The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-06-20
The Greenback Platform.
The New Era Denounces it as Sell Out
to the Ring.

Under the caption of "The Convention and
the Ring" the New Era devotes several col
umns to denouncing the work of the recent
Greenback Convention. Especially severe is
it in it's. denunciations of the chairman, Mr..
Rust, whose reputation in the cause of fnan-
cial reform is described as not so good as SOlon
Chase's steers. In the course of the diatribe it
asks the following questions, and follows them
with some suggestions.
Why has our State Committee refused to re-
spond to the generous offers of pecuniary aid
from the West?
Why were there no uncompromising Green
back speakers procured from abroad? and why
were those who were present refused an oppor-
tunity of addressing the Convention?
Why was Mr.. Ladd favored with such an op--
EVENING" And why did he confine his re-
marks to the Democratic issues?
Why was a delegate virtually converted into
q mass convention, when it was known that
the Democratic State Committee was present
platform that moderately hard-money Demo-
Gratis could stand upon? A platform, to use the
langua of the Maine Standard, "conserva-
tive and well calculated to gain the confidence
of candid and well meaning people,"
Why did Mr.. White assume the RESPONSE
bility of appointing Mr.. Rust temporary chair
man and then procure honest Mr.. Todd to
move the temporary be made the permanent
organization, against the wishes of a large ma
jority of the delegates?
Why was it that certain members of the
State Committee were so Solicitous in regard
to who should be placed upon the committee
on platform and resolutions, as to have their
men selected and nominated without any gen.
eral consultation or consideration by the coun-
ty delegations?
Why did President Rust refuse to entertain
several motions to amend the original motion
to adopt the committees platform, thus pre-
Guiding all discussion of its merits?
Why was it that certain delegates with
strong Democratic proclivities so raved, and
fumed and made such desperate efforts to get
their hand on Mr.. Tullis, a mover to consider
the platform plank by plank? Did they design
forcible silencing of that gentleman?
Why did well-known Democrats, who have
never made any pretence. OF entertaining the
Greenback idea, but on the contrary have ad-
vocated a coin basis, and who now say that the
Portland platform is a good exponent of DEM
ocratic principles, oppose its consideration by
the Convention?
Why did President Rust put the motion to
adopt the platform when two other motions
were pending, and should have been disposed
previous to entertaining the third? And why,
after putting the question of adopting, which
was but family responded to except by the
ring and self-appointed delegates, or perhaps
Committee, was there not an opportunity Of
fered for those opposed also to respond?
Was there any design on the part of the
State Committee or its Chairman in securing
only Congressman Ladd to address the Conven-
ton, and was it part of their plan that the re-
marks of speakers should be confined to ques-
tions that would meet the approval of the
Democracy?
1t is the design of ring to lay upon the
shelf such men as Solon Chase, 7. H. Murch
and'others who have been the pioneers and
| wheel horses of the financial reform move
ment, and substitute such parasites as Brown
| Pickard, Rust, Crocker and others who would
! sacrifice the principles which have won fol
the National party the influence and power il
now enjoys, would be traitors to the interests
of labor and industrial progress that they might
| secure the emoluments of office!
| Why is it that chairman White objects to
opening the campaign till into July?
| Does he propose to fight the battle on State
| issues and as much as possible ignore the finan
| cial question, as was the design of the maker:
| of the platform which placed State instead Of
| National issues at its head, but was reversed
by the convention after uncle Solon stepped
upon it with his cowhide boots?
These questions every honest Greenbackel
should consider; and should they serve to opeI
their eyes to the fact that politicians are labor
ing to shape the course of our party movemen
| in their interest and drag it down to their lev
ell, our object is accomplished. Should the.
serve to guard them against repetition o
such a coup d'etat and secure open, honorable
popular rule in the future, we shall be vel
compensated for our effort.
Look out for your caucuses and county con
| yentions that are soon to occur.
Spot the ringsters. Trust none but tried ant
reliable men who are opposed to affiliation will
| other parties. Atfliation means death to ou
| principles. Honorable defeat will give u
more strength in 1880 than diShonorable vic
tory.
Stand for the right and it will prevail, thougl
trucking policy may triumph for season.