The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-13
THE MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER H. 1896

ervation of the federal government IN its
constitutional yigor and to the support of
the states in all their just rights; to econo-
my In the public expenditures; to the
maintenance Of the public faith and sound
money; and it is opposed to paternalism
and all class legislation"
II also asserts that the declarations
of the Chicago convention attack individ-
ual freedom, the right Of private contract,
the Independence Of the judiciary and the
authority of the President to enforce fed
eral laws They advocate a reckless at
tempt to increase the price OF Silver by
legislation TO the debasemept of our
monetary standard and threaten unlim-
tied issues of paper money by the gov
eminent"
They abandon for republican allies the
cause Of tariff reform to court the favor
OF protectiomsts TO their fiscal heresy."
II then asserts with earneStness, and in
terms which do not satisfy those who as
sert it, to be 1.-The duty of a democrat to
first vote the ticket and then read the
PLATFORM that in view of these and other
grave departures from democratic prin-
ciples we cannot support the candidate of
that convention nor be bound by its
acts
The convention held in indianapolis
then declared, with force and exactness,
the democratic doctrines with respect to
taxation, whsther by tariffs, excuses, or
by direct imposition and asserts that
none of these can be rightfully imposed
except for public purposes, and not for
private gain, and reaffirms the historic
democratic doctrine Of a tariff for reve-
nue. only
1t is then asserted by the convention in
its declaration of principles that "the ex-
perience of mankind has shown that by
reason of their natural qualities gold is
the necessary money of the large affairs
Of commerce and business, while silver is
conveniently adapted to minor transac-
tions, and the most beneficial use of both
together can be insured only by the adop-
ton OF the former as a standard of none
tarY measure and a maintenance of sill
yer at a parity with gold by its limited
coinage under suitable safeguards of law"
Thus the largest possible enjoyment of
both metals is gained with a value uni
versally accepted throughout the world
which constitutes the only practical BIZ
metallic currency, assuring the most sta
bic standard, and especially the best and
safest money for all who earn their live
lihood by labor or the product of hus-
oandry. They cannot suffer when paid in
the best money known to man, but are the
peculiar and most defenseless victims of
a debased and fiuctuating currency, which
offers continual profits to the money
changer at their cost.
Realizing these truths, demonstrated
by the long public inconvenience and loss
the democratic party, in the interests of
the masses and of equal justice to ALL
practically established by the legislation
of 1884 and 1853, the gold standard of mon-
ctafy measurement and likewise entire
~ divorced the government from BANK
ing and currency issues. To this long
established democratic policy we adhere
and insist upon the maintenance of the
gold standard and of the parity Herewith
of every dollar issued by the government,
and are firmly opposed to the free ana
unlimited coinage of silver and to the
compulsory purchase of silver bullion"
This language is but a reiteration of the
terse demand of the democratic platform
of 1899. that every dollar, coined or is
sued by the government, shall have equal
power in the market and the payment of
debts.''
The convention which assembled in Chi
cago in July of the present year, in de-
nlanding the unlimited coinage of silver
dollars On the ratio of 4121a grains of stan.
dard silver to 25.S e. aims of standard gol-
with full legal tender quality for all debts
and dues public and private, offered 20
the country scheme from which every
voter may expect whatever advantage 10
the country or himself, his reason or even
his imagination esn suggest.
The advocates of the unlimited coinage
of full legal tender silver do not agree as
to what will be the consequences of the
adoption by the United States of their
favorite measure. The most intelligent
know that it is impossible by law to give
to silver bullion, or silver coin, a local value
in the United States; and, therefore, Mr..
Bryan, who must be regarded as the Off
cial interpreter of the free silver dogma,
asserts his belief that the unlimited coin
age of legal tender silver by the United
States alone, would increase the value of
silver bullion, which is to-day 81 cents per
ounce TO Si.2s, and he asserts his belief
that under unlimited coinage the silver
dollar, containing 41215 grains of standard
silver, coined by the authority of the
United States, would be of equal accepta-
bility and value with the dollar contain
ing 25.S grains of standard gold in all the
markets of the world.
1t is something that this opinion has no
support in the experience of mankind. 1t
is enough for present purposes to say it
has no foundation other than the conf
dent assertions of those who share in that
belief. No party in the country ever UNI
dertook so much as do the advocates of
the unlimited coinage of silver. They not
only undertake to maintain commercial
parity in value Of about $434, 2,041 silver
dollars already coined by the United
States under the authority of the acts of
the 2Sth of February, 1875 and of July
hereafter may be coined, but they assume
the task of advancing the value of the
silver coinage of all the nations of the
world to an equal acceptability and value
with coins of gold.
If the expectations of such of the adj
vocates of free coinage Of silver are real
lied it would be difficult upon their own
premises to perceive what would be
gained by those who expect cheap money
Accepting their claim that under free
coinage the dollar OF silver would become
of equal acceptability and value, and equal
power In the markets and in the payment
of debts throughout the civilized world
the silver dollar would then be as difficult
to procure as the dollar of gold Is now
They complain now that the dollar Of gold
has too much purchasing power and is too
difficult to obtain.
But the real expectation of the great
body Of supporters of free coinage of sill
yer, and one much more in harmony with
the experience of mankind, Is that the I'M
limited coinage Of silver would give to the
country deprecated and cheaper dollar,
which would enhance nominal values and
be used in the payments of debts, but
would be attended and followed by the
ruin of all industries, the destruction of
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