The record-union., 1898-02-16
Democratic, Popu|ist and Silver Re-
publican Leaders
Issue Addresses TO the Voters Of Their Re-
spectife Parties.
Seek to Unite the Members of Each
in Future Elections Upon the
Financial Issue as the Question
Of Paramount Importance, ana
Appeal to Each Of the Parties
to Consolidate All Along the
Line for This Purpose.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-The adj
dresses on behalf of the Democratic,
Populist and Silver Republican par
ties, which are the result of the con-
ferences which have been in progress
among the leaders of these parties al
the Capitol for the past few weeks,
were issued to-day. They seek 10
unite the members Of the three parties
in future elections upon the financial
issue as the question of paramount mn
portance, and are separate appeals 10
each of the parties to consolidate all
along the lines for this purpose. The
address to Democrats is signed by Sen
ator James X. Jones, Chairman of the
Democratic National Committee, and is
Endorsed by the Democratic Congress
ional Committee; that to the Populists
by Senator Marion Butler. Chairman
of the Populist National Committee and
the twenty-five other Populist members
of the Senate and the House, and that
of the Silver Republicans by. Chairman
Towne and the Silver Republicans in
the Senate and House, and also by eX-
Senator Dubois.
DEMOCRATlC ADDRESS.
The Democratic address is as follows:
ITO the people: The surrender Of
the Republican party 10 the advocates
of the gold standard and monopoly Is
at last complete. The present admin
istration, called to power on the SOL
emn pledge of the Republican National
convention at st. Louis to promote BIZ
metallism, has formulated and sent to
Congress a bill, the leading purpose of
which, the honorable Secretary OF the
Treasury avows, is to commit the coun-
try more thoroughly to the gold STAN
dard. The country has already, for
twenty-four years, been so thoroughly
committed to this standard, partly by
law and partly by the usurpations of
the Executive branch of the Govern
ment, 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 ana
other property is reduced one-haf or
more, until the lives of the people are
made bitter with hard bondage. Il is
certainly not in the interest Of hui
:aanity to have this condition of things
more thoroughly established.
The continued rise in value of gold.
or, which is the same thing the con-
tinued fall in prices, must inevitably
transfer the property of all those en-
gagged in active business the actual
creators of wealth. whether by hand
brain or capital. to those who avoiding
the risk and effort of active business
only draw interest.
The increase of 40 per cent. in the
value OF money, caused by its increas-
ing scarcity. from 1909 to 1910, as ad-
mitted by leading advocates Of the
gold standard. found expression at that
time in extremely low prices and con-
ditions of unparalleled distress.
The discovery of gold and silver in
extraordinary quantities. and the great
increase in the volume of metallic mon
ey resulting therefrom, relieved this
distress. and brought it in it's stead
wonderful prosperity Prices rose,
business flourished, producers pros
pered. all were happy. Substantially
this condition would have continued il
both the precious metals had beer al
lowed 20 remain in use as money. be-
cause they were being found in nearly
sufficient quantities to increase the vol
ume of money in proportion TO the de-
velopments Of business. A wicked con-
spiracy. however deprived one of them
of the money function. This was done
with deliberate purpose of raising the
value OF the other by rendering the sup
ply of metallic money relatively scare
er. as compared with the demand
From the hour of the consumma-
ton of this crime. mankind has suffered
commercial disaster and social distress
in almost constantly increasing measure
Just in proportion to the growth of arts
and civilization and expansion of com
merce. business and industry. the in
adequacy of the volume Of gold is felt
its scarcity is emphasized. its value in
creased.
The repression of life and happiness.
which is inseparable from a long course
of declining prices, has now checked de-
veiopment. and. if continued. Will ulti-
mately stifle civilization. An eminent
American. President Andrews OF Brown
University. some years ago said: Our
national debt on September /. 1860, was
two and three-quarter billions: il could
then have been paid off with lS.000 900
bales of cotton or 25,e0o0D1 tons of bar
iron. When il had been reduced to a
billion and a quarter. 3o.o0Oe00 million
bales of cotton. or s.. 900. coo tons of iron
would have been required TO pay it, In
ether words. while a nominal shrink
age Of about 81 per cent had taken place
in the debt ii had. as measured in either
or these two world staples. actually been
enlarged by some ~ per cent
Although more than half the prn-
cipal of this enormous debt and every
cent of accumulated interest had been
paid by the labor of the United States.
The holders of the bonds still hold a
claim for more of the labor of the people
than they held before these enormous
payments had ever begun. The cruel
confscation OF the lives and liberty OF
the laboring millions of this country is
the most stupendous crime that has been
committed in the annals of civilization.
Unless a government OF the people. by
the people and for the people had per-
ished from the earth. surely the pres
ent boldly avowed scheme. not only 10
continue. but to increase these evils viii
not be permitted.
In addition to this purpose OF more
thoroughly establishing the gold STAN
dard. the plan of the Administration Is
10 retire the paper money of the Govern
ment. to issue gold bonds. and to in
crease the power. privileges and profits
OF national banks The retirement of
the Government paper money must re-
duoe the volume of circulation. and
while the Secretary admits that the con-
traction Of the currency would be more
ruinous in two years than interest on a
like amount of bonds for forty years