The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-04-23

The Brooklyn Standard Union, edited
by Mr.. MtIrat Halstead, one of the most
conspicuous republican partiSans in the
country, rcbules The Constitution for
remarking that Il majority of the demo-
Gratis in congress We're elected on free
coinage platforms and that all had
heartily united in endorsing the Chicago
platform. Mr.. Halstead's rebulle takes
the shape of sharp reminder that the
word free" is not in the platform, and
that an effort to have the word inserted
was defeated by the convention.
We have heard something Ike this
nearer home Mr. Holstead's rebuIle is
beautifully supplemental to the charge
The Constitution has made that the re-
publican and the cuckoo and patron
age organs belong to the same combi
nation which has for its purpose the
substitution of John Sherman's finan-
cial views for the pledge of the demo-
cratic platform.
The cuckoo organ here at home wants
to know. you know, why free coinage"
is not in the platform, and John Shcr-
man and Murat HalStead, and all the
administration forces want to know the
same thing. Well, free coinage is not
in the platform simply because it is there
as large as life and more natural than if
the word free" had been put in. 1t
viii appear to any thoughtful person
who reads the platform with any atten-
ton that the word free" could not have
been inserted without injuring the SIM
pie strength of the declaration. Let us
see what that declaration is:
We denounce the republican legislation
known as the Sherman act of 1890, as
q cowardly makeshift, fraught with posi-
buities of danger in the future, which should
make all of its supporters, as we'll 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 to
the coinage of both gold and silver without
discrimination against either metal, or
charge for mintage, but the dollar unit of
coinage of both metals must be Of equal
intrinsic and eXchangeabe value or be adj
justed through international agreement, or
by such safeguards of legislation as shall
insure the maintenance of the parity of
the two metals and the equal power of
every dollar at all times in the markets
and in payments of debts; and We demand
that all paper currency shall be kept at
par with and redeemabe in such coin. We
INSIST upon lnlS pOiicy as especially neceS-
sary for the protection of the farmers and
Iaboring classes, the first and most Defense
less victims of unstable money and fuctu-
ating currency.
Now, if our minis are at present open
to the free coinage of gold, then the plat
form demands that they shall be open to
the free coinage of silver, for the pledge
is that there shall be no discrimination
at the mints against either gold or sill
yer, or charge for mintagC. What could
ba palmer than this? Why. then, are
the cuckoo organs who pretend to be
democrats, and who keep this pledge
standing at the head of their editorial
columns, unwilling to see it carried out?
Why do they dodge lis plain terms? Why
do they endorse the single gold standard
aud approve John Sherman's financial
views?
The platform declares that both silver
and gold shall be the standard money
of the country, that there shall be no
discrimination in coinage against either
metal, ana no charge for mintage. This
is not only Il declaration but q pledge;
why not carry it out?
We believe the cuckOos dodge this by
INDUCING in Il lot of jargon and chatter
about parity" and an international
agreement" But the platform declares
that both gold and silver Shall be the
standard money of the country by coin
ING silver on the same terms with gold,
and then, when that is done, it provides
that "the dollar unit of both metals must
be of equal intrinsic and exchanSeable
value or be adjusted through interna-
tional agreement, or by such safeguards
Of LEGISLATION as shall insure the main
tenance of the parity OF the two metals,
and the equal power of every dollar at
all times in the markets and in the
payment of debts"
Now, nothing could be clearer or more
satisfactory than this. Read it again,
and then tell us what is to be adjusted
by international agreement or by safe
guards of legislation. Is the coinage
Of botD gold and silver to be SO ADJUST
ed? IS international agreement to
adjust the question whether both gold
and silver shall be the money standard
of the country?
We challenge the cuckoo organs and
their greatest leader, John Sherman, to
point to Il single line or word, or hint,
in the democratic platform that iuStities
their malicious effort to twist the mean
ing of the financial pledge. 1t is the
rati0-the parity-that is to be adjust
cd by international agreement. But sup
pose there is no international agreement?
What then? Is the democratic pledge
to fail 10 the ground on that account?
Bv no means. The platform provides
for such an emergency. If there can be
no international agreement. gold and
silver are to be made the standard mon
ev of the country just the same; the
mints are to be opened to both metals
on the same terms just the same; and
then the ratio is to be adjusted by such
safeguards OF legislation as will insure
the parity of the dollar unit of both
metals in the markets and in the pay
ment of debts.
The patronage heeers will hardly have
elbow room when the people begin 10
move.
INT