The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-16

money, at the option Of the banks We are
frankly told that lawful money Will be made
relatively scarcer than II is now, and that
II is intended that under the operation of
the bill IL will be easier 70 get gold than
lawful money. Practically all of the money
IN the hands of the people now. as the
IN the form Of silver certificates. Tie
avowcd purpose OF the b.ll is TO make Il
hereafter more difficult 10 get these than
The monetary commission selected by
the executive committee of a self-consti-
tuted Indianapolis convention. which as
sembled for the express purpose OF estab-
fishing the gold standard. have also made
report and promulgated a bill. the provi-
SOns of which are 50 strikingly like the
propositions OF the secretary OF the treas
ury. IN all material particulars. as 10 sug-
gest that they We're compared and harmon
lied before either was given 10 the public.
This report and bin are somewhat more
bold Ia the assertion OF the purposes enter
iained than IS even the proposition Of Mr..
Gage. These distinctly propose that silver
dollars shall not hereafter be coined; that
standard silver dollars shall be redeemed
IN gold; that the silver bullion on hand at
present shall be sold. and suggest that sill
yer dollars may also be melted down and
sold as bullion We are assured that the
notes of the banks cannot fail TO be safe
because, being based upon all the resources
Of all the banks issuing them, they are
based the whole business of the cOun-
try Certainly no bank Will become liable
for the notes issued by another bank over
which it has no control or supervision;
hence this scheme must contemplate the es-
ENLISTMENT of some central bank authority
having the absolute control OF the issue or
all paper money--a great bank trust, pool
or syndicate with powers such as no man
has ever before had the audacity TO suggest.
This committee has called upon commercial
bodies all over the country to assemble and
indOrse their report Thus the people are
put upon fun notice OF what IS intended ana
Of the means of tts accomplishment.
A BRITISH GROwLER QUOTED.
fconsidering all this, is it any wonder
that the Spectator. one OF the great English
newspapers, should say as it did some
months ago: Being audacious beyond any
old world experience, the great capitalists
of America are determined to capture free
opinion and TO prevent criticism. They sub
sidize pulplts. they buy the press, they
seat their well-paid attorney in the United
States Senate. and at length they stretch
their hands over the colleges, which it is
easy to capture by examples of generosity.
Thus their design is to prevent any effective
action which shall in any way weaken their
authority or undermine their position Their
object cannot be mere matchmaking. for
they already enjoy wealth beyond the
dreams OF avarice. Apparently their inten-
ton is first to convert the United States
into q powerful oligarchy, and then to ex-
tend tho sway of that Oligarchy over other
lands. 1t is reserved for the
free West to dismiss from aca-
demic service. tried and competent
millionaires who will not hear one single
criticism or questioning of the justice or
ter and tendency of the trusts they have
built up with the aid and at the expense
OF the public. The divine right of kings
is 10 be succeeded by the divine right of
milIionaires, who are TO run everything,
including the American Senate and the con-
science and intellect of university profess
the American people shall deal with the
p0rteHtous growth of that money power
which overshadtOws the institutions of the
Republic. But we think that the rich men
of America are revealing such deadly
plot against all genuine public freedom
that unless we are mistaken. the opening
years OF the new century will witness an
outburst in the West which will amaze the
civilized world
In view of the great principles involved,
and OF the danger so close at hfnd, we
urge the people everywhere TO arouse them
selves and at once to take steps to save
themselves and their childrn from the fet-
ters now being openly forged to bind them.
In recent years there have been q num-
Der of instances of congressional districts
where the advocates of gold and monopoly
were largely outnumbered by their oppo-
nents, and where, nevertheless. by a fail
ure to unite and act together, friends of the
gold standard have been successful. Thus,
as the result of personal or partisan
Wrangle, the cause of truth and justice has
been overshadowed the interest of human
government subordinated to an ignoble
strife. We appeal to you let this not be
the case again. Our only danger is in divi-
sion Ii we are in earnest we must have
harmony among ourselves. liz there should
be those who would divide us, let them
be summarily and emphatically rebuked by
tho people, who have none but high and
patriotic motives.
After the bold declaration of the admin
istratipn in favor of the gold standard no
sincere bmetalist can ever again, by his
vote or influence, give aid or encouragement
to the Republican party.
The issue is Joined; we cannot avoid ii
II we would. Either the friends of bimetaI-
ism or the advocates of the gold standard,
trusts and monOpOlies must succeed. Who
IS not for us is against us We are asking
no man to abandon his party change his
politics.; we ask no one to yield any prin-
ciples; but in this great contest we do ap-
peal to all good men to stand soIidly to-
gether for liberty and humanity, and strike
down forever this conspiracy of gold and
monopoly"
The address is signed by James K. Jones,
chairman Democratic national committee.