Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-08-26
Special to the Register.

Special to the Register.
st. Clairsville, o., August 25.-Among
the fsw Democrats here who have re-
ceiyed circular invitations to attend the
Mass State Convention OF National Dem
ocrats at Columbus, August 27, is Mayor
D. H. Milligan, ex-edi;or of the Gazette.
and until recently an advocate of the
single gold standard. In answer to his
letter Mr.. Milligan has addressed tia
following TO H. H. Mcmahon, secretary
OF the advisory committee:
St Clairsville, o., August "a, 1886.
Hon. H. H. Mcmahon, Secretary Advis-
DRY Committee National Democratic
party, Columbus, o.
My Dear Sir:-I have your favor of
18th inst, enclosing notice OF mass State
convention or so-c3lled National DsmO-
cfSjs, 10 Dc held at Columbus at an
early date, and soliciting my humble
presence thereat. | gather from your
letter that the assumed purpose Of your
organization is TO maintain the integrity
OF The Democratic party. | take it, that
che delegates lately assembled IN con-
yentiOn at Chicago were commissioned
by the local organizations and the rank
and ME OF the party, at every voting
place between the Atlantic and Pacific.
10 adopt a platform and 10 nominate
candidates thereon in harmony with the
prime pies of a majority OF the party.
This they have done, and there is no
charge from any sOurce that any dishOn-
est methods were employed in arriving
a, that end. But, who has commits
stoned YOU to assume the guardianship
of the Democratic party? BY what au-
thOrity has your organization become
vested with the mighty .sponSibili;y of
maintaining its integrity? Who has
constituted you the sole protector Of its
virtue?
We Of Belmont county recognize it as
fundamental principle of all popular
government to submit 10 the will of the
majority, and as the Democratic party
has always been loyal to this form of
government, we hold it 10 be the sacred
duty of every loyal Democrat to bow
to the will of majority OF his party,
when that majority is legally constituted
and fairly exercised, and the Democrat
who would assume TO represent us in
any council where any different prin-
ciple is recognized would speedily find
himself without constituency.
We are not TO be stampeded with
charges of Populistic alliances, neither
are we disposed to surrender to any
cabal, anywhere, the right to judge for
ourselves what are Democratic precepts
and what are POpulistic notions and
what constitute an alliance of the two.
Instead OF a disposition 10 repudiate the
declarations and candidates Of regu-
larly constituted majority of our own
parry in convention assembled because
Of what you are disposed to denominate
AN alliance with the Populist party and
a branch of the Republican party,
rather do we regard your movement
with suspicion as an alliance with tbs
CAUSE of Mckinley to brighten the people
with bugaboos that have no existence
and statements that have no founGa-
lion in fact. Ii viii not do 10 face the
intelligence of this section and attempt
10 associate the Democratic platform and
its candidates with Populism. The
Democratic platform was made in con-
vention of Democrats: its candidates
have given the party lifelong adher-
ence. and Mr. Bryan has publicly said
that upon that platform alone and no
other will he make his canvass for tie
Presidency. II the Populists and a
branch. or all the Republican party,
choose TO come 10 our platform and cur
candidates. lat them come. and we pray
Cod TO bless them as He did the sons OF
Jacob when they emerged from the
Egvptian darkness into the Promised
Land Particularly shall we not turn
them away a, the behest OF Clique
who. under the cloak OF virtue. ally
themselves with those who fatten upon
the necessities of the government
created by evil legislation.
We resent your charges that the Dem
ocratc party as now organized seeks 20
debase the currency or to repudiate just
debts. regarding it as libelous, and its
persistent assertion as pure cant and
rank demagogy, borrowed for campaign
nnrncses from our ancient enemy, the
NcKinleyites. and unworthy the mouths
n those VINO nave tNCl dS>uiANN ~ q
within the party whose honorable name
Won have taken. Rather do we hold
YOU the regulators who would pay con
ohIieaiions in the dearest metal and
force the payment OF individual debts
in a money far appreciated in value
ohove what it was worth in labor and
is products when the debts were con-
tracted.
But the most apparently insincere and
contemplate Of your criticisms Of ouT
marty platform is tha, in regard TO an
alIeeed attack uDon the Supreme Court
II is one Of our cardin-l principles 70
foster and maintain healthful public
san. ment as the surest safeguard Of our
liberties. and it is largely on this senti-
ment that we rely 10 keep every branch
of our official service pure and above
suspicion. To Tample down'a free ex-