Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-31
NEW YORK GOLD MEN
State Convention of the Democrats at
Syracuse.
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN GRIFFIN
Opposition to Both National Can
didates Explained.
GATHERING TAKES RECESS

| SYRACUSE, y. Y. August 31.-The state
convention of gold democrats me. here to-
| cay. Daniel c. Griffin Of watertoUn WAS
| chosen temporary chairman. He spoke in
part follows:
Chairman GriIHn's Remarks
when a citizen has 10 choose betyecn n
duty 10 his country and an opposite de-
nland by his party II he hesitates or at
tempts TO minimize or palliate the extent
OF his defiance of his party organization
Under such circumstances he thereby pub
hshes his own pusllanimity. For a party
is but an instrument selected 10y a patriotic
citizen as the best means for effectua ing
public welfare and when it ceases 10 ;,er-
IL rn that function ard becomes instead
The exponent OF dangerous doctrine, he is
bound TO attempt lis pur'hcation. and. fall
ing in that, then TO select the next pest
means TO accomplish his duty.
We recognize as wei as any one that
when voter has allied himself with "a
Political party, in the course OF events he
Is hkely TO hnd much in ills maDaEe Eement. in
The views OF the candidates nominated and
in the conduct Of the officials elected Dy
II 10 awaken his distrust and 10 discrCdit
his party. And still these things are not
always SO essential ID Justify his with
drawai from the parry his aiding in the
establishment OF an independent irrrgu-
lar organization, and thus in measure
essential objects
But L see before me too many .yho. I'm
years past and in hard-fought political
campaigns, have Loyalty supported the can
didates and the platforms OF demoera.ic
conventions when their own grievances and
their disgust with the management of their
party were calculated 10 drive less loyal
men INTO open revolt, to believe that YOU
have met today merely to utter com
plant about an unessential act of the Chi
cago convention.
hs.
Is the cause of conventions like this in
every state IN the Crion? Why the chica-
go convention threatened public welfare
and dlsnorored democracy in its own
household And If We in order to combat
that danger and avenpe the insult are
compelled to act independently of our
party organization, then We glory IN our
frreSularity
Why Both Candidates Are 0pposed
ITO those who ask us why we do no, sup-
pert Mckinley answer is: We are
democrats and not protect.onists.' To
those who ask Us why We do not support
Bryan, our answer still is: Ne are demo-
Gratis and not revolutionists.'
Mchinleys daily teaching that II is the
nu1y OF me government to provide and
cohlroI market Tor every business enter
rise, and especially for the enterE,rises of
his nearest neighbors, is founded on The
same vicious idea of governmental natter
nalism which finds expression in no more
mand Tor governmental control of railroads
and teleeraphs. and the other demand of
the silver miner that the governmcnl shall
aiso provide and control a market for his
product. We deny tina; il is the dufy or
The right of the government to do either
ana adhere to the democratic doctrine
mat the government shall not Law fits
hands on commerce for any purpose ex-
cept for revenue. No emergency has vet
arisen which requires democrats 10 stultify
thelr convictions in this respect by giving
their support 10 a candidate who typIfies
the extreme opposite policy.
I'm SO far as the republican candidate
has been coerced into an unequvocal dec
laration for sound money, We commend the
influences which have produced so satis-
factory a result; hut when he claims such
material advantages for ourselves from
reciprocity with South American states
We pause TO inquire: If fair trade with COL
cred people is such good thing, why not
with white folks also?
Debr rscment Of the Currency.
THE chief charge We make against the
Chicago platform, and which so far stands
undisputed by its adherents and the cam
didates nominated thereon, is that it pro-
poses the free and independent coinage OF
silver at a ratio far in excess of its COM
mercial value, and that such coin shall be
legal tender in payment OF debts No
matter how skil!fuliy such doctrine may
be advocated, nor how its results may be
obscured by the arguments of demagogues
or doctrinaires. its practical result can only
be debasement Of the currency and the
rcprdiation of obligations. the worst re-
suits which bcfall a commercial peo-
pie. And Furthermore the doctrine alluded
to has hitherto been repeatedly sDurn..d by
the founders of the democrat tic party and
all others qualified TO deter its principles"
Mr.. Griffin then referred TO Mr.. Bryane
speeches through this state. combating his
arguments. and continued as follows:
No, the road to prosperity is not I'm fol-
broken
as proposed by Bryan, nor through an in
crease of taxation upon the people, already
overburdened, as proposed by Mckinley,
but rather by z preserNa;i of our credit
and a reduction of expenditures. This is a
homely maxim, but il has stood the test of
experience, better guide than dishonor, a
sGrer relief than the relentless pursuit of q
discredited hobby"
Mr.. Cleveland Eulogized.
Mr.. Griffin closed in :peaking of Presi-
dent Cleveland as follows:
Since his entry into public life he has
never been recreant TO a sound principle or
broken promise TO his countrymen. Feset
during mis- las tern by difficulties which
would have appalled, the stoutest, deserted
by majority OF his party in Congress,
ahd villihed for his worthiest acts ne has
nevertheless stood immcy able for sound
principle, maintained afety at home
and our dignity abroad and finally in the
midst of an illustrious career achieved the
highest compliment which could be paid
TO public man. in the refusal of the ma
jCrity of the Chicago convention 10 indorse
his administration. Well may his friends
point to the event as the best ylndica tion
of his courage and of his worthiness of the
reputation already accorded him 10y his
contemporaries-;he bravest President, and
loved for the enemies he made"
Recess.
The usual committees were appointed,
after which recess was taken to pm.