New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-21
clear and definite declaration in favor OF single
gold standard:

built upon the broad and enlightened doctrine OF
free trade require n currency that cannot be dis
credited In any civilized country. Realizing TINS
logical demand for the best money for International
trade; realizing also the dangers OF nat currency
in domestic use and well aware that the present
condition of commercial distress calls for the pa
triotic and sturdy maintenance OF National honor
ana financial integrity, we declare ourselves OPP
posed to the free and unlimited coinage OF silver
and in favor Of gold. the highest monetary stand
ard Of the world.
Nothing could be more explicit than this avowal.
Yet barely two months later. on September 3, an
other Democratic State Convention met and
passed this surprising resolution:
We. the Democrats of Wisconsin. in convention
assembled. hereby ratify ana ndorsc the nomina
lions and platform made by the Democratic Ma
tional Convention held at Chicago In July last. and
pledge TO the support OF our standard bearers Will
lam j. Bryan and Arthur Sewall the entire strength
and energy of the Democracy Of the State. We be
mined to secure and enjoy Its liberties is able TO
maintain financial policy OF It's own America
fore declare that the interests of the people of the
United States inperatlvey demand the restoration
Of the free coinage OF silver as II existed at the
time Of the demonetization in 1873. and that. too
ton on earth; and cordially invite all persons
irrespective Of party, TO join US In securing the
triumph of this principle so closely connected with
the prosperity OF our countrymen.
It Is to the credit Of Senator William F. Villas
and General Edward s. Bragg. the most promi-
both bolted the Chicago ticket and platform i'm
medatey after the adjournment Of the National
Convention. But other important leaders. like
Ex-Governor Peck and National Committeeman
Wall have remained In the organization and ac-
lively co-operated In the partys recent extraord-
nary change of face.
SOUTH DAKOTA AND MINNESOTA RETRACT.
South Dakota's Democratic organization has
been controlled for some years past by the Fed
eral Office holding element in the State. Its In
fuence was consequently cast for Sound Money
in the fight for the control OF the Democratic Ma
tiOnal Convention. The State Convention, which
met on May 20, took this view OF the financial
problem:
The Democratic party Of South Dakota is in favor
OF the present standard of value In our money sys-
TEN, and the OF fun legal-tender silver coins
quantities as can be maintained without impairng
or endangerng the credit Of the Government. or
Of h the hand of or the sn
not in favor Of the free and unlimited coinage OF
silver.
But on the return Of the delegation from CHI
cago arrangements were made at once to repud-
ate this declaration and fuse with the Populists
and the Pettigrew Silver Republicans in support
Of a Bryan -Sewall Bryan Watson electoral
ticket recent State Convention effected this
fusion and carried the party definitely over to the
support Of the population platform and nomi-
nees.
The Minnesota Democrats have plunged as
headlong into the mire Of the free-coinage heresy
as their brethren across the South Dakota Dor
der. At q state Convention on June ii last they
formally declared:
We are unqualiiedly In favor OF the present gold
standard OF value. We favor the use OF both gold
and silver "a money, and believe our Governmeht
circulating medium as large amount Of silver az
can be employed without destroying or threatening
TO destroy the existing parity OF value between the
unit in gold and the unit in silver. We oppose the
free coinage Of silver by our Government at the
the other commercial nations OF the world
Yet on August the Minnesota Democracy. fol-
lowing the lead taken by other States. pledged
itself to a fusion with the POpulists and other
miscellaneous political elements on Presidential
electors each faction 10 have representation on a
mixed Bryan Sewall. Bryan-Watson ticket, ana
enthusiastically Endorsed that plank In the chi
cago platform which says:
We demand the free and unlimited coinage OF
without waiting for the aid or consent OF any other
nation We demand that the STANDARD silver dollar Jar
shall be full legal tender equally with gold, TOT
all debts public, or private and we favor sn Ha1
legislation as viii prevent for me I%srre oney by
private contract We are opposed TO me pon icy
and Of Of nea 50 the opo
by law 10 the Government OF redeeming such ooh-
cations in either silver or god
CONNECTICUT AND NETWORK TURN TAIL.
New-York and Connecticut. whose recanting
state conventions have just disbanded. bring to
an end this melancholy and discredtable record.
The Connecticut Democracy only three months
ago. on June 10 declared its opposition to free
silver coinage In one of the most drastic and
vigorous pre- convention resolutions aimed at
the Bryan -Tillman- Altgeld programme of re-
pudiaton. The resolution read:
While we favor the most liberal Of silver con-
sistent with the enforcement Of gold standard;
unalterably opposed to the Tree coinage or
currency and to the compulsory purchase OF silver
by the Government. Under existing clrcumstahces
to pay public debts In silver coin Is repuulaoi, "
nav private debts in the same coin Is TO ROB the
wage-earner. and to provide for the free coinage OF
silver means the destruction or legitimate DuslheSs
and great suffering among the labor classes
On September 16 the Democracy Of Connect
cut-somewhat battered and mutated. how
ever-reassembled at New-Havcn and executed
an extraordinary change of front by passing
unanimously this demagogic declaration;
Resolved That we .ndorse the platform adopted
Mt Chicago by the Democratic National Convention
and that we pledge our earnest ana a th
dates nominated by the Democratic party
Resolved. That the growing industrial , disaster Ter
ever-increasing result of the demonstration OF Sill
yer In 1873 we therefore invite the united support
Of the electors In the effort TO restore the coinage
svetem which existed during the years OF our
National prosperity, and which Is the coinage sys-
tenn recognized IN our Mauon ns ond me useless
Increase Of the National debt In time OF peace
Resolved That business depression and contract
cd nroduction are the Inevitable of loss and
disaster to all wealth-productng industries that
there is therefore, sufficient inducement 10
can,tal 10 invest upon a constantly falling market
and with money constantly increasing In Its ex-
changeahle value and purchasing power
THE FARCE AT BUFFALO,
The Democratic organization In New YORK.
after two months Of hesitation. has also reached
the point Of eating its own words and repudiat-
ing It's past financial professions The money
plank adopted by the State Convention OF June
"a which chose delegates to Chicago though
not so vehemently outspoken as that framed by
the Connecticut Democracy. is sufficiently ex-
plicit and emphatic. 1t said. In part:
We are opposed to the free and unlimited coin ~
% ~ - d1cla Lalinf lhai any