Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-06-25
APPEAL. FOR SILVER.
T~7enty-Six Delegates to the Republican
Convention Issue an Appeal to the Coun-

Convention Appeal
try.
ST. LOUIS. June 2O-The silver men
had a conference yesterday and issued
the subjoined address which was
signed by 20 delegates to the national
repu blican convention:
To the People of the United States: Obey
ing the call Of duty and justified by the COM
mon citizenship OF this republic, we address
this communication to the people and the
forthcoming conventions of the United States
In doing so we claim authority right
other than that which belongs to every man to
express personal convictions: but respect
fully solicit the cooperation of all who believe
that the time has come for return to the
simpler and more direct methods OF naming
men for national services than has obtained in
recent years
Recognizing the value and the splendid
achievements of political parties in this
country. elsewhere, we are yet constrained
to believe that for more than 20 years no one OF
them has been entirely sufficient for the needs OF
people. The great trel. to better things rest
ing in the heart and the purpose of all men,
has been stayed during the latter part of this
generation by the failure of parties to express
in their achievements the highest hope and
aspiration of the mass of the people who con-
titute the parties. And there has been grow
ing in this country-Swelling with each recur-
renee OF the national election-a great mass OF
independent thinkers and voters. which. fail
ing in itself to control, has gravitated between
the two parties.
What has been the cause of this mighty
oscillation of mass which this year has
probably obtained controlling proportions?
Every man can answer to himself. If he
nas been an observer, if he has had inter
ests that were affected: il he has felt a
nope TO see greater justice done and has
that hope blasted: If he knows that
che general diSSatisfac tion has arisen from
the fact that the party promises made were
broken to the people by party performance he
knows that soon as the election was over and
fnl data inst cd how hnOl M
the ServitorS of the party and the advocates OF
a narrow and nom progressive policy within
which alone there seemed to be an assurance
of selfish safety and partisan approval.
We hold that in the great work of social evo-
luton in this country monetary reform stands
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
upon the American people that cloud OF i'm
pending evil. to avert which should be the first
thought of statesmen and the first prayer of pa
trlotS- Our very institutions are at stake
To-day, with rapidly increasing population,
with widely swelling demands, the basis OF our
money is relatively contracting and the people
are passing into a servitude all the more
dangerous because it is not physically APP
parent. The nation itself. as to other ma
lions, is losing the sturdy courage which
could make it defiant in the face OF injuS-
tice and internal wrong. From the farmer
and the tradesman to the government there
is apparent the same shrinkage from CIV
ing offenSe. lest the vengeance OF some Of
Tended financial power should descend. The
business man submits some portion of his
Judgment and his will, ana the nation submits
some portion of its international right, lest
some mighty foreign creditor shall make de-
structive demands. Where will all this end
If the people shall decline assert them
selves? Where will it end if the older parties
in their determination to maintain themselves
in power for powers sake alone shall refuse to
recognize the right and the hope OF humanity?
longer free
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, a debtor nation, shall follow policy
dictated by creditor nations. We produce all
the necessaries of life Other nations consume
our products. In the race for existence it is a
constant struggle between producer and con-
sumner. Our present system of money
deliberately submits to the desire and the
profit of creditor nations, leaving in the
mass and as individuals, prey to money gath
ering and the deadly cheapening of the old
world.
The on1v remedy is to stop falling prices
the deadliest curse of national life. Prices
| will never cease falling under the single gold
| standard. The restoration of bimetaIlism by
this country will double the basis of our
money system. In time it 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. Bimetallsm will help to bring about
the great hope OF every social reformer, every
believer in the advancement OF the race who
realizes that the instability of prices has been
the deadly foe of our tOilerS and the servant OF
the foreign interest gatherer. Bimetalism
will held to bring the time when certain ex-
penditure of human toll will procure certain
financial result.
Who among the g. eat masses OF our people
in the United States, but feels that his lot
would be better his aspiration take new wings
1fshe could know in the performance of his la
Dor what would be the price OF his product?
ut is in the hope that the masses and the re-
naming conventions will have the courage
and the generosity to unite for this purpose
that we have dared to offer views to the
people of the United States. and because in
the past there has lacked rallying point for
the masses who hold we do to this belief,
we venture to act, trusting that it will be re-
ceIved in the same spirit of Cancellation, con-
cession and hope with which we put it forth.
With this in view. we offer to the forthcom-
ing conventions and to the people the name of
man for the presidency of the United States
whose life in public and in private represents
those distinguished virtues which adorned the
| days and the deeds OF the earlier time of this
republic. a return to which virtues Is requisite
for the pros perity and contentment of the peo-
pie and the perpetuity and commanding exc
ample of free Institutions. That name is
Henry NJ. Teller, of the people and
for the people He is of section His
| experience and service, his devotion to the
common justice and-the common cause OF his
| fellow citizens has been wide as the coun-
try. We believe that the people of the United
States have him in their hearts as he has had