The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-08-08

| conceive that the most dangerous dem
onstration of the past month, is to be
found in the apparent ease with which Il
great political party has been suddenly
turned from its well settled convictions tu
views diametrcally their opposite, for no
other reason than because an accidental
and temporary majority In a party con-
ventlon has 50 ordered.
When IT comes to pass that political
parties are mere machines, swayed at will
by leaders and conventions, instead of be-
ing aggregations of Individual thinkers
moved by some common and intelligent
purpose for good, an evil time will have
come to the republic.
Tested by clearly defined, and oft re-
peated declarations of Democratic doe
trine. the Chicago platform In my judg-
ment is not a Democratic utterance. II
is coldly received. or openly opposed hy
hundreds of thousands of life long Demo
Gratis. and 10y the great leaders in whom
the party has trusted; while it is hailed
with boisterous demonstrations of APP
provai by political organizations with
which Democracy has hitherto had nu
sympathy.
Abandoning the sound money doctrines
always upheld by our party, this plat
form propose es to flood the country with Il
debased silver currency, and compel its
circulation at double its intrinsic value.
For the first time i'm the history of civil
lied countries it is intended that silver
shall be freely coined into money without
limit as to quantity and without refer
ence to its intrinsic worth
No pledpe is made 'or its redemption.
no provision fol maintaining 1t on Il
parity with gold. On the contrary, the
means that have enabled the present ad-
mnistration to maintain the credit of the
government. and to keep the present rs
sues of silver equal to gold, are now to he
taken from it. Its protecting hands are
to be- tied. while the wage earners ana
thrifty citizens of the country are left 10
bear the losses that in my opinion would
be inevitable. Not content with burden
ing the country with this terrible load of
deprecated silver, it is proposed to ada to
1t unlimited issues of Sreenbacks redeem
able in this debased coin.
The curse of an irredeemab!e paper
money, that has wrought ruin in every
country that ever resorted to it. and
against which the Democratic party has
ever consistently fought, is to be visited
upon ms.
The power to borrow money to meet its
current obligations and maintain its
credit. II power inherent in the smallest
subdivision of local government, Is to be
taken from the general government leav-
ing its honor and credit the sport of ir-
responsible speculatcrs upon national dis
aster.
Th.. best and safest system of banking
and of paper money the world has ever
seen, Is to be stricken down to be re-
placed by the worst that the ingenuity t
man has ever devised.
In 1882 national Democratic conyen-
ton, at the dictation of the south and eX-
treme west. declared in favor of the frecst
possible issue of banking currency. ana in
1896 at the behest of the same sections II
declares against al such issues.
Then we declared that our gold and sill
yer coin metals must be of equal intrinsic
value, and that the parity of all issues
must BE- maintained: now we denouDce
intrinsic equality and make parity of
value impossible.
The Chicago platform attacks the S,l-
prt!ne court of the country. and makes IL
covert threat to reorgaEize it. so that its
decisions may be reversed. No act in the
history of the Republican party ever re-
ccived severer condemnation from De-
mocracy than did its prostitution of the
Supreme court in the same way. during
the administration of President Grant.
1t invites anarchy by denouncing Pres
ident Cleveland for following the example
of Jackson in enforcing federal laws by
the armed power of government, when
riot reigned in Chicago.
With tGise declarations of principles
and policy, and with the influences behind
them, | have no sympathy.
Much as | love Democracy and revere
its history, | cannot follow those who
have ''stolen its banners while trampling
on its principles
Opposition to this platform means H.
deity to Democracy and to country, ia
liberty. to progress, TO all that Is worth
preserving in American civilization
/, Respectfully yours,
Robert f.. Wright.