The Indianapolis journal., 1896-08-28
Delegates to Indianapolis Elected I'm
Several states and Ringing Plat
forms Adopted.
SPEECH BY MR.. CAFFERY
SEVERELY DENOUNCED
BY THE LOUISIANA SENATOR.
Address by Ex-COngressman Outh-
Gratis Os the Buckeye State.

~ -
standard convention met at Odd Fellows
Hall at noon to-day. Mr. Z. H. Farrar pre-
siding. After appointing committees on
credentials and resolutions the convention
took a recess and reconvened at p. m.
Senator Donaldson Caffery was made per-
manent chairman and addressed the con-
vention. AT the outset he said:
This meeting has been called for the
purpose OF e!ecting delegates to the IN
dianapolis convention of the National DEM
ocratic party. 1t is the declared intention
OF the promoters OF that convention TO put
in the field candidates for President and
Vice President for whom all Democrats
diSSat tiSiied with the platform and nominees
of the Chicago convention can cast their
votes. The aim and purpose OF TINS move
ment Is TO prevent the absorption Oh the the
democratic party by PopuHSnl, llldtlohIsm
and other heresies Incorporated IN the Chi-
cago platform, and also 10 prevent Soodly
number OF true Democrats from wandering
into the Republican fold.
I'VE hold that the Chicago platform con-
tains doctrines not only at war with all
that Democracy has heretofore meant, but
subversive of government and the Constltu-
ton. We hold that though party orSdnlla-
ton Is necessary means 10 carry INTO
execution the common political views and
tenets of a body of citizens, yet that
ganization fails of its purpose and destroys
itself when the men temporarily In control
of il advocate principles and enunciate doc
trines at variance with the accepted and
traditional creed OF its founders and fol-
lowers. No allegiance Is due IN THIS case TO
the organization thus controlled. The party
lash. though piled ever so vigorously, IS i'm
potent TO cOerce men OF honest and lnde-
pendent though and judgment TO subscribe
10 doctrines which are revolutionary and
destructive.
"'The differences between the two wings
of the Democratic party are vital. reaching
down to the very roots of government. So
ciety and prosperity, and ADMIT OF no COM
promise. The propagandsts OF the Chicago
platform, undertaking to depart from the
old and known principles OF the Democratic
party, must make good their Claims to rep
resent Il: They put forth the docsrine tn that that
prove il. They aver that the use OF the
machinery of the federal courts TO main
tain federal authority and to protect prop
erty in the custody of the federal govern
ment is unconstitutional. They must show
it. They declare that the obligations of the
government. for which gold was received,
may be paid in silver. REGARDLESS or its
value. They must show the equity of this.
They declare that the federal government
may engage in the wholesale and exclusive
business of banking in the matter of issu-
ing paper money. They must show that
tenure of United States officers, thereby
aiming deadly blow at the integrity of the
whole federal judiciary. and especially at
that most august of all the judicial
Tribunals of the earth-the supreme Court
of the United States.
"All these propositions are radical de-
partures from the policy and creed OF the
Democratic party They a Populstic
graft upon the Democratic stock. They
throw the burden of proof upon their pro-
ponents TO make them good before the
American people. These propositions are
utterly foreign and inimical to my views
of true Democracy. / have always been a
Democrat In my immediate community
where the landed proprietors have gener-
ally run wild after protection and bounty,
4 have been SteadfaSt for tarim for reve-
nue.. In the Senate of the United States,
where the majority of my political col
leagues nave advocated Tree silver ana IN
flation. / have stood fast for sound money.
While occupying a seat in the Senate ]
advocated on the floor the present gold
standard. Such was then the policy of the
Democratic administration tas il still
isl and of the Democratic party Democ-
racy is founded on certain immutable prin-
ciples OF government. The majority of a
convention cannot change those principles.
We have followed and still follow princi-
pies. not men. Vagaries. heresies and de-
lusions live but for the moment; principles
abide forever.
The resolutions reaffirm the declarations
and principles of the Democratic platform
adopted at Chicago in 1892 the true ex-
preston of sound Democratic doctrine.
They denounce the action OF the Chicago
of the party TO the Anarchists. the Social
lists and the Fopuists. and affirm that its
declaration of principles is not binding upon
any true Democrat: commend the admin
istraton OF that great. wise and courage
Democrat. Grover Cleveland. who.
amid treachery and cowardce in his par
~ has enforced the laws of the United
States. has maintained their dignity in ali
foreign relations. has advanced the cause
of civil-service reform. has striven under
the law to preserve the financial honor of
the Nation: favors the organization OF
some financial plan whereby the govern
ment will redeem all it's outstanding circu-
lating notes in gold coin of the United
States of the present standard of weight
and fincness and retire from the banking
business. The resolutions declare that
1--WE are unaiterably opposed to the free
and unlimited coinage of silver except by
International agreement. that will maintain
it's parity with gold
The convention elected a full delegation
to the Indianapolis convention. For the
State at large: Don Caffery r. NJ Miller.
r. II. Farrar and NJ. T.. Spellman were
chosen.