The herald., 1896-09-14
To Questions Regarding His
Political Attitude
4 sTRAloHTour doLDBud
Sees NothisS Democratic Ia the Chicago
SN Platform
the Platform Committeeman Shss-
ban VIII Resign
IssocIated Press Special wire

q recent letter of inquiry from Joseph
Mayer of Buffalo as to the attitude oc
ex-Gov. william F. .Sheehan, the gov
ernor makes his position plain in the
following interesting statement:
"The proceedings of the recent Chi
cago convention were unparalleled iii
Democratic history. Radicalism, AMI
net patriotism. dominated its course.
The guiding and In a large measure, the
controlling spirits Of that body were
Republican United States senator's
men whose votes made it possible to
enter upon the statutes of the country
the Objectionable and disastrous McKin-
ley law. When before were rock-ribbed
Republican protectionists given in a.
Democratic convention seats of honor
and permitted to dictate and shape the
policy of our party? The patriotic ad-
vice of men who had grown gray in
Democratic service was spurned, and
the Judgment of these new-found apos-
ties of un-Democratic creed was en-
Enthusiastically accepted.
IA platform was adopted under the
guise of Democracy from which all
thoughtful Democrats should recoil
There never has been a moment since
its adoption that could support it, ex-
cept by loss of self-respect. What is
this platform? There is not a line in it
that is not Democratic that is not good.
There is not word in it that is bad,
and therefore un-Democratic, that has
not been stolen or taken from the Popu-
list platform. BaseNas Republicanism
Is, subversive as it has generally been of
the best interests of the country, it is
infinitely preferable to Populism, which
Is next Of kin to socialism. We should
examine our past platforms, in connec-
tion with the teachings of the founders
and statesmen of our party. to ascertain
what is the test of party faith. Demo-
cratic principles took root with the
birth of the republic; they are as sound
and lofty today as they were when first
expounded by Jefferson. All Democrats
should give their hearty support to can
didates who stand upon a platform
which reaffirms and upholds these prin-
ciples.
when was it ever tenet of Democ-
racy that by the fiat of government rs
cents worth of silver should be made
equal to 100 cents worth of gold in pay
ment of public and private debts? What
Democratic convention has failed in re-
cent years justly to condemn Republic
an paternalism? Where Is there more
wicked form of paternalism than for
the government to stamp for the benefit
of the mine owner So cents worth Of
silver bullion as 81 in coin? Where Is
the Democracy in proposition that al
lows the silver of the world to be coined
at our mints free of charge at ratio
far beyond its intrinsic or commercial
value, and compels our citizens to ac.
cept this false and dishonest coin at it's
face value In extinguishment of their
debts and in payment for their labor?
The advocates of this platform hazard
everything on the single proposition
that the enactment of 16 to /, without
the aid or assistance of other nations,
will bring gold and silver to parity.
We consider our silver today as good
as gold because it has back of it the
credit and faith of the nation, pledged
to maintain its parity with gold. Under
free coinage this credit and faith will
be withdrawn from the new coin. The
government will have no interest in nor
responsibility for it. These men pro-
pose, however that the power of con-
gress be exercised to compel our citi-
zens to accept in payment of their debts
dollar that is intrinsically worth but
SO cents, without being able to compel
corresponding relief to the American
debtors when foreign creditors demand
of them payment in gold. No law has
yet been able to make ali men honest,
but no law should compel them to be
7 dishonest.
q But more sacred to every citizen
than the honor and business interests of
individuals is the honor of the nation
x II the United States is a debtor by vir-
tue of the bonds it has issued, if for the
bonds gold was paid, Justice, morals and
rational honor all cry out for redepm-
tion of principal and interest in the
same coin. But 1t is claimed that on the
face of these bonds the government is
given the legal right to redeem them
In coin and therefore may redeem them
In silver coin.
"A question of morals should always
rise superior to legal question. For
. the $3.50, ,000.0 900 of government bonds now
outstanding, we have received gold coin.
and unless the intelligence of this nation
be blunted and its patriotic impulses
paralyzed, these obligations will be re-
deemed in similar coin.
II have heard 1t said that no attempt
would be made to affect existing obli-
cations If the work of the Chicago con-
vention be ratified at the polls. The
proposition not to repudiate these obli-
cations was overwhelmingly defeated
by the convention after Mr.. Bryan had
concluded the speech which resulted
in his nomination. Under the free coin
age, gold would be exported or boarded
and silver would become the money of
the country. With silver or paper
money as our only means of revenue,
how can these millions of United States
bonds be redeemed in gold?
with a legitimate proposition to in
crease the number of United States su-
preme court Judges. or to abolish within
constitutional lines life tenure in office,
l may have no controversy; nor do I
object to proper criticism of judges or
public officials. But when an open,
bold attempt is made to increase the
number Of these judges with the avowed
purpose of securing decision of any
question in predetermined plan, intel
ligent men may well hold up their hands
In horror.
I'm view Of the indictment of the work