Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-06-19
THE REPUBLICANS AT ST. LOUIS.
They VIII Nominate Mckinley on Gold
Platform.


Platform.
After q week of interesting prelimi-
nary work by the executive committee
in settling contests, etc., the Repubh-
can National convention convened in
St. Louis last Tuesday afternoon at
1920 o'clock. The convention was
called to order by Thomas 81. Carter,
of Colorado, chairman of the execu-
tive committee, and Charles w. Fair
banks, of Indiana, was elected tempo
rary chairman.
The opening prayer was made by a
Jewish Rabi named Sale, and in its de-
livery occupied about three minutes.
In accepting the temporary chair
manship, Mr.. Fairbanks made the
opening speech of the convention. He
abused the Democratic party roundly
and charged it with the responsibility
for all the woes that have ever afHict-
ed the country. He presented a glow
/ ing review of the Republican party
as representing progress and prosperi-
ty. 1t wanted silver used to as large
an extent as is consistent with safety !;
but was most emphatically in favor of
the maintenance of the existing gold
standard. He said that the struggle
of the Cubans enlisted the sympathy
of the party, and, in conclusion, said
that the great issues before the people
are "free trade and free silver against
sound money and protective tariff"
The speech of Mr.. Fairbanks elicit
ed considerable applause. Near the
beginning of his remarks, he made
some statements that sounded favora-
BILE to silver. Quite number OF
Western delegates cheered enthusias-
tically. Later he pledged the party
almost in 80 many words for the gold
standard, and his utterances brought
forth a response that showed that he
reflected the overwhelming sentiment
of the convention.
At 1.50 p. m, the convention decid-
ed to adjourn until Wednesday morn
ing at 10 o'clock. The committee on
platform then went to work in dead
earnest. During the latter part OF
last week, there was in evidence
strong sentiment in favor OF silver.
Practically all of the Western dele
gates were desirous of placing the
white metal in the platform. AL
though bitterly opposed to silver, the
Eastern contingent was rather dubi-
Gus of exhibiting its hostility. This
was especially the case with Mark
Hanna, McKinley's manager. He
was morally certain that the situation
was loaded. On Friday, Saturday
and Sunday, a terrible pressure, back
ed by all manner of dire threats be-
gan to be felt from New York, Massa-
chusetts and other Northern States.
1t became a mighty question with the
politicians whether they should yield
to the unmistakable wishes of a large
element in the party, or the demands
of the financial people. They decided
in favor of the latter. The Western
people were not at all appeased but
on seeing the hopelessness of contin-
uing the fight, yielded up with pretty
good grace. Agitation was discontin-
ued but there was not much satisfac-
ton. The platform committee was
made up of large majority of gold
men, and on Tuesday evening, the
following was given out as the finan-
cial plank that would be adopted:
"The Republican party is unreservedly
for sound money. 1t caused the enact
ment of the law providing for the resump-
ton of specie payments in 1879. Since then
every dollar has been as good as gold.
We are unalterably opposed to every
measure calculated to debase our curren-
CIV or impair the credit of our country.
"We are, therefore, opposed to the free
and unlimited coinage of silver except by
international agreement, which we favor,
and until such agreement can be obtain
ed, the existing gold standard should be
preserved.
1--WE favor the use of silver as currency,
but to the extent only that its parity with
gold can be maintained, and we favor all
measures to maintain inviolably the mon
ey of the United States, whether coin or