The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-09-09
politital affairs.
MANToN MARBLES VIEWS.
A RRIVATB LETTER TO A LIBERAL
REPUBLICAN,.
Comparing the Two Platforms, the Two Let
tefs, and the Two Candidaies-Goy. Hayes
financial Heresies Why the Democratic
Party can Best Effect Substantial Reform.
New York, Aug. 10, 1876,

DEAR Sin Your letter is received
As hard-moncy man, us Liberal Re.
publican, your indecisiou should be ended
by comparison, either
/. OF the platforms of the two parties.
\ 2. Of tho letters of acceptance, or,
3. OF the characters aud capacities Of
the two Presidential candidates.
In the first place, the last three plat.
forms of the Republican party show no
progress, but steady falling of (if you
take into account the financial situation at
each Of the three epochs, 1868, 1879,
1876 to say nothing of the faithless VIC.
laton, in Republican Congressional legis-
lation, Of the pledges of Republican Ma
tonal Conventions. Now, at last, the
latest Of those conventions openly rejects
the proposal to enjoin upon Congress pre-
pIrations needful for resumption, and re.
fuses to inhibit postponement Of resump-
ton beyond the day named, Jan. /, 1879.
Now, at last, the same convention refuses
even to confirm the hollow promise Of that
act Of 1875, refuses even to mention It,
but, instead, goes back to the pledge Of
the act of 1869 (of which the act Of 1875
was devised for mere and specious pre-
tense of fl,lhlment,) and forsooth, at this
late day, demands the fulfment Of that
earlier, uufulflled, and almost forgotten
pledge "by continuous and steady pro.
gress to specie payments" This it does
in resolution which itself, by implica.
ton, admits the fact that for seven years
neither Commercial prosperity, public
morals, nor "the national credit has
suficed to induce the Republican party to
take the first step in its ''steady progress
to specie payments or has sutieed to
prevent a single one of It's annual steps
backward. Aud that is all. You are
merely invited to lean again upon one Of
the longest broken Of many broken reeds.
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
On the other hand, the three CORES.
ponding national platforms of the Demo.
cratic party show distinct progress, u
successfully higher one, clearer perception
and purer purpose, eliminating in the last.
This demands reform "to establish a sound
currency, restore the public credit and
maintain the national honor This de-
nounces the failure to make good the
promise of the legal tender notes (the core
of the specie payments problcmD denoun.
ces the changing standard Of value forced
into the hands Of the people; denounces
the non-payment Of the legal tenders as a
disregard of the plighted faith of the ma
tion; denounces the improyidence which,
out Of colossal receipts and wasted resour-
ces, has accumulated no reserve; denounces
the Republican party for having, during
eleven years Of peace, made no advancc
toward resumption, and no preparation for
resumption, but instead, obstructing re.
sumption by wasting resources and ex-
hausting all onr surplus income, and for
having, while annually protesting to intend
speedy return TO specie payments, an-
nually enacted fresh hindrances thereto
among which hindrances it wisely or un.
wisely reckons the resumption date of the
uc. Of 1875, fortified in this at least by
the fact that never has such date been
anywhere an efficient means Of resump-
ton. Aud, finally, after giving the best
Of all possible guarantees Of its spirit and
purpose in these precise and several de-
nunciations, the St. Louis Convention
completed its demand for resumption by
prescribing the three essential conditions
of preparation therefor, to wit: "public
economies, official retrenchments, and wise
finance" which "shall enable the nation
soon to assure the world of its perfect
ability and its perfect readiness TO meet
any Of its promises at the call of the cred
itor entitled to payment"
1t is no descent from the highest plane
Of economic craftsmanship for the plat
form then to have affirmed, as it does
affirm, that such system, well devised
and in competent hands for execution,
"would bring healing on its wings to all
our rharrassed industries" They are neither
economists nor statesmen who have in.
spired the people with dread of some
apocalypse Of ruin to follow cremation
or "contraction."
THE TWO LETTERS OF ACCEPTANCE
Gov. Tilden's letter accepting nomina
ton, aud Gov. Hayes's letter, increase thu
divergence of the two parties at the very
point where you place your chief solici
tude. Compare the two:
Gov. Hayes funbles the great problem
moils through common places and poll
tician's phrase making, and arrives at The
conclusion that "the feeling of uncertainty
inseparable from an irredeemable papel
currency is great obstacle to the revival
of business aud the return of prosperity.
GA Daniel come to Judgment !"
So far reaches his perspicacity; such il
the last word of his statesmanship-exeept
the promise to "approve," (not to DEVISE,
but to "approvo every appropriate step t
accomplish the desired end" We shal
presently sec what the degree Of his com
potency is likely to be, even for the task
ofjudging what to approve.
Look ut thut picture and then on this
tho letter Of Gov. Tilden--exhaustive
statesnanlike, grasping every detail and