The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-08

den assembled yesterday at the court
house in convention as per call of A,
B. Patton. About 30 were in attend
ance; including Ben L. Rich and W. T.
Beardsley, ard ihere was not the slight
est sign of inharmony apparent. The
assembly made the fact clear that the
Silver Republicans endorse heartily the
course of Senator Frank j. Cannon.
Judge A. B. Patton called the con-
vention to order and explained the pur-
pose of the meeting to be the election
of county committeeman for the state
Silver Republican committee; said
committeeman to serve until the fall
convention.
On motion of E A Littleheld. E. NJ
Allison was made chairman. He took
the position and made a brief speech.
reviewing the causes which had caused
the organization of the Silver Repub-
lican party.
John V. Bluth was made secretary of
the meeting. Mr. Patton moved that
letter just received from Senator
Cannon be read. This was done, and
was applauded. It follows:
United States Senate,
Washington, D. c., May 2, 1898.
Hon. A. B. Patton, Member State Com
mittee, Silver Republican Party, Og-
den, Utah:
Ny Dear Judge:-The call which you
have issued as a member OF the STATE
committee of the Silver Republican
party OF Utah for a mass convention at
Ogden is most timely. The people of
the United States are engaged in two
conflicts, one against foreign foes, and
one against enemies within. The united
Patriotism of the country is directed
to glorious settlement OF the external
combat. and we cannot doubt that the
MIGHT of 10Th
vail agains: Spain and any allies whose
aid she may secure. The controversy
of the people against evil tendencies in
legislation and politics may not be so
easily won; but neither its lack of
speedy settlement nor the emergency
which is upon the country to conduct
Its physical war on land and sea, with
energy commensurate to the demand
should be allowed to obscure the duty
which the people owe to guard their
liberty at home.
In this letter I shall address. myself
solely to one proposition--the duty of
Silver Republicans in the method Of es-
tablishing their organization and in
carrying out its purpose, according to
the expressed view of the leading BIZ
meJallistS here.
First-The organization of the Silver
Republican party is absolutely neces-
sary throughout the nation. and is
IGNtSSdIy III y dlI- L lC6u
not recount the conclusive arguments
in support Of this statement. 1t is
sufficient to say that this declaration
is but the repetition of the declaration
made by the three chairmen Of the al
lied bimetallic forces of the United
States, by William ]. Bryan, and by
every national leader of the bimetallic
cause who holds that the demand for
the restoration of the free and unlim-
ted coinage of silver is superior to par
isanship.
Second-Silver Republicans are not
Republicans. This proposition is self
evident. If they were Republicans they
would not be separated from the Re
publican party; if they were Republic
ans they would not have organized a
new party; if they were Republicans
they would not have adopted q. new
name; and if they were Republicans
they would not be attempting TO or
ganize ali opponents Of the Republican
party into a harmonious army, whose
purpose is TO prevent further domina-
ton of the Republican party of the
United States in national affairs.
Third-The purpose of the Silver Re
publican party is to aid Democrats and
Pcpulists in combined effort in be-
half of the people to recover control of
this government from the hands Of
those who secured such control by i'm
proper means. and who have used their
control to fix upon this country an un-
Just money system, lessening the abil-
fly TO pay while at the same time they
have imposed. under the name of pro-
tective tariff, d sectional, selfish, and
oppressive measure which has resulted
in deficiency of revenue and in the adj
vantage of certain classes over other
classes of producers. Against this pol
fcy of united evil-the imposition Of
greater burdens and the lessening of
the power to carry thenl-the Silver
Republican party of the United States
has offered it's remonstrance and ii in
vites into its ranks of former Repub-
licans only such as are ready to leave
the old party organization absolutely,
and as are ready to enlist for the full
term OF the war which must be carried
on to win the economic liberties and a
righteous government for the people of
the United States of America
Fourth-The Silver Republican party
of the United States is useless except
in alliance with other forces of reform
II is therefore manifest that it must not
adopt platforms or accept policies, nor
must it affiliate with personnel, which,
in the very nature Of things, win be
antagonistic to its proposed allies. Ii
asks and receives this same conces- /
sion from these allies. and unless it
wishes TO defeat cooperation, it must
observe this rule. 1t therefore follows
that there can be TO union of Silver
Republicans with Republicans, for such
union would only be perpetuated by
some compromise on our part at some
point in the conflict. 3 It is, perhaps,
true that Republicans in Utah might
temporarily enter the Silver Republic
an ranks, fully accepting our declara-
ton that the restoration of silver is
the paramount issue of the times But
if they were to become a portion of
our party without really leaving their /
own party, they would, before the con- |
fiict was ended, so permeate the Silver |
Republican councils with the evil add
wise Of concession as to force some /
kind of compromise upon the great |
issues Such test should accordingly !
be applied as will insure in Silver Re- |
publican ranks only Silver Republicans, |
and not Republicans.
Fifth-Protection is not an issue at /
this time. The paramount issue has |
been declared. and it overwhelms all /
others If we are to say that every |
man who believes in the free coinage |
OF silver and yet is not willing to sac
rifice other Republican policies may be /
a Silver Republican, we admit that all /
the Republicans of the United States |
might for a purpose, call themselves
Silver Republicans. The Silver Repub-
licans separated themselves from the
party on the money issue. If it be
averred that Silver Republicanism was
first established on the twin doctrines |
Of silver and protection, not one but