The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-05-21
Financial Question the Great
Issue of the Campaign.
THINKS MAJ. S. M. FINGER
But How to Maintain a Good
State Government.
OF FAR GREATER IMPORTANCE
An UneuuivocaI Platform Must be Laid
Down and Good Men in thorough
Accord With the Platform
Nominated.

| Nominated.
| 70 the Editor: / read both the News
| and Observer and the Charlotte Obser-
| yer. This is not to condemn either
| but to advise that we Democrats prac-
| tice liberation as to our differences on
| the coinage and other questions. Let
me state the case as | see it:
| l. The Chicago platform of 1892 was
on coinage, interpreted in two ways,
visz: ID AS meaning free and equal
treatment OF both metals at The minis
on the one hand; and (2) on the other,
Uniting the coinage of silver under Ger
tain c0ditions. In North Carolina,
during the campaign of 1892, we ar
o.ued for the bi-metallic use under
the first OF these interpretations. This
Interpretation was clearly right, l
thought so. and [ think so yet. Thn5was
the very general Interpretation in this
State, whatever exception there might
| have been.
,. When the State convention of
1894 met it followed this interpreta-
ton in its platform. 1t made an I'M
equivocaI declaration in favor of free
coinage at the ratio of 16 TO /.
3. We have no other party deliver
ance on this subject except that of the
executive committee, which is in ac-
cord with the last State conventions
GS9D platform, which platform ac-
cords with our Interpretation OF the
Chicago platform.
4. Now it seems to me that party
loyalty suggests, at least, that we
stand upon this platform until regular
convention changes it.
5. BY this | do not mean that editors
or amy one else shall not have and adj
vocate a policy on this subject which
they may consider better than the last
conventions deiverance. But should
any one do this, he should have due re-
gard for his State platform and those
who stand upon it.
g. | came actively into politics in 1874.
In every campaign since then | have
made speeches as a Democrat i'll advo-
cacy of treating both metals alike at
the mints, and of tariff reform. In
doing this | was following what | UNI
derstood to be the teaching of the
Democratic party. | thought the
leaders of the party, not only in this
State but elsewhere, as well as Demo
cratic votes in Congress in 1873, when
a Democratic House of Representatives.
passed the Bland free coinage bill, and
une large preponderance CI Demo
cratic votes in Congress all the time
until now-all taught and emphasized
this doctrine as to coinage and tariff.
Z. The people of this State and the
people in the country generally, have,
| think, been taught this to be Demo-
cratic doctrine, Speakers may, in
sor.e caees, have been insincere in
what they said, and Congressman may,
| in some cases, have voted against their
convictions for effect upon their con-
stituents: but, if so, they misled the
people, did very wrong and should be
| condemned. Hard adjectiyes, how
ever do no good.
| 8. Now, | may be wrong about This,
but i think that the great body of the
| Democrats in this State, if not else
where, have the same understanding
| that / have. Not only do they believe
| this to have been the teaching since
| 1878. if rot before that, but they like
wise believe that this teaching is right.
| | wish it were possible to take an un-
trammelled vote on both propositions.
! 9. / do not lay much stress upon the
! contentious as to what Jefferson
| taught and what Jackson taught on
| this ubiect. The very fact that it is
possible to- have a controversy about
what they did teach shows that we can
not settle our differences by an appeal
| to-4hem Indeed, if we could agree
upon what their teachings were in full,
| these teachings might not be appli-
| cable Ito the present state OF things.
4 Yet | would like for these old patriots
| to have fair treatment. May it not be
| that some medium can 'call them up
and let them speak for themselves. 1t
/ Al. l. = IL
ent views at different times, just as
| some great men in our day have done
on this very subject.
| 10. We are face to face with the
greatest question that civilized ma
tions have to deal with The money
question-in general, the whole finan-
cial question including coinage, paper
| currency, and taxation-is the ques~
| ton about which there is, perhaps,
more room for honest discussion than
| any other. The coinage division of
| this question is now specially promi-
nent, and great and good men take
| opposite views Of it. / do not see that
either side has justifiable grounds to
| ridicule the intelligence or doubt the
honesty and integrity of the other.
say this, Notwithstanding my advo-
cacy of free silver. In the name of
| the great question we are discussing,
| in the name of a higher plane of
| thought and discussion, and in the
| name of the peace, harmony and sue
| cess of the Democratic party and its
policies in general, let all harshness
and reflection of an unkind nature be
stopped.
II. While the financial question is,
as / have said, when we speak broadly,
the great question; yet when we con-
slider matters with narrow scope, the
greatest question for us here in North
Carolina is: How shall we maintain in
our counties and in the State such
government as shall protect our lives