'the most gigantic crime of this or any
other age', and we agree with him that
the consummation of such a scheme would
ultimately entail more misery upon the
human race than all the wars, pestilences
and famines that ever occurred in the his-
tory of the world.' We are not willing
to be parties to such a crime, and in order
to undo the wrong already done, and to pre-
vent the further appreciation of money, we
favor the immediate restoration of the free
and unlimited coinage of gold and silver
at the present ratio of 16 to 1, without
waiting for the aid or consent of any other
nation on earth.

"We regard the right to issue money as an attribute of sovereignty and believe that all money needed to supplement the gold and silver coinage of the Constitution, and to make the dollar so stable in its purchasing power that it will defraud neither debtor or creditor, should be issued by the general Government, as the as the greenbacks were issued; that such money should be redeemable in coin, the Government to exercise the option by redeeming in gold or silver, whichever is most convenient for the Government. We believe that all money issued by the Government whether gold, silver, or paper, should be made a full legal tender for all debts, public and private, and that no citizen should be permitted to demonetize by contract that which the Government makes money by law." 25

Other Reforms in Platform

"The platform also declared in favor of the income tax, arbitration and the foreclosure of the Pacific liens. In fact, in 1894, the Democrats of Nebrasks contended for subtantially the same policies which were embodied in the Democratic National Platform in 1896." 26

25. First Battle, p. 150. 26. First Battle, p.

Control of the Democratic Party

by Silver Element

In November, 1889, a National Silver Conference was held at St. Louis, Missouri. The leaders of the silver sentiment in the country were there and addressed the Conference, chie f among these being, Hon. A. J. Warner, of Ohio, Sen. William M. Stewart, of Nevada, and the Hon. Richard P. Bland, of Missouri. From this conference grew up the American Bimetallic League, which was organized as such in May, 1892. From time to time educational conferences were held by this League, the first one attended by Mr. Bryan was at Chicago in 1893, in which he served upon the Resolutions Committee.

1

At the Washington Conference held in February, 1895, an address was issued calling upon the friends of free silver to unite and form a party of their own. Thus we see the bimetallists turning from activities of an educational to those of a political character.

Control of the Party

During the closing days of the 53d Congress, an address was sent out to the members of the Democratic Party urging them to take control of the national party organization in the inter

1. First Battle, p. 153.