The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-16

EFFORT 70 SECURE CONCERTED ACTION
Washington, Feb. Is, 1898

The addresses on behalf of the Dem
ocratic, Populist and Silver Republican
parties, which are the result Of the con-
ferences which have been in progress
among the leaders of these partie.; at
the Capital for the past few weeks
were Issued to-day. They seek 10 unite
the members OF the three parties III
future elections upon the financial ISSUE
as the question of paramount import
ance and ale separate appeals of each
OF the parties 10 consolidate all along
the lines for this purpose. The address
to Democrats is signed by Senator
James *. Jones, of Arkansas, chairman
Of the Democratic National Committee
and is endorsed by the Democratic Con-
gressionalCommittGe that to the Popu-
lists by Snator Marion Butler, chair
man of the Popullst National Commit
tee, and twenty-five other Populiat
members OF the Senate and House. and
that OF the Silver Republicans by Chair
man Charles y. Towne and the Silver
Republicans in the Senate and House
and also by cX-Senato Dubois
The Democratic address; is a. follows
To the People-The surrender of the
Republican party to the advocates Of
the gold standard and monopoly is n
last complete. The present adminstra-
ton, called 10 power upon the solemn
pledge of the Republican National Con-
Vention at ST. Louis to promote bi-
metallism, has formulated and sent to
Congress a bill, the leading purpose OF
which, the honorable Secretary of the
Treasury avows, is ito commit the
country more thoroughly to the gold
standard" The country has already,
for twenty-four yeas been so thor
oughly committed to that standard,
partly by law and partly by the usurp-
atoms cf the executive branch of the
governments, that its effects are seen
and felt On every hand: wages are re-
duced, work is harder 10 get: the weight
of debt is doubled; the value of land
and other property is reduced one-half
or moro until the lives OF the people are
made bitter hard with bondasc."It is
certainly not in the intcres: OF human
ity TO have This condition of things
more thoroughly established.
The continued rise in the value OF
gold or. which Is the same thing, the
continued fall Of prices, must inevitably
transfer the property Of all those en-
gaSed in active business. the actual
creators Cf wealth, whether by hand
brain, or capital. 10 those who. avoid
ing the risk ana efforts OF active bus
mess, only draw interest.
The increase OF 1i3 per cent in the
value 'cf money, caused by its increas-
ing scarcity. from 1909 70 lGi0, as ad-
nlihtsd d by leading advocates of The
geld standard. found expression at that
time in extremely low prices and condi-
tiOnS of unparalleled distress The dis
d5very of gold and silver III eXtraordi-
nary quantities, and tho great in
crease in dhe volume of mstallic money
resulting thcrcfrom, relieved this dis
tress and brought in It's stead wonder
ful prosperity. Prices rose. business
hourished, producers prcspered. all
were happy Subsequently this condi-
ton would have been continued If bath
nhc precious metals had been allowed
10 remain in use as money because
they were being found in nearly suni-
clret quantities to increase the volume
or money in proportion to the develop
ment OF business. wicked conspiracy,
however, deprived one '1f them OF The
money function. This was done with
tha deliberate purpns@ Of raising the
value of the other by rendering the
supply OF metallic money rclatiyoly
scarcer as compared with the demand.
From the hour of the consummatpln Of
hhiS crime mankind has suffered com
morciai disaster and social distress in
Almost constantly increasing measure.
F." o'' NJ B' blfbI iTS'n 10 inc growth OF
arts and civilization and the cxpan-
sion 'cf commerce, business and indus
try, the inadequacy of the volume Of
geld IS felt. its scarcity is cmphasjzed Il
its value Increased
The repression Of life and hanoi-
ness. which is ;nseparablc from a long
course Of declining prices. has nov
checked development and. If continued.
will ultimately stinc civilization. An
cnlnSm american. President Andrews.
rt lf'swn University, some yeaHs oro
said: Our national debt on Sspteubar
Isl. 1852 was two and thrcc-uuartcrs
billions: It could thsn have been paid
OH with eighteen million bales Of cot
ton or twenty five million tens OF har
iron. Wh n ii had hccn reduced A, n
piiiion and quarter. thirty million
'fales or COTTON. or ihirty-two millions
tons or iron would have been rcuuir,d
10 pay 1t. In other words. while y
flJ!n!nal shrlnkage cf about ffty-Gve
per cent. had tGksn place in the debt. il;
had. as measured in either Of these Two
world staples, actually been enlarged
by some tifiy per cent"
Although more than half the PRINCIPAL
OF this enormous debt and every cent or
accumulated interss'. had been paid Nv
the labor Of the United States. t!ln hold
ers CT the bonds stiIl hold q claim or
more CT the labor &C the people ,hau
they h;ld before these enormous nav