The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-22
A would-Be New England Moses who
VIII Not be Tenderly Cared for by
SfIverites OF the West.
DELEGATES NOT INSTRUCTED
But THE CANDIDACY OF RUSSELL
INDORsED IN BOTH PLATFORMS.
Clap-Trap Resolutions Denouncing
the Massachusetts Convention.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
BOSTON, April 2l.-With prolonged cheer
ing the Democrats of Massachusetts
in State convention to-day formally launched
the presidential boom of Ex-Governor Will
liam E. Russell. The following delegates at
large to the Chicago convention, all friends
OF the Ex-Governor, but unirstructed, were
elected: Hon. John +. Russell. of Leicester;
George Fred Williams, Of Dedham; John w.
Corcoran, OF Clinton, and James w. Dono-
van, Of Boston. Alternates: E. NJ. Ezequel,
of Springfield: W. p. Butler. of Holyoke:
Henry v. Cunningham, Of Boston; Fisher
Pearson, Of Lowell.
The resolutions apotheosized President
Cleveland and "b,anked" the Republican
party, charging 1t with all manner of wick
edness and sins OF omission. The platform
says, in part.
we oee.are that, the Republican party
praciicany controIIed the finances or our
country rOr quarter OF a century. fhey in
augurated a currency system which led 10
tne dnauon Oh yaauss ana me creation Oh
stocks and securities were Iloated on the
markets of the wprid at their face value,
while in many instances they were not
worth hair tnat amount. When Grover
Cleveland came TO the presidency in loSo he
was confronted with this condition or our
finances BY his courage and fidelity and, BY
the prudence and economy of a Democratic
House, there was accumulated at the end
Of his first term surplus of more than
$500 0uO coo in the treasury, $3.50 COO coo OF which
was In gold TO protect the national prom
ises. On the return Of the Republican party
to power in 1889 this surplus Of gold reserve
had been reduced one-half. The reckless ex-
penditures OF the public money and the pass
age OF an act for the purchase of silver de-
it of the Nation. When the Democracy again
came into power in 1893 they found an emp
~ treasury, want of confidence on the
In all foreign countries which threw these
back on our markets. forcing individuals and
great corporations into liquidation. Thus the
financial policy Of the Republican party
produced widespread distress and disaster.
| The leaders of this party have the unpe.r-
alleled audacity to attribute the distress
| and disaster to a Democratic administration
| that had just come into power and had not
changed single law. With such record
| they ask the people or this country to re-
store them to power. With as much propri-
| ETY. might the incompetent and discredited
| directors Of a bank corporation wrecked by
ask 20 s cd an to
| control. We protest against such party
| being again intrusted with the administra-
their uU re return m to power would be fraueht with
danger to the business interests and to the
| people Of the country.
people require that the earnings of trade
and the wages of labor be paid In money
| that is intrinsically worth, In all markets Of
demand the maintenance OF the existing gold
standard of value and that the government
shall keep Its OblisS,,ons at aa,d all times % re
pose the free coinage Of silver and any fur
| ther purchase of silver bullion or the coinage
| thereof on government account We reafhrm
| the demands of our recent State platform
| that the government shall take the initial
steps for the withdrawal from circulation OF
| the legal-tender notes issued In time of war
under the pledge of prompt retirement. We
| denounce the action of the Republican ma
| jority In the present House OF Representa-
,syss ti in atitemPsing M to ream ra. the ~ faW Sa os
| notes, and their failure to deal properly and
honestly with this problem: we declare our
5na s Of our cream caused by the
| yer legislation enacted during two Republi-
| can administrations. We demand that the
ags ohanse in io all sections Of our country shah
| be met by provision for an elastic banking
currency. subject to such government con-
| troll as shall insure uniformity and redemp-
| ton In standard coin on demand"
The platform indorses the Monroe doctrine
and praises Grover Cleveiand's definition Of
It; expresses sympathy for the Cubans and
| closes with this Russell resolution:
Following long established Democratic
| custom, the Democrats Of Massachusetts In
| convention assembled Will not Ia any way
| instruct or pledge their delegates, but they
| do declare that 1t Is the wish of the Demo-
| cratic party Of the State to present, and they
l earnestly recommend 10 the consideration
of the national convention. to be held in
/ Chicago, as their candidate for the Office Of
| President of the United States, the name OF
/ their victorious courageous, high-pr.nclpled
/ Recommendation Eustis Russell"
Hon. J. f. Thayer, of Worcester. was per-
| mafent chairman of the convention. His
| speech was in line with the resolutions
adopted later. In the course OF his address
| he asked: "Of what avail Is 1t to pass res
| olutions for the single gold standard II, as
| is to receive the nomination for President?
| The people well know that Mckinley Is on
| record as a white metal advocate, that he
4 has a long, consistent and uninterrupted
record while in Congress favorable TO sii-
| ver We do not forget that as chairman Of
| the committee on resolutions of the,Republi-
/ can national convention In 1888 he submitted
| a platform which condemned the policy OF
the Democratic administration In its efforts
| to denonetze silver. I'VE see him as one
| of the great leaders OF his party in his COM
| manding position as chairman OF the ways
and means committee, urgently supporting
| the silver purchase BILL which increased the
| amount Of silver the government was forced
| to purchase even under the Bland-Allison
| law. Nor Is this ALL Mr.. Thayer de-
/ nounced the American Protective Associa/
| ton. which he compared to fungus growth
that sprang from and took root dourished
and fructifed In the very heart Of the Re-
At the conclusion of Mr. Thayer's speech
the platform was presented and adopted. and
the delegates and aternates elected. Then,
with cheers for Ex-Governor Russell, the con-
vention adjourned.