The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-08-15
The Message and the Platform.

The Message and the Platform.
The message Of President Cleveland
to congress, in extra session assembled,
Is not an inspiring document to those
to resisting the efforts Of the republican
party to fix the financial legislation OF
this country in the interest Of the bond
holders and capitalistic combinations,
whose efforts are slowly destroying the
value of the peoples property and
sweeping the profits of their labor into
the pockets Of the protected classes.
There are two elements of opposition
to the Sherman law. One is the repub-
lican party, which, having framed 1t
for the purpose of defeating a free coin
age measure, employed it, as its authors
now declare, to educate the people to
the point of flying to the single gold
standard for relief How far their ed
ucation" has gone the republicans do
of Il single gold standard, and the MEM
bers Of that party believe that the time
is now ripe TO repeal the law and re-
establish the act of decentralization Of
1875
The other element of opposition is
the democratic party. which perceivcs in
the Sherman law n cowardly make
shift intended to cmbarrasS legislation
I'm behalf of silver as Il monetary stand
ard. For that reason the party is OPP
posed to the law, and is anxious TO Sc
cure its repeal.
Thus while both parties are earnestly
urging the repeal of the Sherman law,
their reasons are as opposite as the
poles.
cause its repeal. unless followed by the
conditions of the democratic platform
would bring the country to gold mono
metallism-a system which would in
crease the value of the money which the
money lenders and gold sharks of the
east have in store, and enable the ma
tiO,ial banking syndicate to perpetuate
itself by compelling an issue of bonds
to secure gold.
The democrats, on the other hand,
would repeal it, as a 'cowardly make
shift" because it stands in the way of
the restoration of silver to our curren-
ry as Il monetary standard.
Mr.. Cleveland's message favOrS and en-
dorses the republican policy of repeal,
and entirely ignores the democratic poll
cy.
If he is right tie democratic party is
wrong, and has been wrong for twenty
years. If he is right, John Sherman
and his republican colleagues are right;
and it is eminenlly fitting that that ram
pant force bill champion and gold mono
metallisr, Henry Cabot Lodge, should,
az he did, assume charge of the message
in the senate ana move its reference to Il
committee, with instructions.
The duty of democrats in congress is
plain as day. They are not in a posi-
ton to ignore the democratic policy put
forth in the democratic platform. Speak
pr Crisp in his speech 10 the nominating
caucus, outlined democratic duty in
one short, sharp sentence: I'VE must
redeem our pledges 1t is clear that
Mr. Cleveland holds himself and his
views above the party. He may be,
rs his intimates have claimed, "a plat
form unto himself" But democratic
congressman cannot hold themselves
bhIty TO both the party and the people,
and this obligation they must discharge
fearlessly and faithfully.
1t would be no disparagement to the
greatest democrat that ever lived to say
that his opinions are not as important
as the principles and pledges set forth
In the party platform. 1t is not too
much TO say that Mr. Clevcland's opn-
Ions cease to be important from Il demo-
cratic standpoint when they seem to up
hold the republican policy.
I'VE must redeem our pledges" They
cannot be redeemed by adopting the
pOICH WHICH, ilc ItpuDllCdu party mas
made odious. They cannot be redeemed
by repeating a law that stands in the
way of the restoration Of silver to our
currency as monetary standard, and
leaving our financial system where John
Sherman left it after the crime of de-
monetization in 1873.
1t is the duty of southern democrats
to be especially active and insstent in
tn=ir efforts to redeem the pledges of
the platform. The party here must be
held together; it must continue to pre-
sent united 'front.' but it cannot be held
together if the people once become con-
WINGED that the financial policy of the
democrats Is identical with that Of John
Sherman and the republican party.
We trust that no dignified congressman
will be compelled to take to the woods
next year.