The indicator., 1897-02-27
THE SILVER LEADERS
THEY ADVISE ORGANIZATION
oliver Republicans IN Congress Issue an
Address Urging the Continuance OF
Work for siiverI the Party

Washington to the Republican says:
An address was issued today by the
Silver Republican senators and repre-
sentatives, setting forth their position
In politics,
The silver men will not talk much
about the address, although some of
them explain that the great purpose
In view is to have Il party to which
Republicans may 20 when they are
convinced that gold recommendation Is
to be fastened upon the country, and
that international bimctallism is the
idea of dreamers, ana worked by gold
men to deceive the people. II is claimed
that there are many Republicans who
will be looking for some party with
which they can affiliate when they see
that no prosperity will follow the cleo
tion of Mckinley or the enactment of Il
out his policies.
They viii not want To join the Demo-
cratic party. and would prefer to join
n silver Republican pnrty. to afiiilnt"
with their old associates who believe
with them in the general principles of
RepubliCInism hut who cannot stand
by the gold standard.
1t is intimated in some quarters that
fixing the party status of the men who
boltcd the Republican national convcn-
tion. They do not wish To bc known as
Populisls. or independents, nor Demo
Gratis. Some of them claim to he better
Republicans than those who are now
running the party.
I'VE are keeping the old faith" said
Mr.. Hartman, who was Instrumental
in having the address prepared and
signed.
1t is also suggested that by having
the party status of the men fixed they
Will be able to vote for the tariff bill
without making themselves too thick
with the Republicans. The demand
for duty on wool is pressing from the
silver men, and this alone viii. no
doubt, make it desirable for them to
support Il tariff bill with adequate
duty on wool. The leaders in this
movement assert that they do not cut
loose from amy party that favors silver.
but desire TO continue all alliances with
parties who favor silver.
The address was issued as the result
of meeting held at Senator Tellcr's
house last night for the organization of
the Silver Republican Party.
To Silver Republicans of the United
States There could not he better
Illustration Of the great law by which
IN free governments the rise. progress
ana decline of parties are determined
than that afforded by recent and pres
cnt political developments in the Unit
ed States. Political parties are prar-
teal instruments for executing the will
OF the people i'll respect to principles
and policies of government They
therefore represent and respond To
public opinion in its attitude toward
the problems which the experience of
the nation from time to time brings for
ward for solution. 1t is not parties
that make issues. but it is issues that
make parties.
For years events have been forcing
upon the country. with ever increasing
detinitcncss and emphasis. the neccs-
sity of reform in our monetary system,
as respects both the coinage of me
tallic money and the regulation and
control of credit money. Under stress
of experience and consequent investi-
CATION, opinions have been gradually
crystalizing. In this process the line
of cleavage has paid little regard to
previously existing party dcmarcations
and today the most careless observer
cannot fail to see that the genius of the
nation Is approachin" IL settlement of
this momcntous controversy through
the agency of political Instruments
now being fashioned to its hand.
In the history of these formative
events, the so-called Silver Republicans
have taken an important part and DIS
charged necessary function In do
ing so they have not surrendered their
convictions OH certain other great
principles of political economy and
government, but they realized those
principles are not capable of success
ful application under present monetary
conditions.
They believe, therefore, that the
adequate treatment of all other ISSUES
must await the correct decision of the
dominant one thus presented In this
spirit they co-opcratc1 with the or
ganized forces of himctallists in the
last campaign. Every condition of
patriotism and eNpcdiency seems 10
counsel Il continuation of that policy.
silver Republicans believe them
selves to he in harmony with the orig
innl spirit of the old Republican party.
and they claim n properly in its great
name and glorious traditions iustifi,h
by the sacred memories of the time
when that party embodied the aspira-
tionS and spoke the purposes of the
great masses of the American people
That party was born in answer to the
cry for champion of liberty Its early
words were words of comfort and as
surance to the oppressed Its great
deeds by which it will hereafter live in
of taI. H.
policies profcssed above all things TO
hold dear the safety and welfare OF
the American people as against the
rest of the world.
THE Silver Republicans cannot for
get that history. They cannot today
follow those who have usurped the
dominion of that party into shame
less abandonment of American inter
ests and the tyranny of an alien money
system. They believe the duty of the
hour demands that they maintain their
Identity and perfect their organization.
circumstances have sometimes IN
the past thrust upon the undersigned
responsibilities on behalf of Silver Re
publicans which in the absence of
formal organization we have felt war
ranted in assuming. Recently, more
over we have been receiving IL vast
number of anxious inquiries from vari-
ous parts of the country upon the uues-
tion of party policy and rquesting us
to give some definite directions thereto.
"Fhese communications exhibit n
surprising and gratifying unanmity in
sentiment and plan.
Responding to these earnest srggps-
tions and at the same time expressing
our own deliberate opinion, we urge
upon the Silver Republicans of the
United States and upon all citizens OF
whatsoever previous party association
who are willing to cooperate with us
In political action until the great mon
etnry issue is settled. and settled right,
that immediate steps be taken to per.
feet organizations in the various states