The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-07-23

delivered by Senator Stephen b. Elklns,
nj Parkersburg yestcray, IN assuming
the temporary craftsmanship OF the RO-
publican state convention. Senator FL
kins said:
The present Is the most important
presidential campaign since 1860. The
Country is approaching crisis, II the
step taken at Chicago Is successful 1t
Will require only one more In the same
direction to bring the country into n
state OF revolution. The issues raised
are serious and momentous: they not
nnly. Involve the question OF right imam
cial and economic policies but the ma
ttonal credit. the national honor and the
Sood name aud safety OF the great re-
public
The Republican party ut st. Louis de-
clared in Its platform for protective
tariff, reciprocity, protection to Amcri-
can industries, American homes. Amer!-
can farms, American shipping. and
American 3waGe-carners; revenue suiR-
Gent to pay the current expenses of the
government and reduce the public debt:
for sound money equal to gold and good
the world over and the maintenance OF
the public credit and the national honor.
The nGw Democratic party in Its plat
form adheres to war on protection aud
reciprocity, and favorS restriction upon
the freedom OF contracts. 1t declares
for the free and unlimited coinage OF
silver at Is To l. the debasement of the
currency. for paper money, class legts-
lation. an income tax.larger control OF
railroads by the government, against
the life tenure OF federal judges, attacks
the supreme and federal courts for their
decisions, opposes the protection Of pub
lie property and United States mails by
federal authority under the decision OF
the federal courts, declares for repudla-
t!on and against maintaining the pub
lie credit. The spirit OF population and
revolution pervades the platform. as 1t
guided the deliberations OF the conven-
ton.
The minority report OF the convention,
In referring 10 the platform adopted.
says: "Th- free coinage OF silver would
place this country at once upon silver
basis, impair contracts. disturb busI-
ness, diminish the purchasing power OF
the wages OF labor, and infIct lr-spara-
Bile evils upon our nations commerce
and industry" This Is what 357 dele
gates had to say In the convention about
the financial plank OF the platform.
The convention, BY n vote OF s26 to 800,
voted down the following: I'VE Insist
thar all our paper and silver currency
shall be kept absolutely on a parity with
gold. They also voted down this: I'VE
demand that the national credit shall b..
resolutely maintained at all times and
under all circumstances" Also this:
But 1t should be carefully provided by
Il law that, at the same time, any change
~ in the monetary system should NOT apply
ySfto existing contracts
w The Democratic platform demands
= larger control OF railroads By the gov
eminent. This means In the end control
~ and management Of the railroads Of the
country by the government. and OF
course telegraph lines would follow. This
would Increase the officers and employees
OF the government about one million. an
army in Itself. This Increase. together
with the other employees OF the govern
ment In the various departments and the
army and navy, would enable 80 ambI-
tious. grasping and absorbing party as
the new Democracy ut ChIcago to per-
petuate Itself In power
Many Democratic leaders and journals
all over the country dcnOunce the plat
form SIS favor!ng reputation rcvoIu-
t'onary and ararchlstic In It's tendencies.
and advocate opposition to II and the
candidates In the intereS. of good gov
eminent, the preservation Of the nation
oil credit and the national honor.
Dls.olution 1.-THE Democratic Pnrtr.
1t Is matter of deep regret to every
patriot that the Democratic party took
the position 1t did at Chicago.
1t Il no. encouraging In a republic to
see great party abandon It's principles,
give up its traditions. and form an ALL
ance with the dangerous elements Of
soc.ety
The action OF the Chicago convention
marks the beginning NJ the decay and
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF the old and once
powerful Democratic party. In DAYS
long gone BY 1t made great record in
the history OF the republic. For long
time 1t stood for liberty. sound money,
the rights OF persons and property; il
added to the tSfrltory of the republic
" and to the honor and luster Of the flag.
But the party OF jefferson and Jackson
has become the party Of Altgeld and
Tlllman. They were the dominating
spirits at Chicago, and they anu their
associates shaped the policy OF the con-
ventIon.
Above the storm OF the new revolution
the voices OF Altgeld and TIllman arc
heard, while those or the old-tlmA con-
rervative leaders. such as German,
Cleveland. Whitney. Hill, Palmer, Villas,
Carlisle and others are hushcd and as
silent as the grave.
New lines are formed In our politics.
new aud ugly forces face the great Re-
publican party; but 1t will move for
ward TO meet these new forces and new,
dangers to the welfare OF the people and
the safety OF the republic, and In the end
triumph.
The Republican party has made a rec.
ord that entities It to the confidence OF
the people. II has shown that It can be
trusted In times OF great emergencies,
and IL greatest when the life and liber.
ties OF the nation are In peril It trl.
umnhed IN the war OF the union. II will
boldly and with confidence meet thIy in
clpient revolution OF a new and strange
Democracy and save the people, society
and the country from their enemies.
Let facts be told an 'thcy are, rcspnn-
s'bIllty placed whereof belongs. and lrs-
tory recorded as made. Mr.. Cleveland
and his party are In part responsible for
the outcome at Chicago. The Demo.
cratic party sowcd the wind in the cam
paiBns Of 1888 and 1892 and rcaped the
whirlwind in 1896: they gowcd tho lra :
Epr's teeth In 1892 that helped raise IN
the army OF rGvOlutlOnlst8 at ChIca .
60 Mr.. Cleveland by his expressions
and utteranceS helped create n mon
sicr he could not XIII. hut which In turn
dcVnureh him and took from him the
control OF his porty. AT Chicago It pass
ed him by. and not only treated his
words with contempt, hut condemned
and crucIned him on cross of silver
and put about hls brow crown OF
bonds.
In the campaign Of 1892 thoughtful
ncople were shocked and panied that