The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-09-29
new Independence.
Democrats Promulgated a Sec
ond Declaration.

ond Declaration.
EMBODIED IN PLATFORM OF 1896.
John =. Altgeld Explains Why the
Old Ratio Of 1G to 1 Must Be Re-
tanned Gold Element Wants n
M~enninElcxs Plntform-Predictions
Of Bimetullists Have Been FULFILLED.
In 1896 the true Democrats Of Ameri-
ca decided that we did not need W
political parties to represent the cor
rupt commercial interests, and they
again made the Democratic party
stand for the interests of the great
masses Of the people. They declared
for definite principles; they promul-
gated a second declaration Of Amerl-
can independence. But there was an
element in the party which did not ap-
prove Of this-nn element in the party
which looks to the corrupt ~concentra-
ton of capital for favors, an elemen
which, while pretending to be Demo-
cratic, wants to play the aristocrat.
In all essential particulars this element
represents the same things that the Re-
publican party represents, but 1t for
mcrly remained in the Democratic par
ty, because there it could achieve a
prominence and a personal preferment
which it could not in the Republican
party.
This element Of our party remained
hostile and is again seeking power. 1t
commands vast wealth and is seeking
by secret means, corrupt and other
wise, to secure control Of u councils.
1t Is %proclaiming that we must change
our position; that we must abandon
the principles we stood for In 1896 or
else be defeated. They tell us that we
should adopt a platform broad enough
for all to stand on-that is, a meaning
less platform. They tell Us that we
should raise some new cry, and that
then we might sweep the country. And
we find that those men throughout the
land who have only al appetite for Of
fee are inclined to listen to this talk.
Let us look at the question n moment
and sec what is involved. We are told
that we must be silent on the ratio and
simply declare for bimctallism.
Now, if it were a new and an origi-
nal question it may be that theoretical
~ a different ratio would be just rs
good as the one we declared for. The
book men have told us that one rea-
son why Europe generally adopted the
ratio 1919 to ! was that that was about
the ratio at which the precious metals
were produced in the world. Whether
that be correct or not, it is true that
the financial systems of Europe rested
on that ratio. and that in our country
for the last 60 years the ratio was II
to /. and our financial system was baS
cd upon that, and inaSmuch as silver
was wrongfully and s%tealthily de
monetiZed by the arbitrary act Of gov
eminent, and, inaSmuch as a grea
wrong was done. we are asking t
have that wrong righted, are asking
simply for a restoration of what tn
world formerly had, asking for a res
toration Of conditions under which tn
world had done business and pros
pered for 200 years. This fact alon
would be a good reason for adhering I
that ratio.
But there is another reason Whic.
rises above all others, and that is this
The moment you abandon that rati
you are at sea. No two men will agre
upon what the new ratio should be
For 20 years prior to 1896 the countr
saw that the eastern financial manipr
lators were able to control congress
and to dictate the policy of the GOV
eminent, and that just so long as tn
matter was left to congress and tn
government the people were helpless
This fact led the people to the detci
minatiOn to take the matter into the
wi hands and not leave it open, an
they feel as strongly on that subjet
now as they did then. The fact is
: left open you would get no lcgislatio
:. at the hands Of our government in
D thousand years, for Wall street wi
: again be in absolute control. This b
ing so, 1t is apparent that the nome
& we abandon the ratio that moment "
abandon the cause.
4 Inc question: WHICH, therefore,, pr
8 sents itself is, Are we prepared
& abandon the cause? Everything tn;
Z was predicted by the bimetallists
Z the legitimate result Of the demonetiZ
Z ton of silver has come to pass-frs
Z universal paralysis Of the worlds bu'
Z ness and It's Industries; second, t
Z starting anew on a lower basis for t,
= great producing masses. The evils til
2 result from the gold standard have n
been exaggerated or Ovcrstated. Til
z has sustained the bimetallist, and tn
= man makes q fatal mistake who thin
9 that the American people are ready
= abandon this cause, and iEaSmuch
9 the abandonment of the ratio pr;
2 tically amounts to the abandonment
2 the cause that politician makes a ia.
z mistake who thinks that the ratio c
2 be abandoned without disintegrati
= and destroying the Democratic par
z For every score Of wealth Worship
2 gold Democrats who would be brou.
to our standards by such an aband'
= ment of principle 10000 men of dc
z convictions would leave us.-John