The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-09-28
The Financial Plank.

The Financial Plank.
The platform reiterates the demand
contained in the Chicago platform fol-
an American financial system made
by the American people for them
selves. The purpose Of such a system
Is to restore and maintain bimetallic
level Of prices. and in order that there
may be no uncertainty as to the meth
cd of restoring bimetallism. the specif-
ic declaration in favor OF free and un-
limited coinage at the existing ratio
OF l6 to /. independent of the action
OF other nations, is repeated. In 1896
the Republican party recognized the
necessity for bimetalism by pledging
/ the party TO an earnest effort to Sc
cure an international agreement for
the free coinage OF silver, and the
president. Immediately after his in
auguration. by authority Of congress
appointed a commission composed of
distinguished citizens 10 visit Europe
and solicit foreign aid Secretary HAY
In letter written TO Lord Alderman
In November. 1898. and afterwards pub
lished In England. declared that M
that time the president and a majority
OF his cabinet still believed in the great
desirability OF ar international agree
ment for the restoration OF the double
standard, but that 1t did not seem
opportune TO reopen the negotiations
just then The financial law enacated
less than a year ago contains a con-
Guiding section declaring that the
measure was not intended to stand In
the way of the restoration OF bimetal-
ism, Whenever IL could be done by
cooperation with other nations. The
platform submitted to the last Repub- 4
lican convention with the Endorsement
OF the administration again suggested
the possibility OF securing foreign aid
in restoring silver.
Now the Republican party. for the
first time. openly abandons it's adj
vocacy Of the double standard and in
dorses the monetary system which IL
has SO often and SO emphatically con-
demned. The Democratic party on the
contrary, remains the steadfast advo.
cate OF the gold and silver coinage of
the constitution, and is not wilina
that other nations shall determine for
US the time and manner OF RESTORING
silver TO its ancient place as stand
ard money. The ratio OF 1G to is
not only the ratio now existing he
tween all the gold and silver dollars 1,
circulation In this country. ratio
which even the Republican admins
ration has not attempted to change
out II Is the only ratio advocated ~
hose who are seeking to reopen the
nints. whether the senate, now hos
lie TO bimetallism. can be changed
Turing this campaign or the campaign
II 1902 can only be determined after
ne votes are counted. but neither the
resent nor the future political com
'iexion Of congress has prevented or ,
Mould prevent an announcement of
ne party's position upon this subject ,
n unequivocal terms.
The currency bill. which received the
auction Of the Executive and the Re- ,
ublican members OF the House and
enate. justifes the warning given by
ne Democratic party in 1896 II was
hen predicted that the Republican
arty would attempt to retire the
reenbacks although the party and its !
saders studiously concealed their in 7
sntons. That purpose is now plain q
nd the people must choose between O
ne retention OF the greenbacks. issued r
nd controlled in volume by the gov {
'nment and n national hanl ro.~ ~.. G
'ncy issued by banks and controlled c
their own interests. n the ma n
onal bank notes are To be secured bv IL
1nds. the currency system now SIM e.
orted by the Republican party in Il
Dives permanent and Increasing S,
'bt, and. so long as this system "
ands. the financial classes will he Il
mpted to throw their powerful in flu CO
ice upon the side or any measure @,
hieh VIII contribute to the size and al
rmanency OF national debt II Is OF
Irdly conceivable that the American "a
ople will deliberately turn from the al
bt-paying policy OF the past. TO the D,
ngerous doctrine OF perpetual bonds.
Election ~ senators by the Peop,e.
The demand for a constitutional
iendment providing for the election ca
Senators by direct vote OF the peo- W.,
!. appears for the first time in a m
mocratic National platform but a A,
solution proposing such an amend ~
mt. has three times passed the ST,