Mexico weekly ledger., 1896-03-26
March Calendar.
WHO ARE THE TRUE DEMOCRATS?


one of Audrain county's most sub
stantial Democrats, an ex-Confeder-
ate, who was a fighter; man who is
identified with 10 faction, Democrat
who wants his party to succeed, hands
the LEDGER the following for publi-
cation from the Kansas City Times:
Who are Democrats? BY what stand
ard is Democracy to - measured?
The editor OF E . -. Louis Post Dis
patch, v,icing the sentiments of cer-
to-. self constituted leaders of the
Missouri Democracy, contends that
those who favor sound money are not
Democrats. BY what authority is this
Judgment sanctioned?
There can be but one true test of
Democracy, and that is the one estab-
lished by the authority of the Democ-
racy of the United States in national
convention assembled.
There is no ambiguity or doubt in
the financial plank of the last Demo-
cratic national platform. The editor
of the Post Dispatch was a delegate
from this State to the national con-
yention; he was selected by the dele
cation as the member of the commit
tee on resolutions; and by this com
mittee as its chairman; he reported
the resolution which was adopted by
the convention; this resolution was as
follows:
''We denounce the Republican leg
islation known as the Sherman act of
1890 as cowardly makeshift, fraught
with possibilities of danger in the
future, which should make all of its
supporters, as well as its author, anx-
ious for its speedy repeal. We hold to
the use of both gold and silver as the
standard money of the country, and
to the coinage of both gold and silver
without discriminating against either
metal or charge for mintage, but the
dollar unit of coinage of both metals
must be of equal intrinsic and ex
changeable value, or be adjusted
through international agreement, or
by such safeguards of legislation as
shall insure the maintenance of the
pz2ity of the two metals and the equal
power of every dollar at all times in
the markets and the payment of debts;
and we demand that all paper curren
cy shall be kept at par with and re-
deemable in such coin. We insist up
on this policy as especially necessary
for the protection of the farmers and
laboring classes, the first and most de-
fenseless victims of unstable money
and fiuctuating currency"
To this resolution Colonel Thomas
M. Patterson of Colorado, the eloquent
advocate and friend of silver, offered
an amendment, which was to insert
the word stree" before the word
coinage. In support of this amend
ment he said: Gan we have asked is
the recognition of the doctrine of free
bimetallic coinage as doctrine of the
Democratic party. Not the coinage of
a 70-cent dollar, but the coinage of
gold and silver dollars of a fixed par
ity, and each dollar containing metal
of equal intrinsic value" This amend
ment was voted down, the entire Mis-
souri, delegation ga votes) voting nay
on the amendment.
Upon this declaration for sound
money, the Democracy OF the nation
won it's great battle and assumed the
reins of the government. Now it
seems that new light has broken
upon, and new faith seized Colonel
Jones, and those who agreed with him
in 1892; who voted with him in the
national convention; who believe
honestly in the doctrines of the party
as pronounced in the last platform,
are to be Judged as anti ti-Democratic,
gold standard cranks and creatures
altogether unlovely and not to be
trusted.
Let us remain anchored to the faith;
abide by the principles which the peo-
pie have indorsed and merit the con-
fidence of the republic because of our
consistency.