The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1898-02-24
DEMOCRATIC ADDRESS.

ITO the people: The surrender OF the
to the advocates OF the
gold standard and monopoly, is at last
complete, called to power on the solemn
pledge OF the Republican convention ut
ST. Louis TO promote bimetalism. IL has
formulated and sent to Congress bill.
the leading purpose OF which, the Honor
able Secretary OF the Treasury avows, is
to commit the country more thoroughly
to the gold standard. The country has
already. for twenty-four years. been so
thoroughly committed to this standard.
partly by law and partly by the usurpa-
tion of the executive branch of the Gov
ernment, that Its effects are seen and felt
on every hand: wages are reduced; work
is harder TO get; the weight OF debt is
doubled the value OF land and other
property is reduced one-halt or more until
the lives OF the people are made bitter
with hard bondage. 1t is certainly not in
the interest Of humanity to have this con-
dition of things more thoroughly estab-
lished.
The continued rise in value of gold,
or. which is the same thing, the contin-
tinued fall in prices. must inevitably
transfer the property Of all those engaged
| in active business, the actual creators OF
wealth, whether by hand, brain, or capi-
tai. to those who, avoiding the risk and
effort OF active bushes, only draw inter-
est
"a wicked conspiracy, however, de-
prived one metal of its money function
This was done with deliberate purposes
OF raising the value of the other by rem
dering the supply OF metallic money rela-
lively scarcer, as compared with the de
mani. From the hour OF the consnma
nation of this crime, mankind has SUI.
rered commercial disaster and social dis
tress In almost constantly increasing
measure. Just in proportion to the growtl
of arts and civilization the expansion o.
commerce, business and industry, the in
adequacy of the volume OF gold is felt
it's scarcity is emphasized, its value in
creased.
While nominal shrinkage of about 81
per cent has taken place in the nationa
debt. it has, as measured in each OF thu
two world staples, actually been enlarged
by some so per cent.
Al,l,o,,rl, v,ora than bo tho r,rin r. nj
| OF this enormous debt, and every cent o
accumulated interest has been paid b,
: the labor OF the United States, the holder
: of the bonds still hold claim for NOR
of the labor OF the people than they ha
before these enormous payments had eve
been begun. The cruel confisca.ion @
e the lives and liberty OF the laboring mil
! lions of the country is the most stupend
, GUS crime that has been committed in tn
annals of civilization. Unless govern
a ment Of the people, by the people and 70
: the people. has perished from the eartl
;. surely the present boldly avowed schem
Y not only to continue but 10 increase thes
i evils will not be permitted.
Il I'm addition to this purpose OF moi
: thoroughly establishing the gold sianC
S ard, the plan OF the Administration is
e retire the paper money OF the Government
u to issue gold bonds, and to increase tt
IS power, privileges aud profit of nations
= banks.
Il The retirement OF the Governmei
d paper money must reduce the volume
y circulation, and while the Secretal
1t admits that the contraction OF the Gu
rency would be more ruinous In two yea
Than inte rest on alike amount of bon,
e for forty years would be, he calmly i
:. forms us, that the national banks WI
probably issue sufficient amount
a, money to prevent this enormous sutferin
Practically all the money in the han
OF the people now, AS the Secretary d
l. tinctly admits. is in silver. chiefly in t
D. form OF silver certificates, so the avow
D. puspose OF the bill is 10 make ii hereafI
e more difficult 10 get these than gold
I. The monenIary commission selects
r. by the executive committe selected by
~ self-constituted indianapolis conventio
10 10 which assembled for the expressed pu
q, pose OF the establishing Of the gold stan
n ard. has also made report and prom
n gated bill.
10 This report and bill are somewf
es bolder In the assertion OF the purpo
entertained than is even the propositi
OF Mr.. Gage. These distinctly purp
that silver dollars shall not hereafter
" Confined on Second page.