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Show BRYANS BAYS control ARGUMENT. taint abandon IS WISE AND NECESSARY. Enemies of Independent Blmetnlllam and Advocates of the Gold Standard Kind no Difficulty In Uniting Kerend Issues Urged. While it is always difflcult to secure harmonious between distinct and separate political organizations, there are times when this is both wise and necessary. In the campaign of 1896 the Democrats, Populists and Silver Republicans united in demanding the Immediate restoration of Independent bimetallism at the existing ratio of 16 to 1, and they agreed in declaring that the money question was of paramount importance at that time. The question now arises, should these three political organizations act together in the congressional campaign of 1898. I answer without hesitation. Yes. Those who answer No must assume the burden of proving first, that cooperation was unwise in 1896, or second, that conditions have so changed as to make unwise now what was wise then. The defeat that befell the allied at forces does not prove that time to have been unwise, unless it can be shown that some one party would have been more successful than the three combined. does not contemplate the abandonment of party organization or the surrender of any political prindefended on ciples; nor is the ground that the platforms of the Camthree parties are identical. isfew turn a upon generally paigns sues, sometimes upon one, and events do much to determine which issue shall most absorb public attention. .If the Democrats, Populists and Silver Republicans were agreed upon but one question, that question might be Important enough to Justify cooperation although the parties differed on all other subjects; but those who advocate the union of the principal reform forces against the common enemy can point not to one, but to a number of reforms which are demanded with equal emphasis by Democrats, Populists and Silver Republicans. First. They are unalterably opposed to gold monometallism. Second. They demand the immediate restoration of bimetallism at the present ratio by the Independent action of this country. Third. They oppose the retirement jtA the greenbacks. Fourth. They oppose the issue of pa per money by national banks. . Fifth. They oppose the issue of in g bonds in time of peace. Sixth. They favor the Income tax as a means of raising a part of the revenue necessary to administer the federal government Seventh. They favor the abolition of trusts. Eighth. They are opposed to government by injunction. Ninth. They are in favor of arbltra tlon as a means of settling disputes between labor and capital. Here are nine issues which are not only Important in themselves, but are now prominently before the people. Are not these reforms worth securing? 'These questions were submitted to the people at the last election, but they were not settled, and will not be settled until they are settled right. The Republican party is trying to commit the country more thoroughly to the gold standard. Even now it is endeavoring to secure legislative in- dorsement of the policy of paying all coin obligations in gold. It pretends to be much concerned about national honor and the public credit. Tbe leaders of the party know that the debtor, whether a public debtor or a private debtor, meets all the requirements of the law, moral as well as statutory, when he discharges his obligation according to the terms of the contract. They know that all through the war the government, and private debtors as well, paid coin obligations in gold, although gold was worth three cents And on the dollar less than silver. yet these leaders would accuse Abraham Lincoln of dishonor rather than incur the displeasure of the Wall street magnates, who now control the finaa dal policy of the Republican party. These leaders know that if the federal government declares its purin pose to pay. all coin obligations gold, its example will be used as an argument to force gold contracts upon state and municipal governments, and upon private citizens. These leaders know that if their scheme Is carried out, the very existence of these gold obligations will be urged as a reason why bimetallism should not be restored. If the Republicans obtain control of the senate and house in the elections of 1898, there is no doubt that they will, by law, surrender the contract right which the government now has, to pay coin obligations in silver (of which we are large producers), and to bind the nation to pay in gold (an metal, tbe production of which is largely controlled by England). The Republican party will. If it oh . n terest-bearln- t i-- of con grew In 1898, now upon us; it will require all the tbe system which gives the intelligence and patriotism of the peodebtor the option, and aubttltute a new ple to rescue the government from the ayttem, which, first, permits the money lands of a party which bas become the lenders to choose the coin of payment; defender and abettor of every form of and, second, allows them to increase political vice. In such a crisis there is the purchasing power of the dollars no time to discuss the ultimate effect which they demand, to the impoverof upon any particular ishment of the wealth producers of the Tarty. We may rest assured that the world. people will bestow honor where honor Should those who oppose this finan- is due, and that that party which shows cial heresy, this child of greed and the greatest devotion to the welfare of avarice, fight each other while the the people will in the end receive due American people are bound with fet- credit for every laudable endeavor. ters of gold? WILLIAM J. BRYAN. If the questions above presented have lost none of their importance, it would BRITISH VIEW OF SILVER. seem that is proper now, if proper eighteen months ago, unBritish diplomats and commercial less it can be shown that the parties agents in the far east are constantly which could trust each other then can- reminded of the fact that silver bar not' do so now. As there bas been no been demonetized. The commercial national convention since 1896, it is man in New York or London may shut impossible to Judge of the present in- his eyes and try not to see what is tentions of the three parties unless we taking place In the world, but the East take for our criterion the actions of Indian Englishman is compelled to those who stand in a representative face the truth. From time to tlms capacity. some conservative Englishman exThe Democrats, the Populists, aud presses his to the home govthe Silver Republicans who in 1896 fa- ernment or opinion the English public in I vored the reforms which I have men- manner that cannot be misunderstood tioned favor them There is not One of the most recent books on the a prominent man of any of the parties far eastern question is that published to-da- y. which united in 1896 who has abandoned any of the reforms which drew the parties together. The advocates of the gold standard, the enemies of Independent bimetallism, the opponents of the greenbacks, the friends of national bank notes, the defenders of trusts, the supporters of government by injunction, and those who object to arbitration and an income tax all these find no difficulty in uniting on the main issues, no matter how much they may differ upon minor ones. Shall the friends of reform show less earnestness or less sagacity? Reforms are often delayed by an attempt to secure too much, while progress is usually made a little at a time. If one cherishes the hope of laying up a competency for old age, he does not refuse to save anything until he can save all that he desires. If he Is wise he lays aside a little each day and makes it the foundation for his fortune. Society moves forward slowly. Circumstances make it possible to rise to a plane a little higher than that occupied before, and from this new vantage ground the fight is renewed for the capture of some greater height Holland has expressed an Idea which may well be applied to the unceasing contest waged by those who would improve the condition of society and promote the welfare of the human race. He says: Heaven is not gained by a single bound; We build the ladder by which we rise From the lowly earth to the vaulted skies. And mount to its summit round by round. Many millions of our people believe enumerated will bring vast advantage to the producers of wealth, but whether the advantage be much or little, these are the things which lie Immediately is front of us, and they must be decided one way or the other before more remote questions, even though they be greater ones, can be seriously considered. What though there be questions which may ultimately separate those who fought together ir the last campaign, will Democrats, PopuliBts or Silver Republicans be the worse for having secured those things for which they are Jointly contending? Agitation is a means to an end, not the end Itself. To securo a few things is better than to advocate many things and get nothing. Our opponents not only recognize that there is strength in union, but they bIbo recognize that there is weakness in division, and therefore they may be expected to present a united front whenever tbe interests of exaggerated wealth are attacked, and they may be expected to spread dissensions wherever possible among the reform forces. The Democrats will be warned against becoming tainted with Populism, and yet Jcffcraon denounced banks of issue, and JackBon entered into a contest with the money power before there was a Populist party, while the bimetallic system was established in the United States before any political party was organized. Our enemies will warn the Populists against association with the Democrats, and with unstinted praise commend those who are credited with The putting principle above office. will leave the gladly Republican party Populists in possession of all the principles, so long as the Republicans are permitted to hold all the offices, because political principles are of no service to the public until they are enforced, through the legislative, executive and Judicial departments of the The Silver Republicans government. will be asked to listen to the siren song and bimetallists, of international warned against tbe contaminating influence of both Democrats and Populists. As an ounse of prevention is said to be worth a pound of cure, so a dollar spent in separating the reform forces will be more useful than sixteen dollars spent In an attempt to overcome their united strength. In great crises the patriotism of the American people always rises sufficient for any emergency An emergency is that the reforms above This in 1896 by Valentine Chirol. gentleman has been for many years intimately connected with Chinese and Japanese affairs. He has even been summoned before the Tsungli-Yamethe Chinese foreign office, to give his advice on affairs of state. We cannot but feel assured that he has a pretty full knowledge of the whole far eastern situation. Here is what he has to say about the effects in the east of the fall of silver: One does not require to believe in bimetallism in order to recognize the enormous advantages which the manufacturers in a silver country enjoy in The competing with gold countries. cost of the necessaries of life, so far as the masses are concerned, has remained absolutely unaffected by the fall in the value of silver, and the workman is therefore quite content to receive the same wages as he did formerly; for their purchasing power, as far as he is concerned, is still the same. But while the wages bill of the employer in China and Japan has remained actually the same, it stands, in relation to his western competitor, at only half the figure to which it formerly amounted, now that the value of the h silver dollar has fallen from to nearly of the pound, that is from four shilling to two shillings in gold. Thus, where, for example, tot tbe production of similar goods to the value of, say, 100, the cost of labor was and still is 20 in England and 856. In China or Japan, the real cost in China or Japan is no longer, as it was formerly, 10 in sterling currency as against 20 when carried to England, but only 5. And the same applies to any raw material required for the purposes of manufacture which, both the gold and silver countries equally produce. The silver price of Cardiff coal, notwithstanding the fall of its gold price, bas increased from 810 to 815, silver, per ton, while, with the excellent plant laid down in Japan to work the native mines and the construction of railways to convey their output to the chief industrial centers, the price of Japanese coal has fallen to 83 per ton in silver, or for the purposes of competition with gold countries, to little more than (gold) per ton. The depreciation in silver might, in fact, be said to operate as a system of protection in favor of the industries of silver countries aB against those of gold countries. n, one-fift- one-ten- th 81-5- 0 THIS COUNTRY FOR US. SO SAYS OUR AMERICAN CONSTITUTION. Ours s Gorsrnmsnt of tbs Foopl by tbs Peuplo and fur thu People of tliu United States But all This lias Been Repudiated In Our Financial Affairs. The preamble to the Constitution of the United States is as follows: 'We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, provide for the com- mon defense, secure domestic tranquillity, promote the general welfare, and secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of liberty, do ordain und establish this Constitution." By this preamble the constitutional powers and purposes of our government are to be Interpreted, says Anson Wolcott, of Indiana, in the Silver Ours is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people" of the United States of America. All this and nothing less is claimed. By this patriotic principle, all the powers of congress, all interpretations by our courts, and all acts of our executive officers must be measured and construed. If there be anything done at variance with the constitutional Interests or rights of our people, then such thing of variance is a wrong which demands the promptest edreas. The source of all governmental authority in the United States is authoritatively declared to be "of and in our people, and such power is to be exercised by our people. The government is a trusteeship only, and is strictly limited by its constitutional powers. If any attempt shall be made to exceed the granted powers, or to exercise such powers, except for the purposes declared in the Constitution, it is moral treason, and may be legal treason. Please do not forget that our government, under the Constitution, is to promote the general welfare of the people of the United States, and to secure the blessings of liberty. This is its beneficent purpose. In his recent speech in New York, our distinguished President, William McKinley, in all he said relative to our agriculture, manufactures, and commerce, recognized fully and without reserve the duties of our government "to promote the general welfare of the people of the United States." But when he discussed the financial policies that should prevail in our government he wholly forgot our people, their interests and their rights, and in a long harangue, be Insisted that the United States should discharge all its obligations, at home and abroad. In the currency recognized as the best Knight-Watchma- n. that our laws, always and la all things, shall fully represent out free institutions, and maintain this government purely and strongly as a "government of the people, by the people, and for tbe people of the United States, and not become a government of any combination of the powers of wealth or any other powers to encroach upon the peoples unrestricted inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in their own free way under their own National Constitution, notwithstanding the hostile designs of the empires and monarchies of Europe. Our great and patriotic Washington in his farewell address to the American people warned them to beware ot entangling alliances with foreign nations. The modern legislation of our country fostering gigantic financial combinations and trusts and foreign money borrowing for the promotion of such trusts has entangled us in thirty-on- e billions and four hundred and eighty-eight- y millions of dollars of debt (See speech of Congressman Walker, chairman of the committee of banking and currency, March 23, 1892.) And our people have become debtor slaves to the creditors who hold these vast sums of the obligations of the people of the United States; the result of the incompetency or errors of those who have wielded for these meny years the powers of our cans,1 and POINTS FROM THE PRESS. Blessed are the righteous minority, for they are the forerunners of every reform. The Pointer. The Populists in Oregon hare made arrangements for fusion with the Democrats and with the Silver Republicans. The members of the Peoples party elsewhere have consented to fuse with the Democrats on congresThe outlook for consequently, very good. The Populists ought to secure forty members of the next house, which would be nearly double the The membership they have now. southern contingent will probably be larger than it is now. As for the west, it is more than It has been for many years. Twentieth Censional nominations. the fall campaign an tury. The essence of slavery is in getting something for nothing in getting service without rendering service in exchange. This is true, whether the slavery be by means of the ownership of the bodies of men, the ownership of land on which and from which they muRt live, or of a dollar which represents wealth Instead of service. The Equitlst throughout the civilized world at the time of payment, totally regardless of the consideration paid or the terms of the contract Were a private citizen, the attorney or agent of a debtor to do this thing In behalf of a creditor' and if a larger sum should be paid the creditor than the contract called for, such attorney would in law and equity be responsible to the creditor for the The women of the plutocracy of Chicago, having no ideas higher than animal, have organized a society for the of thoroughbred cats. propagation This may be called an evidence of Tom Cat prosperity. 'Rah for McKinley prosperity! Say, you ragged, hungry American voting king, don't you wish you were as good as a cat? Nice, indifference. And should the excess so telligent cats! Ugly, ignorant voting to Reason. paid be paid out of funds in the attor- kings! Appeal neys hands, he would be liable to a Congressman Loud is again making criminal prosecution for embezzla noise about the postal deficit, and ement The government that would do the same thing would be morally de- trying to get all books shut out from the cheap postal rates that enable the linquent to its people. to give good reading matter publishers Besides, where in tbe Constitution of the United States is there any provi- at cheap prices. Mr. Loud will spend sion indicating that there is any duty his efforts in vain. Senators Stewart on the part of the United States to and Butler knocked him out in the frame its currency laws so as to con- last congress and It is safe to predict form to the laws of any other country they will not be caught napping in this or countries? The assertion that any congress. such duty exists Is an unpatriotic asOne more turn of tbe screw-pres- s sumption and is .also false. This great and Independent nation that Is squeezing the life blood out of makes its own laws on all subjects. "free Americans is contemplated by We are not a subordinate nation, to be a clique of schemers in the interest of governed by the laws of any foreign monopoly. It is to be hoped that the countries whatever. The requirements infamous measure known as the Loud of our own special conditions, financial bill will not become a law until the or economic, are the only proper guides reform press has educated the people In the enactment of our laws, other- into methods of of a wise we cease to be an Independent, peaceful nature. The people are ignoand become a contemptible, subord- rant enough now. If the cheap paminate nation. phlets and the sample copies of the re.Mr. McKinley aspires to be our naform press are cut off and the minds tional Delilah, and would shear this of the masses are left to the tender national Samson of its locks of polit- culture of the organs of capitalism, ical strength on this financial ques- ignorance will be Intensified and option. If our national independence is pression will run riot. The result is to be given away on this political easy to foretell, for we hare history as question, have we any assurance that a guide and like causes produce like efwe will stand safely on any other ques- fects. F. W. C. in Progressive tion, where interested parties shall Thought eek to control our governmental action? Lincoln Against Gaga, Depew A Co. Applicable or inapplicable to The assumption by Gage, Depew, and us, right or wrong, Mr. McKinley says: nearly every Republican orator, in The currency laws of the civilized na- celebrating the birthday of Lincoln, tions should govern us. Why not go that Lincoln was a goldlte and in fafurther, and say the United States vor of the classes against the masses, should go to murdering and robbing recalls to mind how different the teachthe natives of Asia and Africa, be- ing of Lincoln from those of gold moncause the civilized nations of opolists. For example, in his message Europe are now doing, and for many to Congress of December 3, 1861, In disyears have been perpetrating, these cussing the labor question, he said: horrible atrocities. No men living are more to With Mr. McKinley, not the nature be trusted than those who tollworthy up from of the act, however unwise or atro- poverty none less Inclined to take or cious, but the standing and position of touch aught which they have not honthe parties, furnishes the data of ap- estly earned. Let them beware of surproval or censure. Is Satan still an rendering a political power which they angel of light, when he wins a suc- already possess, and which, if surrencess? dered, will surely be used to close the Regardless of all foreign princes,, door of advancement and burdens uppotentates, and powers, let us firmly on them, till all of liberty shall be Insist that America be tor Ameri lost st. In another part of the book the writer tellB us that while the ninety-thre- e spinning companies of Lancashire, England, were working at a loss, the cotton mills of Japan were paying dividends of 16 to 20 per cent, and even more. ' By 1894 the cotton exports of England to Japan had suffered in six years a decline of 40 per cent, while the trade of Bombay with Japan had suffered to the extent of 80 per cent. In the latter place the rapidly appreciating rupee is ruining the trade that competes with manufactures of countries. The tbe silver-usin- g nations are learning in the dear school of expience, but it is doubtful if the great money-lendewill take the lessons to heart so long as they can lend money to manufacturers operating in the silver-usin- g countries. The only hope is that the masses will wake up to the danger of the" situation. II. F. THURSTON. gold-standa- rd rs Borne Faidilon Note. Steady Jons for workingmen are going out of fashion. Hungry looking faces and ragged looking clothes are getting very fashionable among the wage workers. The old time fashion of making times more prosperous by reducing wages still prevails to a very large extent It gets more and more fashionable for labor saving machines to displace workmen, and for department stores to The indisplace small storekeepers. dustrial army reserve is swelling as a consequerc. Rochester Disturber. A man usually knows where he got his hat, but when it eomes to his rella-well, that's another story. umb- is, so-call- ed |