The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-07-08

democrats nB tne AuVOCates VI AuH'
We recognize with pleasure that the
platform adopted by the Democratic. Ma
tional Convention indicates progress IN
thn direction. II speaks out Tor specie
resumption-onIy in theory, It is true.
Bnt that il an advance on many Demo-
cratic platforms Of this and Of preceding
Years, and we bid it welcome. But what
does the Democratic platform propose as
the first practical measure 10 carry out
this hard-money theory? The repeal Of
the Resumption measure OF the law Of
1875, which sets the resumption Of specie
payments for the year 1879.
So far as the Resumption act Of 1875 is
concerned, we criticized it at the time OF
its adoption because II was not strong
enough in Its provisions for the restora-
ton Of specie payments. But we also
expressly endorsed it, on the ground that
the law indOrses the promise and the
duty Of the Government to begin the pay
ment OF the paper money debt at GER
tam time. With this promise, this ex.
press recognition OF rigidly defined
duty OF the Government, much was gain.
ed, since the talk about resumption OF
specie payments was thereby removed
from the realm OF vague generalities into
the category Of fixed things. II the law
which contained this promise was not
complete In its details, yet there became
only one duty for every honorable, hon"
est champion Of the hard.money policy,
to.yit; TO 80 perfect It's details that they
would suffice for the object aimed at. But
what does the Democratic platform pro-
pose? Not to complete the law and 10
make it ample for the attainment Of Its
aim, but simply TO recall that promise.
And what does the recall OF this Resump.
ton act mean? Nothing but the open
reputation OF n promise given by Con.
greas, in the form Of law, OF an obliga-
lion most solemnly recognized by the
Government Of the United States.
The reasons assigned by the Democratic
platform for this reputation is that this
promise TO resume stood in the way Of
the practical resumption Of specie pay
ments. We take the liberty 81 saying
that this is absolute madness. BUTT Ia
something worse than sheer folly. 1t lisa
very transparent excuse TO cover step
Of which every honest hard.money man
must feel ashamed as an act OF treason
and treachery to the good cause. Every
body knows that the repeal Of the Re
sumption act has for two years been the
war.cry Of the intlationists. The intia'
tiOnists in Congress have, on every oppor'
tunity, made this repeal the aim OF theil
exCrtions, and In every one Of their State
platforms they have fnriously demanded
| il. And now come the hard.money peo
pic in the Democratic Convention, and
consent to the reputation Of this prom
ise. This is the simple statement OF the
case. Should the Democratic partyco
into power, the repeal OF the Resumption
act, would, according TO its platform, be
It's first measure, and the intationists
would zealously aid them, and the Dem.
ocratic hard.money people would lend
their assistance. And what next? The
Democratic platform also speaks of Q
number Of other things by which the
way must be paved for the resumption o.
specie payments-such rs economy, etc
This is all admirable, but we know this
talk, We heard an abundance OF IL last
year in the Ohio campaign, from the lips
Of Messrs. Ewing, Pendleton, etc. Then
these same arguments we're used to per
suade the people that the resumption o.
specie payments could not be thought o.
for some time to come. That which wa,
then used as an argument against resump'
ton we now see 10 the Democratic nation
al platform az a means oil bringing II
about. No sensible man can come 10 any
other conclusion than that this platform
this express reputation Of . legal prom.
ise, is, notwithstanding all these beautiful
expressions Of gold, nothing but con,
cealed, and very poorly concealed, affair
to compromise with the inhationists.
This compromise appears yet more dis.
tinctly in the choice OF candidates. We
believe that Mr.. Tilden Is . harli-money
man. We assume that he would make
all possible efforts 10 carry out q sound g.
nancial policy. Whether he would do Il
in view Of the controlling imitation ele'
lnent OF the Western and Southern Dem.
cracy, We doubt. But on that the Demo.
cratic Convention. has put up along with
him Mr.. Hendricks IA candidate for the
Vice Presidency. Who Is Mr.. Hendricksl
He is generally known to he the pet can
didate OF the inflationists. We're Mr.,
Tilden to be elected and then die,-.should
any fatal mishap beiall him,-what
then? Then Mr.. Hendricks, the leader
Of the Democratic inaationists, would be
President OF the United States. II may
be said that this is very remote posi-,
bility. It is not so very remote. II has
already been talked over In the head.
quarters OF the inaationiSls. We find a
letter in the Cincinnati Commercial in
which this Is stated as amongthe reasons
by which Mr.. Hendricks is to be inau.
enced to accept the nomination for the
Vice Presidency. The correspondent
says: "A delegate from New York as
sured ME that he was convinced that
Tilden would be elected. He added :
'Mr. Hendricks will lose nothing II he
accepts the nomination. Tilden will not
live through his full term Of office, even
II he lives to election day. Mr.. Hendricks
will be President within two years, and
in four years we can easily re'elect
him." Ni-''
Mr.. Hendricks has accepted the
nomination. That Mr.. Tilden, to state II
mildly, is not robust man, everybody
knows who knows him. Many Presidents
who were much healthier than he have
died before the expiration Of their terms
Of office. Therefore, In case Of a
Democratic victory, there would stand
between the Presidential chair and the
leader Of the inaationists but one frail
LIE, This Is something which nobody
can deny. 7
II there are hard money men who can
be satisfied by the express Reputation Of
the legal promise Of resumption, ard the
possibility Of Hendricks for President,
let them answer for II in their own con.
science. WecannOt. C.s.
Tilden.
-. Al. F,t .ta..It fs....,t.a. Tt.,.nA,,1t.6