The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-16

A WICKED
CONSPIRACY.
Positions Of the SilveritcS
Defined.
ADDRESSES WERE ISSUED
How Senator Jones Regards the
Decentralization Act.
WHAT POPULIsT ADDRESS SAYS.

Washington. Feb, .16.-The addresses
on behalf OF the Democratic. Populist
and silver Republican parties, which
are the result OF conferences among the
leaders of those parties at the capital.
have been issued. They seek TO unite
the members Of the three parties in flu
ture elections upon the financial issue
as the question of paramount impor-
lance. and are separate appeals TO each
of the parties to consolidate 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 Dem
ocratic congressional committee; that 10
the Populists by Senator Marion Butler,
chairman OF the Populist national COM
mittee. and the 25 Populist members OF
the senate and house: and that to the
silver Republicans by their representa-
tives in the senate and house, and also
by ex-senator Dubois.
The Democratic address says: "The
surrender OF the Republican party to the
advocates OF the gold standard and
monopoly is at last complete. The pres
ent administration, called to power upon
tional convention at st. Louis TO pro-
mote bimetallism, has sent to congress
bill, the leading purpose OF which the
secretary of the treasury avows is to
commit the country more thoroughly to
the gold standard The country has
already for "a years been so thoroughly
committed To this standard. partly by
law and partly by the usurpations of the
executive branch of the government,
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 the land and other
property is reduced one-half or more
until the lives OF the people are made
bitter with hard bondage IT is GER
tainly not in the interest of humanity
10 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 engaged 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 address states that the increase
OF l45 percent in the value of money
caused by its increasing scarcity from
1909 to 1S49 found expression at that
time in extremely low prices and un-
paralleled distress. The discovery OF
gold and silver in extraordinary quanti-
ties and the great increase in the vol
ume of metallic money relieved this dis
tress and brought wonderful prosperity.
substantially this condition. the ad-
dress says, would have continued II both
the precious metals had been allowed
TO remain In use as money. A wicked
conspiracy, however deprived one of
them OF the money function. This was
oohe with the deliberate purpose OF
raising the value OF the other by render
Ing thessupply OF metallic money rela-
lively scarcer as compared with the de-
mand. From the hour OF the consum-
nation OF this crime mankind has suf-
fered commercial and social distress in
almost constantly increasing measure
Just in proportion to the growth OF
arts and civilization and the expansion
of commerce. business and industry. the
inadequacy of the Nlume of gold is felt
and its value increased. The repression
OF life and happiness inseparable from
long course of declining prices. IL con-
tinued. VIII ultimately stihe civilization
The address quotes President Andrews
OF Brown university as saying some
years ago: Our national debt on Sept
i, 1868, was two and three-quarters bill
lions; 1t could then have been paid off
with lS,O0Q000 bales of cotton, or 25 OOO,-
GOO tons of bar iron. When IL had been
reduced to billion and a quarter, 80, 000.-
COO bales of cotton, or $4,000, 900 tons of
iron, would have been required TO pay IL.
In other words, while nominal shrink
age Of about So percent had taken place
In the debt IL had. as measured in either
or thsse two worlds staples, been en-
larged by some 80 percent"
The address declares that although
more than half of the principal OF this
dehrand every cent OF interest had been
paid by the labor OF the United States.
the holders of the bonds still held n
claim for more OF the labor of the peo-
pie than they held before these enormous
payments had been begun. This cruel
confiscation of the lives and liberty of
the lahoring millions OF this country.
it says is the most stupendous crime
committed in the annals Of civilization
Unless government Of, by and for the
people has perished from the earth. the
present boldly avowed scheme. not only
20 continue. but 10 increase these evils
will not be permitted.
The address in conclusion saws: "In
view OF the great principles involved
and of the danger so close at hand we
urge the people everywhere to arouse
themselves and az once 10 take steps to
save themselves and their children from
the fetters now being openly forged to
bind them. our only danger is in divis-
ion. II We are in earnest we must have
harmony amongst ourselves. If there
should be those who would divide us let
them be summarily and emphatically
yebuked by the people who have none
but high and patriotic motives. After
the bold declaration OF the adminlstra-
tion IN favor Of the gold standard no sin
sere brletallist can ever ngain by his
vote or influence give aid or encourage
ment 10 the Republican party. Either
the friends OF bimetalism or the advo-
Gates OF the gold standard. trusts and
monopolies must succeed. We ask no