Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-08-23
IMPATIENT OF DELAY.
The Gold Combination Anxious u
Secure Affirmative Legislation
for the Single Standard.

The gold combination is desperate
and is not going to permit the republic
an party to daily longer in the matter
of redeeming it's promises, in return
for which such a generous campaign
fund was provided to purchase the
election of 1896. Hence the republican
organs are frantic in their efforts to
convince their readers that the silver is
sue is dead and that the time has at last
arrived to alter the laws of the country
so that all outstanding obligations of
the government shall be made payable
in gold alone, instead of coin of the
standard weight and fineness of July,
1870, as under the present law. Under
the law, as it now stands, every dollar
of the outstanding obligations of the
government is payable in either gold
or silver coin at the option of the gov
eminent, except certificates issued
against either gold or silver coin in the
treasury.
President Cleveland sought to have
congress authorize a gold loan in 1894
and thus pave the way to making all of
the government obligations payable in
gold, but congress refused. 1t will be
remembered that the MorgalNsyn Indicate
made a specific offer for gold bonds,
rendering $16,0OO,0O0 additional for
bonds to be made payable in gold in
excess of the amount offered for the
coin bonds that were issued that year.
The legislation sought will be worth
hundreds of millions to the holders of
American securities and will increase
the burdens of the American people on
the public and private Indebtedness
against them to the amount of billions
of dollars. This step is deemed neces-
sary by the gold combination at this
time because they fear the triumph of
the democratic party in 1900.
The gold combination have down to
the present time failed to secure af-
firmative legislation in behalf of the
gold standard in the United States.
They secured the passage of law in
1873 emitting the silver dollar from our
list of coins, cunningly substituting a
trade dollar so that the term dollar
would still appear in the list and es-
cape the scrutiny of an unsuspecting
congress. Since then they have been
able to prevent the complete remone-
tization of silver in the passage of the
Bland act and the Sherman act and
finally to secure the repeal Of all laws
providing for an increase of money
through the coinage of silver. But all
the silver dollars that are in existence
are lawful money to pay off the obliga-
tons of the government in all forms
whatever, whether in bonds, green
backs or treasury notes. Further than
this many of the most eminent lawyers
in the United States contend that the
president has the authority under the
Bland act to open the mints to silver
equally with gold, that that law re-
stores the law of 1887. Therefore it is
that being longer unable to control the
national conventions of both political
parties, and nominate for the presiden-
cy candidates pledged to the gold
standard, that the gold combination is
determined to insist upon the republic
an party enacting affirmative legisla-
ton during the coming congress to es-
tablish the gold standard. Accompany
ing such measure, they propose to
provide for the retirement of the green
backs and treasury notes, and turn the
issue of all paper money over to the
banks. This measure is revolutionary
in it's character and it's consequences
will be far rea ching.
Many republican politicians fear the
result upon their party of the legisla-
ton that is now imperatively demand
ed of them. They would much prefer
to let matters drift until after another
election. They fear to expose the party
to the retribution that is sure to follow
such breach of faith with the people,
and they are also DESTROYS of keeping
the banks and creditor interests in a
position where they will be obliged tc
continue their liberal contributions to
future republican campaign funds.
The insistent demand for affirmative
legislation by the gold trust cannot,
however, be longer disregarded and an
attempt will be made to enact the legis-
lations demanded by them during the
next congress. Although the republic
ans have a majority in both branches OF
congress, the proposed scheme of
spoliation can be defeated by the people
if they will arouse themselves and put
forth such an exertion as the exigencies
of the case demand.
Congressman will not vote for meas
IF fhov IN,
such votes will cause their own undo
ing. They wilt often sacrifice the in
terests of the people to advance their
personal fortunes, but they will not
knowingly sacrifice themselves to
placate party leaders or to promote the
success of the party in other sections
while they themselves suffer defeat.
Politicians have their ears to the
ground, constantly seeking to correct
~ gauge public opinion upon all mat
tiers that they are forced to deal with.
Whenever the people are Indifferent
upon any question the peoples inter-
ests will suffer. The politicians paw
heed to the forces that are active and do
not concern themselves about such as
are likely to cause them no trouble
Silver Knight Waterman.
Goldite solicitude.
If our goldite friends are so dead
sure that they have got congress
fixed so that no free silver legislation
can possibly be enacted during the
life of the next administrati ton, what
need have they to worry over the GER
tainty that the democrats will adopt
bimetallic plank in 1900? Indeed,