The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-07-18
NOT DEMOCRACY.
Why Wisconsin Leaders Re-
pudiate the Doings
of the Chicago
Convention.
Villas AND BRAGG SPEAK
New York Democrats Advised
by Their Chiefs to Await
Developments.
PHILADELPHIA GOLD MEN
Organizing TO Save the Country
From Disaster-Populist
Plans.
PHILADELPHIA GOLD MEN

MILWAUKEE, July is. 1S96.-Senator
Villas and General Bragg have prepared
signed statements explaining their course
at The Democratic convention at Chicago
and advising the Democrats of Wisconsin
as to the best course to pursue in their
present dilemma These statements Will
be formally submitted to a meeting of
members of the recent State delegation
and other prominent representative Demo-
Gratis, which is to be held in Milwaukee
this afternoon. Mr.. Villas says in part
The Chicago convention adopted the
theory of Populism, proposing the free
and unlimited coinage of silver and an
immediate change of the monetary stand
ard to be applicable to all existing con-
tracts not specifically payable in gold,
including all existing public obligations,
pensions not less than bonds.
No circumstance was wanting to
mark the radical subversion of our Demo-
cratic faith. or the entire overturning
OF the principles and men hitherto regarded
as exponents of the party. A majority
of the delegates to that convention mainly
from the South and West, swept down
every remcnstrance and protestation to
preserve the principles and character,
even the traditions and usages of the
old Democratic party. The first step
fore disturbed since the first convention
OF the party, more than sixty years ago.
by discarding that Distinguished and un-
Hill. chosen by the National Democratic
Committee in the usual way for its tenn
porary chairman
This was followed by the expulsion of
sufficient number Of delegates regularly
chosen and the substitution of persons
not emitted 10 seats. burt favorable to
nsinion of the convention. The unit rule
was appIed TO extinguash the votes of
delegates of opposing views when con-
venient and perverted to deny the will
of State conventions when not according
to the Dictates of the majority.
Special emphasis 70 the revolution ac-
corSg5f sized was given BY conVentionss
refusal to commend the present Demo-
: cratic administration.
Ry such means a platform of principles
WAS adopted which If carried into execu-
tion by the Government would be the
beginning of anarchy and a Presidential
nominee selected whose right to asso-
csation in the Democratic party, if he
has not himself heretofore renounced it,
Is a ,east doubtful.
Ia the hope to secure the aid of the
protection.sts natural allies of free sill
yer. he platform, with adFoit phrases of
seeming friendlness. has abandoned even
tfle party's we'll established principles of
opposition to tariff legislation and intd-
lief
Nothing in the chief results of that
convention is in eonsonance with the prin-
c.ples which the Democrats of Wiscon-
sin have hitherto espoused and been
guided by
=
fcnorable Democrats in this State to
pursue Our party should maintain its
faith, its history, and Its fixed attitude.
Let US continue to stand by the prlnci-
pies we have always maintained. Let Us
preserve our party here. our Democratic
rrions and the, integrity of our faith, and
when the gusts of present feelings shall
have blown away, the Democrats of
Wisconsin viii then be found in opposi-
ticn, honorable for consistency, fidelity
ard courage.
We earnestly believe that by such a
course We may present candidates this
year on State, Congressional and local
tickets with the just hone that they will
receive the suffrages of voters to give
effect to the wise: honest and economical
methods which the party in Wisconsin
has proven to our people they can ex-
pect from Democratic officers.
General Bragg's address. which is of the
same tenor, deals minutely with the action
of the convention. and gives the particu-
lars of what he terms Revolutionary
methods IN unseating gold delegates, re-
fusing to accept Senator Hill, and finally
endorsing free coinage