-an advantage which tariff legisla-
ton canot overcome.
We. therefore. confidently appeal to
the people of the United States to leave
in allegiance for the moment all other
questions and sunder, If need be, all
former party ties and affiliations and
unite in one supreme effort to free them
selves and their children from the dom
ination of the money power; a power
or estruct We than any which has
ever been fastened upon civilized men
of any race or sc And upon the con-
summation of our desires and efforts we
invohe the gracious favor of Divine
Providence
Inasmuch as the patriotic majority Of
the Chicago convention embodied in the
financial plank of its platform. the prin-
ciples enunciated in the platform of the
American Biinetallic party. promulgat-
ed at Washington. D. c. Jan. 80, 1895.
ana herein reiterated, which is not only
the para mount but the only real issue
in the pending campaign: therefore,
recognizing that their nominees en-
body these patriotic principles. We re-
commend that this convention nominate
William J. Bryan OF Nebraska for presi-
dent and Arthur Sewall OF Maine for
vice president.
NOT ENDORSED But NOMINATED.
motion to adopt the platform was
made. Mr.. Hess OF Illinois objected
and a wordy wrangle followed. 1t
ended in the adoption Of the platform
II was decided by the chairman that the
recommendation regarding the nomina-
non was not a part Of the platform and
should be acted upon separately. Mr..
Page of Nebra ski moved that the con-
ven ton proceed 10 ihe nomination OF a
presidential candidate. X prevailed.
General Weaver said it would be neces-
sary TO nominate q candidate rather
Than ndcrse, in order to avoid some OF
the peculiaritiss Of state ballot laws
E E Little of Kansas nominated W.
J. Bryan OF Nebraska He said that
through a long term Of years this coun-
try had experienced depression in bust
ness that had never before been seen
on this earth. He spoke of the denial OF
the trial by jury TO American citizens
end Of the platform adopted by the Re-
publican national convention. Its pro-
positions. II carried our, would double
the debts Of the poor. 1t endorsed Gle
veland and nominated Mckinley.
Continuing he referred TO the Wall
street barons Christ" he said. for
gave the thief and pardonei the courte-
san. but the money changers he scourg-
ed from the temple
IN 1850 the country looked to the west
for a president in time OF trouble II