The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-06-19

AlSAls / mere WIS not IluIInuf OF UlS-
sent When ne request was put. As
Senator m non began to read the val
edictorT. ne hall was SO still that his
voice reterberated to the uttermost
limits of the hall
PROTEST OF SILVER DELEGATES.
'ln announcing the purpose asserted
in this paper, it is due to our constitu-
ents and to ourselves that there shall
be public showing of indicating
facts. The sole authorized expression of
National Republican faith from June
Q, 1892, until the present date has been
the platform adopted in National con-
yention at Minneapolis. Neither the
utterances of State conventions nor
the attitude of individuals could
change the tenor of that platform or
abate the sanctity of it's binding force.
Every delegate to this convention was
elected as its adherent and it's advo-
cate. True. one of its most impor-
tant paragraphs has been subjected
to such a divergence of construction
as to make it's language unsatisfac-
tory during the intervening time, and
dangerous, if continued in the future;
but of the intent contained within
tAtlc Ietl4S utlSS tilCiC AtC'o iiGNCi bCCI d
doubt. 1t is the rightful province of
this convention to revise the party
tenets, and to announce anew the par
ty purpose. The majority of this con-
vention, in the exercise of such author
ity, has this day made official enuncia-
tion of Republican law and gospel.
With much of the platform we agree,
believing that in many essential par
L. ~E
manity, affirms the maintenance of
right and proposes the just remedy
for wrong. But it declares one elemen-
tai principle. not only in direct contra
vention of the expression of party
faith in 1892, but in radical opposition
to our solemn conviction. We recognize
that in all matters of mere method, it
is but just and helpful that the minori-
| ty shalt yield to the will of the major
| ity lest we have chaos in parties and
in government But as no pronounce
ment by maiorities can change oppos-
ing knowledge or belief sincerely enter
tanned so it cannot oblige minorities
to abandon or disavow their princi-
pies. As surely as it is requisite for
peace and progress that minorities
shall yield to maiorities in matters of
mere method, just so surely is it neces-
sary for the same peace and progress
that minorities shall not yield in mat
ters of fundamental truth.
''The Republican platform of 1892 af-
frmed that the American people from
tradition and interest favored bimetal-
lism and demanded the use of both
gold and silver as standard money.
This was accepted by us as a declara-
tion in behalf of the principle upon
which rests the interestof every citizen
and the safety of the United States.
In such terms, the platform was then
satisfactory to the believers in bimetal-
lism within our party; only because of
unequiyocal construction and evasion
has it since been demonstrated to be
insufficient. The platform this day
adopted in the National Republican
party convention at st. Louis says:
"'The Republican party is unreserv-
edly for sound money. 1t caused the
enactment of the law providing for the
resumption of specie payments in
1879; since then every dollar has been
as good as gold.
"'We are unalterably opposed o every
measure calculated to debase our cur
| rency or impair the credit of our coun-
try. We are, therefore, opposed to the
free coinage of silver, except by in
ternational agreement with the lead
ing commercial nations of the world,
which we pledge ourselves to promote,
and until such agreement can be OBJ
tanned, the existing gold standard must
be preserved. All our silver and paper
currency now in circulation must be
maintained at parity with gold, and we
favor all measures designed to main
tain inviolably the obligations of the
United States and all our money,
whether coin or paper, at the present
standard, the standard of the most
enlightened nations of the earth
"As the declaration of 1892 has been
by a majority of the party construed
to Justify a single gold standard for
our monetary basis and as the recent
, trend of the official power of the party
has been in that direction, we can but
assume that the money plank of the
, new platform being much more favor
, able to perpetuate gold monometallism
will be deterninedly used in behalf
, of that idea. The Republican party
i has won its power and renown by pur-
suing it's purposes courageously and
relentlessly; it is, therefore, only in
accordance with the party's history
to assume that if it shall come to pres
ent authority in the United States it
will crystalize into the law and admin
istration under this tempting platform
! the perpetual single gold standard of
finances. This, if long continued, will
! mean the absolute ruin of the produ-
GERS of theacountry and finally of the
nation itself.
"The American people not only favor
bimetallism from tradition and inter,
est, but from that wise instinct which
has always been manifest in the af-
fairs of people destined for the worlds
leadership. Under the operation of
our great demand for advancement
we have become to other nations the
greatest debtor nation of the world.
We pay the vast charges, which every
, year accumulate against us in the
clearing house of the world with the
! money of the world procured by the
disposal of our commodities in the
markets of the world