The state herald., 1900-08-17
A. M. STEVENSON LEAVES
THE SILVER REPUBLICANS.

chairman of the Teller Silver Republi-
can State Central committee and in the
following letter announced his return
to the Republican party:
Denver. Colo, Aug. IL. 1900.
"To the Members of the Teller sill
yer Republican State Central Com
mittee, care of W. ii. Griffith, Secre-
tary.
'"Gentlemen-I have this day ad-
dressed to you and delivered to the sec
retary of the committee my resignation
us chairman. | have not wished to do
more than formally resign the chair
mnnship of the committee; but after
advising with my friends whose opin-
ion | value, have concluded that a
proper respect for your opinions re-
qnires that | state the reasons which
impel me to the course | have taken.
Il was n delegate to the Republican
National convention at st. Louis in
1896, and acted in harmony with the
other delegates from this state. in obey
Ing the instructions of the Republican
State convention. which in effect direct
ed the delegates to withdraw from the
national convention If the party at St
Louis adopted gold standard plat
form. We attended that convention as
representatives of the Republican par
ty of the state of Colorado. The ac-
tion taken by us was in obedience to
the demands of the people of the state.
The people directed us TO do just what
we did do. and no Silver Republican
can justly be criticised for that action,
nor the position taken by us in the
campaign of 1896 and 1898.
AT St Louis we declared that we
were Republicans on all questions but
the money question. After the defeat
Of Mr.. Bryan, whom we all Loyalty sup
ported. and on the anniversary of the
birth of the first American February
~. 1897, an address was issued from
signed by distinguished
and representatives of Con-
lress. urging the organization of n Ma
tional Silver Republican party. The
address declared that in differing with
the National Republican party on the
money question, we did not surrender
our convictions ON the other great
questions of political economy and gov
.'rnment.
In June following. the representa-
lives OF thirty-onc states of the Union
met Id Chicago and completed the or
Of this party. The platform
adopted nj the Chicago meeting stated
that the achievement of the free coin
age OF silver and gold was deemed by
us of paramount political Importance
and should form the controlling motive
Of our political action until II was ac-
Such has been, in fact.
the declaration of all state. district and
in Colorado. The Kansas City plat
form does not so declare.
Il have been actively connected with
the party since its organization and
have done my share in trying to build
MP the organization and make II pow
rrfnl and respected and worthy of re
Spect. When the party was national
lzcd, ! hoped that II might become a
power for good in the politics Of the
country. still believe that such might
have been possible had not new condi-
tions. new responsibilities of govern
ment and new issues been pressed for
and settlement. There Is
now no hope-ln fact. no prctense-that
the party can live beyond the present
and do not believe II possi-
hlc To aid the cause OF bimctalllsm by
continuing the fight this fall.
ION this great question the people Of
Colorado have not changed: but condl-
lions and issues have changed, aud In
my Judgment the silver question Il not
to-day "A live issue before the American
people. and never viii become an issue
NJ great political Importance until the
OF the country compel n cor
rect monetary system. We are daily
Informed that the great body of gold.
standard Democrats who refused To
support Bryan IN 1896 are to-day ac-
rnr,ling him loyal suppori-nnd wbyi
Certainly because they believe that the
financial question has been settled or
for the present. The rca-
son that prompt" them 10 return to
their old party allegiance, In measure
NJ least. pcrsundes me that am cor
rect In my conclusions about this lueS-
ton. In 1896 the Democratic party de
rlnred the financial question To be one
u controlling and paramount political
Importance. In 1850 the same party
declares another issue TO be Of para.
mount importance, and every one
knows That the open declaration In IN.
rnr OF free coinage was forced upon the
after the representatives Of
a majority NJ the delegates had voted
against such declaration In commit.
lee, and the resolution could not have
been adopted In the committee had II
not been for the votes of the territories
lf Hawaii. Indian territory. Oklahoma.
and New Mexico. none Of
which has any voice In the election OF
Ihr President.
"ln 1890. senator I'm Of New York
the majority Of tNa Chicago
mud the platform advocated
by them, In language. every sentence
N which was joyfully repeated during
the campaign by those who opposed
the election NJ Mr.. Bpynn. lie aud
those who acted with him sullcnly re-.
fused to support the nominees Of the
Chicago convention. In ipoo the same
senator nm WINS the hero of the Kan
sns city convention, nnd would have
been it, nominee for Vice president had
he not declined the nomination and Inn
plor-d the convention and Its lenders
not 10 nominate HIN.
81 cannot understand how nny mnn
who Witnessed the scenes NJ Kansas
city "nn honestly say TINT the convcn,
ton there was n silver convention or
Tint it, delegates believed ihnt silver
WINS NJ MI nn issue In this campaign.
The drsplscd scnnior I'm NJ 1890 is.
with the possible exception OF Pr
Bryan. to-day the foremost Dcmocrnt
In the land
-
KANSAS poY IN ENGLAND.