The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1895-10-19
THE DEMOCRATIC DOCTRINE,
1t Remains Firm and Unchan Sed on the
Nt,$A$ 4.r,1:

1t Nc1nain9 Elrm ana Unchanged nm 1NO
Ntosse5 S1ue.tA:.,;
The rea ffirmatiOn OF the Ohio dtiiioc
racy of the democratic plank in the ma
tiona1 convention of 1892 op the sub
ject Of gold and silver calls atten-
ton to something that has been over
looted by a good many 81 shs t:lscfs
on the free coinage question. 1t has
been assumed by many OF these that
the doctrine Of the democratic party
Si1 the subject is III doubt, while some
have not hesitated to affirm that the
party is il, favor of the free coinage OF
silver at the old rate of sixteen for
One. It ia worth while. therefore, at
this time to recall that tic or1y au-
tiioritatjvc utternnce of the democra tic
party OH tie .s,b5ect is contained in
the platform Of 1892, which, was in
do-ecd by the Ohio democracy. The
plank reads as follows!
"We denounce the repu blican leais!as'on
,now" As ne SHERMAN act OF 1880 as c1wara a,
danger in the futare which should :r"@s sll
Its supporters as well os its author anxious
for its speedy repeal We hold to the use OF
both gold and silver the standard money OF
the country and to the coinage Of both golH
either metal Of charge for mtntasc: but the
dollar unit of coinage OF B.th metals must be
OF equal intrinsic and exchange ioie sa!"e or
bo adjusted through International agree
nert Or by such safeguards OF legislation as
shall insure the maintenance re the parity O.,
D."
dollar at all sirles Ia the markets and in the
payment OF debts; and demand that ;:ll
per eurrency shall kept a: par WIN man, ana ,h;s
policy rcctatty necessary for the Drotec-
ton OF the farmers and laborins eiasass. too
fist and most defenseless victims OF unstable
money n,iu fluctuatinS currency.
AS to what this meant there eotll be
no real doubt. The friends of free sii-
yer had none at the time, for they
moved through Mr.. Patterson, of Colo
,f<>,-r
the words ''coinage of both gold and
silver in the money p1anis. This mo-
ton was c1nphaticall voted down, and
the meaning Of the plank, so far as
free coinage Of silver was concerned,
was thereby put beyond the posi- bill
ity OF rnisconceptioH or 1nisconstrHc-
ton. 1t is worth while to recall also
what President Cleveland said on the
same subject in his letter of accept
ance. Starting with the proposition
that the people are entitled to sound
and honest money abundantly s''hi-
cient in volume to supply their busi-
ness needs, he proceeded:
'.whatever may be the form OF the peoples
currency. national or s:ate-whether gold sill.
yer or paper-it should bo regu lated and
guarded by governmental action or by wise
and careful laws that no one can be dcluded
to the certainty and stability OF its value
Every dollar pat into the hands OF the people
should lie OF the Same intrinsic value or PIr-
chasing power With this condition nbso-
iuteiy guaranteed both gold and silver can be
safely utilized upon equal terms in the ADJUST
nnent OF our currency.
I'm dealin. with this subject selfish
scheme should be allowed to intervene and
no doubtful experiment should Re attempted
The wants OF our people arising from the ccn-
c!ency or i'm perfect distribution OF money cir
culation ought to be fully and honestly rcccg-
n1zed and efficiently rcIncdict 1t should,
however. be constantly reme!n bercd that the
Inconvenience loss that might arise from
such o situa .ion be much moro easily
borne than the universal distress which must
follow discrcdited CURRENCY
This is the national democratic doc
trine to-day; and it will remain SO
until the democratic party in national
convention sees fit to modify OF. change
it. Its strong atfirma ton by the Ohio
democracy indicates that it will not be
essentially changed at the next assem-
bling Of the national democracy.-Oc-
troit Free Press.