The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-16
FREE SILVER Is THE ISSUE.
LEADERS OF THE PARTY rROMCL-
GATE THEIR ADDRESSES.
Democrats. Populists and silver Re-
psblicans Urged to Unite Against
SQUAD Money-Denuneiation Of

WASHINGTON, Feb. f5.-The addresses
on behalf Of the Democratic Populist and
Silver Republican parties, which are the
result OF the conferences which have been
IN progress among the leaders of these
parties at the capital for the past few
weeks. were issued today They seek 10
unite the members of the three parties
in future elections upon the financial issue
as the question of paramount Importance,
and are appeals 10 each party 10
consolidate all along the lines for this pur-
pose. The address to Democrats Is signed
By Senator James X. Jones. OF Arkansas.
chairman Of the Democratic national COM
mlttee. and is Endorsed by the Democratic
congressional eommittees that to the Pop
ullsts by Senator Marion Butler. chair
man, and twenty-five silver members Of
the senate and house and by Chairman
Towne. and also By ex-senator Dubois:
The Democratic Address.
The Democratic address is az follows:
ITO the People: The surrender of the
kepubEcan party 10 the advocates of the
gold standard and monopoly Is at last COM
piete. The present administration called
10 power on the solemn pledge OF the Re
publican convention at ST. Louis TO pro-
mote bi-metaliism, has formulated and
sent to congress ii bill, the leading pur-
pose or which, the honorable secretary Of
the treasury ayows is TO commit the coun-
try more thoroughly To the gold standard
The country has already, for twenty-four
years. been so thoroughly committed 10
rra4.t u%a adzVI -. -
~ by the usurpation Of the executive
branch Of the government, that its eff
feets are seen and felt on every hand;
wages are reduced. work Is harder to got:
the weight OF debt Is doubled the value
OF land and other property Is reduced one
half or more, until the lives of the peo-
PIE are made bitter with hard bondage
II is certainly not In the interest OF hu-
mainly to have this condition Of things
more thoroughly established.
THE continued rise In the value OF gold
or. which Is the same thing, the con-
unued fall In prices. must Inevitably
transfer the property of all those en-
gagged In active business, the actual ere
ators OF wealth whether by hand, brain or
capital. to those who. avoiding the risk
and effort Of live business, only draw
interest
THE increase Of las per cent In the
value Of money, caused by its increasing
scarcity from 1853 10 lsss, as admitted by
leading advocates of the gold standard,
found expression at that time in extreme
~ low prices and conditions Of unparal-
lsled distress. The discovery OF gold and
oliver In extraordinary quantities, and the
great increase in the volume Of metallic
money resulting therefrom, relieved this
distress and brought In its stead prosper
ity. Prices rose. business fiourished, pro-
ducers prospered. and all were happy.
Substantially this condition would have
continued IL both the precious metals had
been allowed TO remain in use as money
because they were being found in nearly
sufficient quantities 10 increase the vol
ume OF money In proportion to the devel-
oprnent Of business. Wicked conspiracy
however, deprived one OF them of this
function. This was done with the oelib-
crate purpose OF raising the value of the
other by rendering the supply of metallic
money relatively scarcer. as compared
with the demand.
From the hour Of the contamination of
this crime, mankind has suffered CON-
| mercial disaster and social distress in al
most constantly increasing measure.
Just In proportion TO the growth OF arts
and civilization and expansion of com-
merce. business and industry. the made
| quacy OF the volume or the gold is felt.
| its scarcity Is emphasized, Its value in
| creased. The depression of life and hap
| psness which Is inseparable from a long
! course OF deciislng prices, has now check
cd development. and II continued. will
| ultimately stife civilization. An eminent
American. President Andrews, OF Brown
university. some years ago said
Our national debt on September l.
| lsss. was TWO and three-quarters billions
| IL could then have been paid of with
| twenty-five million tons Of bar iron.
| When II had been reduced 10 billion and
| quarter. thirty million bales of cotton.
| or thirty-two million tons of iron, would
/ have been required 10 pay 1t. In other
words. while a nominal snrinkage OF x>a,at
| s. per cent. had taken place In t.S t.hf
| u had. "a measured in each Of these two
I world staples, actually been enlarged by
1 - per cent
| Although more than half the PRINCIPAL
| a this enormous debt and every cent of
| accumulated interest had been paid by
/ the labor OF the United States, the holders
| OF the bonds stiH hold a claim for more
/ of the labor Of the people than they had
before these enormous payments had
/ evan been begun.
| The cruel eonascation ~ the lives ana
/ liberty of the laboriug millions q the
4 country Is the most stupendous crime that
/ has been committed in the annals OF civil
/ ixation. Unless a government of the peo-
| pie. By the people ard fer the people has
j persisted from the earth. surely the PIES
/ ent boldly aNowea scheme not only %
| continue. hist 20 Increase these evils will
/ not b. permitted. In addition 60 this pur-
/ pose & more thoroughly establishing the
+ gold standard the plan Of the adninls.ra-
/ ticn Is to retire the paper money o. the
/ government. 80 issue geld bonds ard 10 il
1 crease the power. privileges and profits
( 4 national banks
! TIE retirement OF government uaper
money must reduce the volume OF c!rcu-
! 3ation. ara whils {ne secretary admits Ina.
! the contraction % the currency wc7.'S b.
! nofe ruinoas 10 tv9 pears than interest on
/ Ike amount - bonds Ter forty years
would be. be calmly informs Us that th..
/ national banks VIII probably ss<ue = SUI
+ ncsent amount 81 n2onsv 10 prevent this
! vDarmogs suffering
/ Certainly 70 bank VII become nahy4
/ fer TIE notes ISSUED BY another bank over
which i has no eoutrcl or supervision.
& hence. tails scheme must contemplate ths
establishment cf some central bank ats-
tA@ffty. having he absolute coatrol % th4
ISSUE ~ ali paper money great bank
! grusJ. pool or sSudicafe, with powers s&3oa
- no man hzz ever before kNd the a.sss~.
I lty 30 suggest. This committee na< called
uFoa commercial bodies al over TIE zouu-
Z fFy 80 EuH0rse ENa reFeFe THstz 49, 49,.