Birmingham age-herald., 1894-09-14
DELEGATE WRITES A CARD In Defense of the Platform
 Adopted by the Democrats
OF THE SEVENTH DISTRICT
And Draws a Parallel With the Chicago Platform, Claiming
 Them to Be the Same.
To the Ace- Herald:

The platform adopted by the democratic congressional convention at Cullman on September 4. 1894, has called forth from some newspapers unfavorable criticisms; and language has been employed to express such criticism as is subject to be con- demned as disrespectful to the convention and displaying bigotry in the editors. Without further notice at this point of such language l will first call attention to the resolutions themselves, which are con. tained in nine subdivisions.
 The first three called for the free coinage and use without discrimination, l., of both gold and silver at the ratio of 1s to 1. Is not such demand democratic, and is not suQhsSpand in accordance with the au- cieng "a variable practices and traditions of the democratic party from the founda- tion of the mint in 1792 to 18732 The plat forms of the democratic party for half century, whenever deiverance was made on the gold and silver question, were sub stantially as follows: "We believe in hon. est money, the gold and silver coinage of the constitution. tSee platforms of dem ocratic party 1886, 1880, 1884, 1888 and 1S92.) Alter the adoption of the Chicago platform, June 21, 1892, the senate of the United States on the - day of July, 1892, passed free coinage bill at the ratio of 16 to l; and the house of representatives thereafter manifested it's consent to the construction of the Chicago platform as contained in the senate oill by vote pertaining to the said bill of the senate. Every state democratic platform in 1892, except Massachusetts, called for the free coinage of silver. The practices of the government from 1792 to 1887 had been to carry on the free coinage of silver at the ki1 Af fo frnn fn n a ratio of i6 10 1. All this period, for more than eighty years, silver was used the same as gold as standard money by the government and the people of the United States. Under the Bland. Alisou law, en- forced from 1878 until July, 1S90, the ratio was 16 to 1, and under the sherman law the ratio was 16 to 1.
 The democratic campaign committee for the national election in Alabama In 1o92 construed the Chicago platform as demand ing the free coinage of silver, and said that such free coinage would secure the parity between gold and silver.
 The Alabama platform of 1892 makes the following deliverance:
 .That the democratic party of Alabama express it's condemnation of the republican earty for their administration of the finances of fhe country, under which the culating medium has been ignored, and sii- yer has been driven from it's time- honored and rightful place and uses under the con- stitution of the United States, where 1t was maintained so long as our party had con- troi ofthe national legislation.
 All the democratic newspapers of the state indorse this platform.
 The fourth resolution of the Cullman platform opposes the grant of power by the general government to issue money to any bank, individua. or association of individ- als, end demands that the general govern ftrli Ian 1r1o value be maintained by the general govern ment, and tIat the volume of money, con- sisting Of gold, silver and paper, together will be so adjusted that the debt-paying and purchasing power Of every dollar will be stable; and the volume of such money shall always be sufficient in amount to meet tue needs of the people and the de- mands of business.
 The national democratic pIatfo rms as to national banks reads as follows: ''That congress has no power to charter national banks. That we believe such an institu- tion one of deadly hostility to the best in- terests of the country, dangerous to our republican institutions and the liberties of the people, and calculated to place the business of the country within the control Of the concentrated money power, and above the laws and the will of the people,. (See platform 1856, 1852, lS48, 1S44, 1S40 and 1880, resolution D.
 The Alabama platform of 1892 reads as follows: ''And we demand that such laws be enacted as will secure the issue of safe, sound and elastic currency, sufficient to meet all the demands of the people. We demand that congress repeal all laws authorizing national banks to issue notes to circulate as money based upon the credit of the people.' 1t is but common knowl- edge that Jefferson, Jackson and Calhoun favored the issue of treasury notes by the general government to circulate as money. In his letter of acceptance in 1892 Alr. Cleveland used the following language: uThe people are entitled 10 sound money, abundantly sufficient in volume to supply their business needs.'
 The fifth resolution of the Cullman plat form demands the same character of money alike for ali, and opposes the increase of the interest bearing debt of the govern ment aud the issue of bonds in times of peace. See platform 1868, Res. 8 and 5.]
 The sixth resolution insists upon the in- dependence and freedom of America from a1 British and foreign systems and methods. This was suggested by the na- tional platform of 1884, and the advocacy of the gold standard men of waiting for an international agreement as to the coinage and use of silver as standard money.
 The seventh resolution is but reitera- ton of time- honored democratic princi- pie. [See platform 1850, Res. 1; 1856, Res. 8; 1888, Res. l; 1884, Res. 1, and 1892,
 The eighth resolution insists upon government of the people, by the people aud for the people. This is certainly pure democracy. [Sse platform 1S4S, Res. 2, IS and 19; 1856, Res. and 8; 1880, Res. 1; 1880, Res. 2; 1884, Res. l; 1888, Res. l, and 1892, Res. IT
 The ninth resolution calls for free bal- lot, fair count and obedience to the re- suit, as the right preservative of all other