Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-18
The North Carolina Platform.

As we have heretofore had occasion 10
point out. the platform adopted by the
late Democratic State Convention OF
North Carolina has the merit OF
declaring as to the silver ques-
ton Just what the Democrats of that
State believe on that subject. The conven-
ton did not content itself with making
the usual indefinite utterances, but de-
clared for the free coinage of silver at
the ratio of IL to !. Stating the ratio Is
what no other State convention has done
If its members had not been firm in the
belief that the United States need not
wait for the cooperation OF any other
country. they would not have employed
the strong language in which their silver
resolution is couched. We applauded the
convention for speaking out in meeting
and saying just what its members be-
lieved TO be the true Democratic deliv-
erance on the currency question. In fact
we cannot see the sense of passing reso-
buttons known to have two meanings.
The Charlotte Observer reproduces our
article commenting upon the North caro-
lima Democratic platform, and says as to
our remarks on the subject of calling
new international Bimetaliic Conference
that the Democratic State Convention oil
that State. judged by the outward signs
would have barely tolerated a reference
to an international agreement fixing the
coinage ratio between gold and silver
that body having no confidence in a new
International Bimetallic Conference.
But as to universal currency our
. North Carolina contemporary says that 1t
quite concurs with the Dispatch. Its IAN
guage, nevertheless, seems TO imply that
II believes in IA universal currency OF a
different kind from that Of which We had
spoken. We quote:
I'VE quite concur with our contempt
Sary that the world is coming TO a uni
versal currency. All the signs of the
times for eight months past have pointed
TO II, and the only criticism that We have
= to pass upon President Cleveland In this
connection Is that IL Is not apparent that
he Ii doing anything to hasten II. The
finances of every nation on earth which
uses both gold and silver are In more or
less disturbed condition, and there is no
remedy for II except a universal cur
rency'--a currency OF both metals coined
free and without limit upon ratio
agreed Such is the power of the United
States that IT. Is a reasonable belief that,
In view OF the disturbance Of the cur
rency Of other great powers. II could cons
pei an agreement upon ratio"
But surely those who hold that the
United States Government can by its own
action bring silver up to a parity with
gold. and who are not willing TO seek the
cooperation Of the other commercial ma
lions OF the world In the movement in
favor OF a universal currency. cannot be
regarded as friends of currency of that
sort. No person will seriously contend
that q currency agreed upon by the lead
ing nations would not be more generally
acceptable than u currency issued by the
United States Government alone IL our
nat is 70 powerful. how is that our cur
rency Is not already universal one?
We know Of no power residing in the
United States Government TO do any
thing more than 1t has already done In
this behalf. II our silver. or our bank
notes. or our greenbacks. are not already
~ par with gold, It IN not because our
government has not endeavored to make
them az good as the yellow metal.