The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-11
The Pennsylvania Platform.

The platform Of the Pennsylvania De-
mocraoy is all right except IN one particu-
lar. On general politics il is perfectly
sound, and the declaration respecting the
Treasury Ring is worthy of the highest
commentator. II means the overthrow
of that long-standing system of corrup-
ton which has made Pennsylvania the
most debauched state in the Union. In
all this matter the sympathy of honest
men everywhere will be strongly and
heartily with the Convention.
But when they come to deal with the
currency they are led asrray. The rcsolu-
lions upon this subject are Of such inter-
est that we repeat them here:
:. SsrsnAIInat he contraction Of the money cur
Republican pariy aud the further contraction proposed
oy ~ Win ayes To- iorcsi resumption OF specie paw
r. country, ana threatens general oansrrptcy. We
demand that hls policy be abandoned and tha the vol
trade leaving The restoration OF Legal tenders to par
q the people AID DOT by destfo,ns iaem ,'
n,gnM-ihat ne policy already Initiated by tho
INK the national banks the pow 10 furnish the
monopoly aud tic enormous burdens now opPfcs.ias
ne people without comnen-atng advantages anu that
ali the national bank circulation be promptly and per.
manenuy feured anu iul legal tenders Issued IN their
. N.Htt-Ihat The public interest demands that the
1oterninent shouli cta-c 70 ol,cIedN ne own money!
ana SHOULD mnke iis legal tondcrs receivable for all
puic dues, except where restcc tor the obligation Of
Ienh extinction OF the present national banks
sna tue establishments IN ther stead u system 81 free
Ia ~ 81 discount aud deposit under such regulations
AZ thg states respecuyel may prescribe and no paper
Tie Kin q he Federal t}oycrnmcnt afrdins Srac'i
ely currency based on me gold and silver ana other
properly VI the whole people Of the COuntry.'
This is not the utterance Of wisdom. but
of excitement and deluson. 1t proposes
first, that the contraction of the currency
which Secretary BRIsTow has commenced
under the law, with Il view TO the resump-
ton of specie payments at a fixed time, shall
be stopped and secondly, that there shall
be no national banks that the notes of the
Federal Government shall be alone tole-
rated as paper money; and that banks,
which shall be institutions of discount and
deposit only shall be established by the
different States.
The ideas and the policy here set forth
are fallacious in theory aud will be injuri-
Gus in practice. We repudiate them, and
denounce them and the violent struggle
which attended their adoption by the Con-
venton, proves that very large minority
of the Pennsylvania Democracy repudiate
and donounce them also.
But what shall this minority dor What
shall independent voters, looking to the
best good of the State and of the country,
do? Shall they turn against the ticket
nominated by this Convention with Judge
PERsHING at its head, who has just inflicted
condign punishment upon the public rob-
bers in Schuylkill county? shall they sup
port the CAMERON NJ ACKEY-K EMBLE ticket
in preference? Can any sensible man take
such course2 We say No.
The currency question to-day in Penn
sylvania is an abstraction; but the exist
ence of the Treasury Ring is n pernicious,
far-reachng reality. Another reality,
worse and more pernicious, is Grantism i'm
the national Administration, and this the
Treasury Ring is identified with and rep
resents The first duty Is to expel and re-
form these great and actual evils. No be
lever in hard money, and no friend of
honest government, should fail to support
the Erie ticker because of anything objec-
tionabe respecting this abstraction that is
contained in the platform.
ii. II. WELLS, the new District Attorney
at Washington, has begun his Official career by
appointing his son as assistant and though the
law recognizes no such Office there, two are at.
lowed to draw salaries from the surplus OF fees
just az II they were regularly authorized. Per
haps Attorney General PIERREPONT, who has
been gazetted as a reformer, will inquire into
this abuse right under the eyes Of his depart
ment.
Through the venal system which LANDAuLRT
WILLIAMS introduced, the District Attorney did