The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-07-15
Gold Men Decide to Bolt.
A Pronunciamento Issued
From Chicago.

CHICAGO, July 13.-The honest
money Democracy Of Illinois, through
it's executive committee, issued an
address tonight to the Democrats Of
other States, calling upon them to
nominate another national ticket and
adopt platform of "sound money"
principles. upon which the nominees
can appeal to the people of that
opinion. This address was author.
lied by meeting of the executive
committee Saturdy night, and CON-
mittee of three. This committee met
today in the law Office of Henry S
Robbins, president of the Illinois
Democratic Sound Money league,
and agreed upon the address, which is
as follows:
A national convention, convened
under the constitutional authority Of
our party, has just closed it's ses
sion in the city of Chicago. 1t en-
tered upon its work by violating all
party precedents in the rejection of
distinguished Democrat as its pre-
siding officer. 1t deprived sover-
eign State of voice in it's deliber-
erations by unseating. without cause
or justification. delegates elected
with all the regularity known to the
party organization. 1t refused to en-
dorse the honesty and fidelity If the
present Democratic national admin.
istation. 1t adopted platform
which favors the free and unlimited
coinage of silver by this country
alone at ratio of 16 to l, and
thereby it's reputation a time-hon-
ored Democratic principal which de
mands the strict maintenance of a
sound and staple national cur
rency
Finally. to make it still palmer
that, although in name, it was not in
fact Democratic convention, it nom.
mated for President one who is not
in his political conviction, and has not
always been even in his profession,
a Democrat.
This has made such a crisis, both
for the nation and the Democratic
party, that the sound money Demo
Gratis must at once decide what
action thew will take for the pro
lection of the honor Of the nation,
the prosperity of the people and
the life and usefulness of the
party.
The sound money Democrats of
Illinois have fully made up their
minds that a new Democratic nation
al convention should be called for
the earliest feasible date to nomin-
ate Democratic candidates for Presi.
dent and Vice President, and adopt
platform of Democratic principles.
and to state to their fellow Demo
Gratis of the other States their reasons,
as follows:
lst The sound money Democrats,
to make certain at once that their re-
volt against free silver is determin-
ed and will be organized. 1t is un
fair to oblige the credit of the ma.
tion and the business and Industrial
interests of the people to merely
guess what the sound money Demo.
Gratis will do in November, and
to wait until november to find
out.
I'd. The nomination of a new
ticket is the logical course, without
it, and a sound money Democratic
campaign, the whole educational
forces of sound money Democratic
sentiment would be parayzed from
the beginning Republicans cannot
argue the sound money question to
Democratic voters. Republican sin
cerity of thas question is doubted by
the Democratic masses The tariff
question will be put to the front and
insisted upon by Republican speak
ers, and the Republican press, as it
has been repeatedly done, by McKin-
ley himself. Democrats will not lis
ten to talks on finance when it is &C
companied by abuse Of the Demo
cratic party. The most effective
force at this time for a campaign is
the force residing in the sound
money Democrats for they are pro-
foundly in earnest and can get a
hearing from Democrats that the Re-
publicans cannot possibly get.
Without a campaign we should not
only have no speakers, but our press
would be firing in the air and the
whole force of campaign organtza-
ton and campaign workers in cam
paign literature and the great power
of constant private discussion and
appeal would all be lost.
3D. A new convention would also