New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-14
SAMUEL DICKSON BOLTS.
RESIGNS AS AN ELECTOR ON THE DEMO-
CRATIC PRESIDENTIAL TICKET

UNABLE TO LEND HIS SUPPORT TO THE DEBAsE-
MENr OF THE CURRENCY-A CALL TO ALL
GOOD DEMOCRATS TO REruDIATE BRYAN
AND THE CHICAGO PLATFORM.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
Philadelphia. July 13.-Samue Dickson. a life
long Democrat. one Of the most eminent and In
iuential lawyers in Pennsylvania, at present
counsel for the Reading Railroad. has resigned
as a Presidential Elector on the Democratic
ticket in the following letter:
Philadelphia, July 13, 1896.
Hon. Robert E. Wright. Chairman. Allentown.
Penn.
Dear Sir 1t Is impossible for those who approved
OF what was said and done at Allentown to accept
the platform the candidates Of Chicago In
fact upon the only question involved In the present
campaign Of practical Importance the two parties
have apparently changed sides. For quarter of
a century the Democratic party owed its conference
and its hold upon the country to the struggle OF
Jackson and Benton for hard money; and by hard
money they meant money based upon bullion. and
upon bullion at its actual value. Thirty odd years
ago the Democratic party protested vehemently
against the proposal make irredeemable piiis Oh
credit legal tender antecedent debts just as IL
protested few years later against packing 'he ou-
preme Court to reverse the decision which had oe-
clared the Legal Tender Act unconstitutional IL Is
Impossible, therefore,.
in the principles and traditions Of his party TO
support a proposal to make inconvertibie silver
dollars legal tender for than they arc really
worth. Others may give in to fiat money, ana try
to make something out Of nothing by act OF Con-
gress but the fact that they do so proves that
they not Democrats
Nor is 1t a mere matter Of party personal con-
sistency 1t Is merely paltering with the truth 10
pretend to acquesce in the experiment OF trying
to make the product Of days labor In a silver
mine worth two or five times as much as 'he
product of a days labor in gold or an iron mhe'
At the present time the results OF days WORK
in one occupation worth approximately, ana, In
the long run, as much as in any other 10 amx an
artificial value upon silver ore is dishonest ana
unjust discrimination against every other form OF
industry. and when 1t is done by calling 1t legal
tender II Is done at the expense OF every class In
the community except the money lenders ana the
money changers
With currencies OF different value In circulation
the money lenders always thrive at the expense OF
the people, and the debtor must suffer more than the
wage-earner. 1t was favorte saying OF Loro
Palmerston that high rate Of interest meant bad
security. and the owner Of money must charse Tor
the risk II there Is a chance that when ne lehds
bar OF gold he may be forced to take payment IN a
bar Of silver Just as the owner Of horse will hes-
ia, TO lend it with a chance Of being given In re-
turn sheep or a pig. That Is all there Is in oi-
metalisnl as a practical question: as between the
lender and the borrower and, so stated 1t ought 10
be easy to understand why. until 1t Is settled num-
dreds of millions OF capital are lying idle which
would be at the service OF the South and west II
they we're willing to give back what they got
Such being the condition of affairs and as the Re-
publican party now gives reasonable assurance OF
maintaining the gold standard. 1t seems to me that
all sound Democrats should, In this campaign give
Il their support unless Democratic candidates should
hereafter be nominated upon satisfactory PLATFORM
II would OF course be much more satisfactory II
Mr. Mckinley would get over his aversion to the use
OF the word gold OF which he seems as much afraid
as Mephistopheles OF the sign OF the cross and II
would still be better II he could be brought to UNDER
stand that Sir Thomas Greshams law was In opera
tion centuries before the Mckinley Dill was heard
of But the essential fac. Is that he stands upon
platform which pledges him and his party to main
tain the existing standard Of value. while Mr.. Bryan
proposes debase IL.
Until this Issue Is settled Il would be worse than
folly to waste the slightest effort upon any other
question | must therefore, ask you to accept my
resignation as Presidential elector Regrettng that
your own iabors IN the cause OF sound Democracy
and sound money should have been so unavailing,
am, very respectfully yours.
SAMUEL DICKSON.