The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1895-10-12

L
| free silver resolution? Did not the
free silver Democrats abandon all
efforts to pass such resolution? No
such resolution was offered in the con-
vention. No such resolution was
offered in the committee on resolu-
tions. Standing on the national plat.
form of 1892, the convention indOrsed
the national Democratic administra-
tion. And to emphasize this indorse-
ment, the convention went still further
and indorsed by name CleYeland as
president and Carlise as secretary.
The free silver Democrats resisted
the Endorsement of the National
Democratic Administration and OF
Cleveland and Carlisle. Abandoning
free silver in the convention, they
concentrated their forces against the
Democratic president and against the
Democratic secretary of the treasury.
They were beaten by vote of GA to
233. They accepted their defeat at
the time in good faith and are as SOL
emnly bound by the result as their
nominees.
Then came your nomination and
completion of the state ticket. After
the convention adjourned, Democrats
quickly regained their confidence and
looked to victory in November.
Then came your long and painful
silence, which revived distrust and re-
kindled the fears of disaster. 1t is
literally true that Democrats, during
the delivery of your Auditorium
speech, looked at the exposure in
blank ~amazement. Your effort to
| secure free silver resolution in the
June convention is sufficient answer
to your declaration that the resolu-
ton of 1892 indorses free silver. If the
national platform of 1892 contained
free silver resolution, why were you
not content with it? And being con-
tent with it, as you must have been if
you considered it free silver resolu-
tion, why did you find it necessary, or
deem it wise, to force the issue on the
Democrats of Kentucky in this cam
paign?
But you plead your convictions as
your defense. The plea should have
been entered as soon as the platform
was adopted, and you should have de-
clined the nomination. You were not
compelled to accept the nomination.
1t was free, voluntary act, which in
volved you in dilemma from which
you seek to extricate yourself by
pleading your convictions. But if the
plea be now entered, Oh what terms do
you ask its admission? That every
sound money Democrat in the state
should ignore and surrender his con-
victiOns?
You should have respected your
convictions by declining the nomina-
tion. No one has right to escape an
ENHANCEMENT in which he is caught
with his eyes open by entangling
thousands of his fellow-men in the
same snare. 1t is neither fair nor
just that one man shall strive to save
his convictions, which he has put in
jeopardy, to gain an office. by asking
his friends to do violence to their own
convictions, and to abandon their
principles.
Your failure to defend your convic-
tions by declining the nomination on
platform you cannot conscientiously
support, forces me to defend my con-
victions by declining to vote for you.
Your course has left the sound money
Democrats no other alternative. No
one doubts your faith in free silver,
certainly do not. I believe you are
standing on your convictions. Why
shall not sound money Democrats
stand on their convictions? Your
convictions were not the conclusions
of the. convention and you refused,
and now refuse, to accept the Judge |
ment of the convention. not as as ex-
pressing your convictions, but as your
rule of action in in this canvass.
l stand by my convictions and by
the platform. If vote for you sur
render both my convictions and the
platform. / will surrender neither
not for crown would / surrender |
either. would not ask or advise any
Democrat to do what my convictions
forbade me to do. This conclusion |
may not be in line with modern poll |
tics, but it must be adopted by the |
majority of our voters if the principles |
of our party are to be defended and |
maintained. If the nominees of the |
June convention are not bound by the |
what is to bind future NOM
inees? Who will be expected or re-
quired to obey the instructions of the
next convention? If sound money |
Democrats accept the premature and
hasty conclusions that free silver is
beaten they prepare for their
own defeat. Free silver is not dead.
1t is dangerous, and may be fatal
delusion to see in neglected and
platform more political
power than will exist in the election
and administration OF a governor of
,he state.
The country is feeling its way
slowly and nervously toward an i'm
proved condition of trade. Distrust
ind doubt still befog the way. Conf
lence is far from secure. 1t is my
as feel it my duty, to aid in
he restoration of confidence. A safe
nd permanent currency system is
ssential to this restoration. / cannot
onsent to cast my vote to invite
eturn of the panic of1893. The surest
for hard times are honest
Avs, honestly administered; honest
honey and honest politics.
]. M. ATHERTON.