Gilpin observer., 1900-08-16
A. M. STEVENSON LEAVES
THE SILVER REPUBLICANS.

Denver, Aug. IA NJ. Stevenson
yesterday rendered his resignation as
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
mittce, care of w. III. Griffith, Secre-
tary.
''Gentlemen-I have this day ad-
dressed to you and delivered to the sec
rctary of the committee my resignation
as chairman. l have not wished to do
more than formally resign the chair
manship of the committees; but after
advising with my friends whose opin-
ion l value, ] have concluded that
proper respect for your opinions re-
quires that | state the reasons which
impel me to the course | have taken.
Il was ii delegate to the Republican
National convention ut 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 II gold standard plat
form. We attended that convention as
representatives of the Republican par
ty of the state of Colorado. The ac-
ton 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
Washington. signed by distinguished
senators and representatives of Con
gress. urging the organization of IL Ma
tional Silver Republican party. The
address declared that in differing with
the National Republican party OH the
money question. we did not surrender
our convictions on the other great
questions of political economy and gov
ernment.
In June following. the representa-
lives of thirty-one states of the Union
met in Chicago and completed the or
ganization of this party. The platform
adopted at 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 1t was ac-
complished. Such has been, in fact.
the declaration of all state. district and
county conventions held by this party
in Colorado. The Kansas City plat
form does not so declare.
Il haye been actively connected with
the party since its organization and
have done my share in trying to build
up the organization and make 1t pow
erful and respected and worthy of re-
spect. When the party was national
lied. l hoped that 1t might become n
power for good in the politics of the
country. l still believe that such might
have been possible had not new condi-
tions, new responsibilities of govern
ment and new issues been pressed for
consideration and settlement. There is
now no hope-in fact. no pretense-that
the party can live beyond the present
campaign, and l do not believe it possi
bic to aid the cause of bimetallism by
continuing the fight this fail.
''On this great question the people of
Colorado have not changed; but condi-
tionS and issues have changed, and in
my Judgment the silver question Is not
to-day live issue before the American
people. and never will become an issue
of great political Importance until the
necessities 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-
cordilg him loyal support-and why?
Certainly because they believe that the
nj haS SnttInI
slde-tracked for the present. The rea-
son that prompt" them to return TO
their old party allegiance, in a measure
mt least, persuades me that l am cor
rect in my conclusions about this ques-
ton. In 1896 the Democratic party de-
clared the financial question to he one
of controlling and paramount political
Importance. In 1900 the same party
declares another issue to be of para
mount Importance, and every one
knows that the open declaration in IA
yor of free coinage was forced upon the
convention after the representatives of
n majority of the delegates had voted
against such n declaration In commit
zee and the resolution could not have
been adopted In the committee had II
not been for the votes of the territories
Of Hawaii. Indian territory, Oklahoma.
Arizona ana New Mexico, none of
which has any voice in the election of
the President.
in 1896. Senator Hill Of New York
denounced the majority of the Chicago
convention and the platform advocated
by them, In language, every sentence
Of which was ioyfully repeated during
the campaign by those who opposed
the election of Mr.. Bryan. He and
those who acted with him sullenly re-
fused to support the nominees Of the
Chicago convention. In 1900 the same
senator lin was the hero of the Kan
lns city convention, and would have
been it's nominee for vice president had
he not declined the nomination and Inn