Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-09-18

Mayefey< W 49, 20 the attitude of
Ex-Governor William T. Sheehan in
the present campaign, the governor
makes his position plain in the follow
ing interesting statement:
THE proceedings of the recent Chicago
convention were unparalleled in demo-
cratic history. Radcalism, and not pa
triotism dominated its course The guild
ing and in q large measure the control
ling. spirits of that body were republican
United States senators-men whose votes
made it possible to enter upon the stat
utes of the country the Objectionable
and disastrous Mckinley law. When be-
fore were rock-ribbed republican protec-
tionists given in democratic conyen-
ton, seats of honor and permitted to die
tate and shape the policy of our party?
The patriotic advice of men who had
grown gray in democratic services We're
spurned, and the judgment of these new
found apostles of undemocratic creed was
enthusiastically accepted
Under Guise of Democracy.
"A platform was adopted under the
guise of democracy from which all
thoughtful democrats should recoil. There
never has been a moment since its adop-
ton that l could support it, except by
loss of my self-respect What is that
platform? There Is not line in 1t that is
democratic, that is good. There is not a
word In 1t that is not bad. and therefore
undemocratic, that has not been stolen or
taken from the popuist platform. Base
as republicanism Is, subversive as it has
generally been of the best interests of the
country, 1t Is infinitely preferable to pop
ulism, which is next of kin to socialism.
We should examine our past platforms
in connection with the teachings of the
founders and statesmen of our party to
ascertain what is the test of party fnith.
IT.. ,,i., ot~IA, ,xvtth
the birth of the republic; they are as
sound and as lofty today as they were
when first expounded by Jefferson. All
democrats should give their hearty sup
port to the candidates who stand upon q
platform which reaffirms and upholds
these principles. When was 1t ever
tenet of democracy that. by the fiat OF
the government, So cents worth of silver
should be made equal to 100 cents worth
of gold in payment of public and private
debts? What democratic convention has
failed in recent years to justly condemn
republican paternalism? Where is there
a more wicked form of paternalisn than
for the government to stamp for the ben
eft of mine owners So cents worth of sll
yer bullion as one dollar in coin? Where
in democracy is a proposition that allows
the silver of the world to be coined at
our minis free of charge at a ratio far
beyond its intrinsic or commercial valIe,
and compels our citizens to accept this
false and dishonest coin at its face value
in extinguishment of their debts and in
payment for their labor?
The Single Proposition.
THE advocates of this platform hazard
everything on a single proposition that
the enactment of a law for the free coin
age of silver and gold at the ratio of 16 to
l, without the aid or assistance of Other
nations, Will bring gold and silver to a
parity. We consider our silver dollar to
day as good as gold because 1t has back
of 1t the credit and faith of the nati1n,
pledged to maintain it's parity with gold
Under the free coinage of silver, this
credit and faith will be withdrawn from
the new coin. The government will have
no interest in or responsibility for il.
These men propose, however, that the
power of congress be increased to compel
our citizens to accept in payment of their
debts dollar that Is intrinsically worth
but So cents, without being able to com
pei corresponding relief to the American
debtors, when foreign creditors demand
of them payment in gold. No law HIS
been able to make all men honest, but
no law should compel them to be dishon-
est
But more sacred to every citizen than
the honor and business interests of in
dividuals Is the honor of the nation. If
the United States is a debtor by virtue
of bonds 1t has issued: If for these bonds
gold was paid. justice, morals and ma
tional honor all cry out for redemption,
principal, interest-all-in the same coin.
But 1t is claimed that on the face of
these bonds the government is given the
legal right to redeem in coin, and there
fore may redeem them In silver coin.
"A question of morals should always
rise superior to a legal question. For
the $3.50, 900 900 of government bonds now
outstanding we have received gold join,
and unless the intelligence of this ma
ri ht 1VNaTN COG
paralyzed these obligations will be re-
deemed in similar coin.
What He Has Heard.
II have heard it said that an attempt
would be made to AFFECT existing obllga
lions If the work of the Chicago conven
ton be ratified at the polls. The propo
sition not to repudiate these obligations
was overwhelmingly defeated by thu
convention after Bryan had concluded hi
speech which resulted in his nomination
Under free coinage. gold would pc eX
ported or boarded and silver would be
come the money of the country witt
silver or fiat money as our only mean
of revenue, how can these millions o
United States bonds be redeemed Il
gold?
with a legitimate proposition to in
crease the number of United state
supreme court judges, or to abolish within
constitutional lines the life tenure of OF
L
I object to proper criticism of judges {
public officials. But when an open, Dol
attempt is made to increase the numbt
of these judges with the avowed purpos
OF securing a decision on any question
a predetermined plan, patriotism and II
telligent men may well hold up the
hands in horror.
81 vote this indictment of the work
the Chicago convention; 1 can not su
port it's candidates except upon the pi,
of party regularity. The claim that u
democrats should support the ticket
the sake of regularity would have mo
weight If it were urged on behalf OF
candidate whose democracy was uns.
lied. 1 admit the impossibility of drai
ing a platform that in all things Will
satisfactory to all democrats. But ne
ec before have we been asked to ma
compromise between national honor a
national degradation. The democrats W
responded to President Lincoln's call
take up arms for the maintenance OF
nations honor, did not cease to be DE
ocrats because they proved themseN
patriots.
Cannot support Chicago Platform
1T is not pleasant to break old assoc
lions. wish I could bring mysef
believe that the Chicago convention Y