The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-17
THE MISSOURI PLATFORM.

If the Missouri Democratic Convention
held on wednesday last furnishes any in
dex OF what the action of the National
Democratic convention will be, then
Il Is no use TO talk OF nominating Mr..
Bayad or any other sound man. The
Democratic party. as now organized, will
simply be consigned to annihilation.
Democratic principles will not, Of course,
be affected, but II Will be necessary to
reconstruct the party from its founda-
ton upwards before it will ever again
receive the slightest attention or con-
sideration from the judcious and con
servative men whose opinions finally rule
In all emergencies.
After the Missouri Convention had
committed the incredible act OF folly Of
declaring for the unlimited coinage of
silver by this country alone at the ratio
of l6 to /. they put the finishing touch
TO their foolish work By declaring that
iree-silver Bland should be the nominee
of the Democratic party for President.
Bland is an admirable specimen of the
humbug and windbag TO put in the lead 81
such Falstafiian, Mouldy, Shadow, Wart,
Feeble, and Bull-Calf party as the Mis-
souri, Convention would make Of the Demo-
cratic party. But we cannot yield our
demand though that If the Missouri plat
form Is to be the national platform, TIL
man. OF South Carolina. is the man for
the place. BLAND is a fool Of very ex-
traordinary dimensions. but there is a
tinge OF integrity in him. Tinman is no
fool. but a reckless revolUtionist, and
that is what the free-silver party are in
for.
The Missouri platform puts out GER
tain statements which ought TO be ex-
h. fhined, or they are calculated 10 mis-
bad ignorant men. 1t says. for instance:
1--WE further believe the paramount issue
before the people OF tho United States
relates TO the monetary system to be
adopted by this country and upon that
Issue We declare that the Federal Consti-
tuition names silver and sold together as
the money metals of the United States
Duty TO tho people requires that the party
OF tho people continue the battle for BIZ
mcta!iism until its efforts are crowned
with success"
An uniformed man would very natural
Iy suppose from this that there were
people IN the United States who wanted
20 deprive silver Of all part in our money
system. But there is no party that wants
10 do this. The single standard. or gold
men, as they are called, have no objection
10 all the silver we now have In our flnan-
cial system remaining as a part of our
money. We nave some $500. 600. 900 OF silver
dollar pieces and some S750O0,OOO OF sub
sidiary silver. and everybody agrees tina,
It shall remain part OF our money. Fur
ther. the single standard or gold man IN
slsts that the government shall coin all
81 the silver hfty-cent pieces. quarters.
emes and half-dimcs that the country
can use. No one. therefore. wants TO in
terfere with silver performing every func-
ton OF money that II can perform What
the singie-standard man objects TO is
continuing TO coin fifty-centS worth OF
shall be clothed with power under the law
10 pay dollar OF debt, when the creditor
parted with gold dollar. and would
receive back under such an arrangement
what was worth only half of gold dol.
lar. The Federal Constitution in naming
silver and gold as tho money metals OF
the United States does not declare that
epvsr shall bs coined into dollar pieces