Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-06-25
CHAMPIONS OF SILVER,
Who Cut Loose From the Golden
Chains at st. Louis,
Issue q Manifesto to the People CalItns
Tor the Placing of Henry NJ. Teller
At the Head of q National
Silver Ticket.

delegates Thursday afternoon and
night, after much careful considers
ton, the subjoined address to the peo-
PIE OF the United States was agreed
upon and authorized to be given to the
press. While the address contains
much in the nature of silver coinage
argument, the concluding paragraphs
show the determination of the boiling
delegates to bring about the nomina-
ton, If possible, of Senator Henry NJ.
Teller. of Colorado, as the candidate
tor the presidency on a platform hav-
ing for its cardinal principle the free
and unlimited coinage of silver. The
ADDRESS in full is as follows:
The Address.
To THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES
poeying the call Of duty and justified by the
common citizenship OF this republic. We adj
dress this communication to the people and
Sne forthcoming conventions OF the United
States. In doing this we claim no authority or
right other than that which belongs TO every
man to express personal conviction: but we
respectfully solicit the cooperation OF all who
believe that the time has come for a return to
the simpler and more direct method Of naming
enen for national service than has obtained in
recent years
Political party organization is necessary. be-
cause without - the individual voter is dumb:
but the party is only the means. not the end:
u is the voice. and not the sense. AS the world
advances in this wonderful epoch of intellect
sal development and physical improvement
there is a constant requirement for better
things The individual feels that require
ment and heeds il, he fails in LIES
endeayor. Parties must also obey the
same Law. I. follows, therefore. that
the moment party shall choose to
stand still retrogress it is longer efficient
TO achieve the end to which the people are nee
essarily destined There is sanctity in
mere party name; and the mark of decay is set
on individual strength in a nation when the
absolute rule Of political organization coerces
men from the truth for the sake of expedency
and establishes iusincere submission to parti-
San rule for the sake of power
Recognizing the power and splendid achieve
ments of political parties in this country. as
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 the
people. The great trend to better things. rest
ing in the heart and 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 hopes and aspirations of the
mass of the people who constitute the
parties And there has been growing in this
country swelling with each recurrence of ma
tional election--a great mass of independent
thinkers and voters. which. failing within
itself to control. has gravitated between the
two great parties. Since 1872 excepting, pos
siblv. the election of 1876 the pendulum has
swung from side to side with each four years
In ls'2 the republican party elected the presi-
Gent; in 1876 the democracy claimed
the election; in 1850 the repub-
ncan party elected; in 1884 the demo-
Gratis elected; in 1888 the republicans elected;
1872 the democrats elected: in 1896 (until with
in a few weeks it has been conceded that the
republicans would elect What has been the
cause of this mighty oscillation of mass
which this year has probably obtained control
ling proportions: Every man can answer to
himself If he has been an observer, if he has
had interests that were affected If he has felt
hope to see greater justice done and has
seen that hope blasted, he knows
that the general dissatisfaction has
arisen from the fact that party promises made
were broken to the people by party perform
ance: he knows that soon the election
was over and successful candidates installed.
they became the servitors Of the party and the
advocates of a narrow and unprogressive pol
icy within which alone there seemed to be an
assurance OF selfish safety and partisan ap-
proval. We have lacked a great constructive
administration No new social truth has
been put forward in an effective way.
While in all the departments of phys
ical life there have been developments
and achievements of ease and comfort to the
favored of mankind. in the still greater and
important domain of social reform we have
stood still or retrogressed.
II is not that the people have not felt the
STRINGS of determination that this inaction
has entered, but because of the rule OF party
which has largely controlled men in and out OF
ONCE 1t has become source of reproach to
any man that he should dare to renounce
allegiance to organization. Men have been
expected to submit their views to the dlctation
of conventions although IL is common knowl-
edge that conventions have been swayed to
views and declarations not the most approved
by the mass Of the people nor progressive for
their welfare.
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 coun-
try, and for our part, though we shall
stand alone, We will make endeavor in the
direction of that duty. Parties may outlive
their usefulness: the truth never becomes OBJ
so,ete- Every generation of free men has the
right TO affirm the truths of past knowledge
and present requirement.: and If the enforce
ment OF these truths shall make necessary
departure from party organization. the people
have this right and will exercise it until old
parties shall return TO the truth new parties
shall be created to effect it into law.
II the voices which have sounded to us from
every state in the Union are an indication of
the real feeling. this year is the appointed
through such mediums as may give best prom
Use OF the achievement of justice. But whether
VIC are mistaken or not concerning the general
sentiment in the United States, we have not
mistaken our duty in withdrawing from the
republican convention. feeling that it is better
to be right and with the minority in apparent
defeat than to be wrong with the majority in
apparent triumph
We hold that in the great work Of social
evolution in this country monetary reform
STANDS as the first requisite No policy, how
ever 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 impending evil. TO avert which
should be the first thought of statesmen and
the first prayer of patriots Our very institu-
tions are at stake To-day with the rapidly
increasing population. with widely swelling
demands the basis of our money
is relatively contracting: and the people ere
passing into a servitude all the more danger
ous because it is not ply Sically apparent The
nation itself is losing the sturdy courage
which could make it defiant in the face OF in
Justice and international wrong. From the
farmer and the tradesman to the government
there IS apparent the same shrinking
from giving ofenSe. lest the vengeance
OF some offended financial power shall
descend. The business man submits
some portion of his international right
lest some mighty foreign creditor shall make
destructive demands Where will all this end
II the people shall decline to assert them
selves. Where will it end II the older parties.
in their determination to maintain themselves
in power for powers sake alohe. shall refuse
10 recognize the right and the hope of hu-
manity:
This country can not much longer exist free
and independent against all the rest o. the
world nor can it's people much longer be free
in the noblest sense OF TIE term If the United
sSeht M Oh N