The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-07
SEWALL SOLID FOR SILVER.
HIS LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE
GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC.

the Mission of the Democratic
Party in the Present Campaign.
Bath, Me-, Oct 6.-The following is the
letter of acceptance of Hon. Arthur Sc
wall, the democratic nominee for Vice
President of the United States:
Bath, Me-, Oct 6, 1S96.-Hon. Stephen
H. White, Chairman. and Members of the
Notification Committee-Gentlemen
have the honor to accept in writing, as
have already verbally DONE the nomina-
ton rendered by you on behalf of the
democratic party as it's candidate for Vice
President of the United States. And in
doing so l am glad, first, to express my
satisfaction that the platform of our par
ty, which has commanded by lifelong al
legianee, is honestly and fully declaratory
of all its princip' IS, and especially of the
| absorbing financial issue, upon which, as
you say, l took my stand, "when the
hours of triumph seemed remote, and
when arrogant money changers through
out the world boasted that the conquest of
the American masses was complete"
The principles have been of late in
allegiance only because those whom we
trusted to maintain them have failed to
do so-these principles never can die. We
have rescued our party from those who
under the influence of the money power,
have controlled and debased it. Our
mission is to now rescue from this same
power and it's foreign alliances, our
| own beloved country This is the first
and highest duty imposed by our party's
| platform; upon the performance of this
| duty all other reforms must wait
| The test of party principles is the gov
ernment they assure; the proof of good
| government is a contented and happy
| people, and the supreme test of both the
ability to guide the country through a
| crisis as well as to administer the gov
| ernment in ordinary times. Our people
now face a crisis. A crisis more serious
| than any since the war. To what party
! shall they turn in their dire emergency?
1t is trut that the present crisis may not
! involve all equally; that there are those
| who do not suffer now, and who may not
suffer should the crisis threatened by the
! gold standard come on in all its fury.
Human selfshness makes these deaf to
! all appeals, but to these fortunately, the
! democratic party has never needed to APP
peal to win its battles. Nor
does 1t now, save as there are
perior to self, in the sacrifice which
such a crisis demands of every patriot.
| We are told that the country has pros
| pered under the present monetary stand
ard; that its wealth has enormously in
creased. Granted But in whose hands?
In the hands of the toiers, the producers,
| the farmers, the miners, the fabricators
in the factors, the creators of the nations
| wealth in peace, it's defenders in war?
Have they the prosperity which was
theirs 50 late as even two years ago? l
deny it. They deny it. None affirm it,
=. q s- - \
whose profits would diminish, as prosper
itv returns to those on whose distress they
thrive
| All Is indeed right between capital and
| labor The best money in the world is
! none too good for those who have got it,
! but how is it with the 80 per cent. of our
| people who have got it to get?" How is
| it with those who must buy this "best
money in the world" with the products of
| their own labor. These are the people
for whom the democratic party would
| legislate. What is the best
money for these is the
question for all to ask who really love
| this land.
How, also, can you increase labor's pur-
| chasing power but by increasing the price
| OF labor's products? Is it a fair meas
ure to value that in our great producing
| sections, ten bushels of potatoes must lie
| paid for a dollar ten bushels of oats for
! r,
lar. three bushels of wheat and all other
products of the soil and mills, and The
| labor of all wage-earners at the same
ratio? Does any fair-minded man say
| that this is honest money that forces such
an exchange, and if it is not fair ex-
change is it honest? Is it less than rob-
berry? This is the condition to which the
single gold standard has brought us. Tn
der the appreciation of the best money In
the world, has increased the wealth of
the rich and for the same reason has in
creased the debt of the debtor. So unde~
the present standard, it must continue to
be.
With these object lessons about us, lit
tie need have we for history and Stats
tics and the studies of scholars Little
satisfaction it is to us that they have
warned us long since of the deadly evil
Of the gold standard. 1t has brought us
at last to the parting of the ways.
"Whither shall the people go?
In the way that has led to
their enslavement, or into that
which offers them their only chance
to regain individual liberty, lasting pros
perity and happiness? Let not our oppo-
nents charge us with creating class dis
tinctions. Alas, for the republic, they are
already here created by the republican
policy of the last thirty years; created by
the very system we would now overthrow
and destroy. Nor do we raise a sectional
the charge. None know better than
that this nomination is meant as no per-
sonal tribute, but as an assurance that
our party is a non-sectional party. Not
by our party but by the continuance of
the gold standard can sectionalism be
revived.
Neither shall our opponents be permit
ted to terrfy the people by predictions
that temporary disturbance or panic will
come from the policy we propose The
American people will be loyal to the ma
tion's money will stand behind II and
maintain it at whatever value they them
selves may put upon It, Once before in
the present generation have our people
been called upon to face a momentus cri-
sis. What then said Mr.. Lincoln. the
chosen leader of the plain people OF tho
land? Was he awed by threats or weak
enod by the willy persuasion Of the false
friends who to-day, pleaded for com
promlse with wrong? His answer is. ''If
our sense Of duty forbids this then let us
stand by our duty fearlessy and effect
ively."
Let us be diverted by none of these
sophistical contrivances wherewith we
are so industriousy piled and belabored.
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