Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1893-10-12
THE PLATFORM.

The Louisville Cour1er-Journaz
makesthe following admirable anal
ysis of the demands of the financial
plank of the Democratic platform:
First-The Immediate repeal Of
the Sherman act. This is in a SEN
tence by itself, and is subject to no
conditions. It is, therefore, a square
declaration for unconditional re
peal.
Second-The use of both gold and
silver as money. The Wilson bill
provides for this. All the silver
dollars already coined, which are
seven times as many as can be kept
in circulation, are to be continued a
full legal tender.
Ihird-There is a declaration in
favor OF the coinage of both gold
and silver. but this is subject
to various qualifications. 1t is
not an unconditional declaration by
any means. It is not a condition
precedent to the repeal of the Shers
man law. On the contrary, it pro-
vides for some things that cannot be
reached at once 1t says that the
Democratic party is in favor Of the
coinage of both gold and silver,
tbut,"-and here follow the neces-
sary prerequisites without which it
cannot safely be done.
The first condition is that there
must be no discrimination against
either metal. To coin gold at its
bullion value and silver at IS per
cent. of its bullion value would be an
enormous discrimination against
gold, such as would drive it out of
circulation. This would ann4l the
previous declaration in favor Of the
use Of both gold and silver as money.
This idea is further emphasized by
the declaration that the dollar unit
of coinage must be of equal intrinsic
and exchangeable value.
Another condition is that the
value of the two metals must be ad-
justed by International agreement or
otherwise, so as to maintain the
parity Of the two metals, not only
for the payment of debts, but in
the markets-not for a day or a
month, but, cat all times"
To show how ACCURATE and logical
is the analysis given above, we print
the exact words of the platform:
eve denounce the Republican
legislation known as the Sherman
act of 1890 as a cowardly makeshift,
fraught with possibilities OF danger
in the future, WHICH should make
all CT It's Supporters, as well as its
author, anxious for its speedy repeal.
| We hold to the use of both gold and
silver as the standard money Of the
country, and the coinage Of both
gold aud SILVER without discfiminat-
ing against either metal, or charge
for mintage, but the dollar unit of
coinage of both metals must be of
equal intrinsic and exchangeable
value, Or be adjusted through inter-
national agreement or by such safe
guards of legislation as shall insure
the maintenance of the parity of the
two metals, and the equal power Of
every dollar at al fimeg in the mars
kets and In payment Of debt; and we
demand thatall paper currency shall
be kept at par and redeemable in
coin, We insist upon this pQliey as
especially necessary for the protec-
ton of the farmers and laboring
~lasses, the first and most defenseless
victims of unstable money and Q
~huctuating currency"
If anybody can find a word OF
suggestion in favor of the uncondi'
tional free coinage Of silver Jig this
or any excuse for the course Of the
Democratic senators who are oppos>
ing the unconditional repeal of the
Sherman aet W would like to know
where it is.