Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-01
FIGHTING ALL ALONG THE LINE.

The gold Democrats, or administration
men. gained great victories in the Demo
cratic State conventions Of Wednesday.
Mississippi stood alone in favor of the
free coinage OF silver at the ratio of 10
to /. while the great State of Pennsylva-
MIA. as wen as Michigan and Nebraska,
declared for sound money. But the Demo-
rrats of Pennsylvania declared for state
banking systems, as well as for sound
money as between gold and silver. The
Democrats OF Michigan also added a new
and unnecessary plank 10 their platform
II Is a declaration that the platform OF
lS2 Tor any other year, should be the
Democratic national doctrine until
another platform is framed by another
national convention. 1t depends altoge-
Their upon circumstances whether the
platform OF one Democratic national con
yontion should or should not be the law
OF the party until another platform Is
framed by another national convention.
HOW would the Pennsylvania Democrats
set the State-banking system into their
platform If they had TO wait until ma
tlcnal convention called for it?
The Democrats of Pennsylvania de-
,lared for tariff for revenue purposes.
That question is not half so interesting
or so pressing as the sound-money ques-
ton. The Pennsylvania Democrats also
cred gun at greenbacks and Treasury
sotes. "They should have no place in
he currency of the country" We quote
"Of doubtful constitutonallty. and ORR
finally issued under the plea Of military
necessity, and under a pledge OF early
.fhdrawal they are a constant menace
81 financial disaster and national dis
,olior We believe that the Federal Cow
srsment should be entirely divorced from
.le business of banking. and that Con-
,~ess should enact such legislation as
an give 10 the country banking cur
-sncy ample in volume for the needs
u business, absolutely secure under
,,cry contingency, and at all times re-
leemablc in gold.
1--WE are in favor OF firm. unvarying
maintenance Of the gold standard. While
se favor the most liberal use OF silver
.cnsistent with the enforcement of a
told standard. We are absolutely opposed
% the free coinage of silver and TO the
compulsory purchase OF silver bullion by
.he government
The reader VIII see Ahat N4t itHhSAl
yanla Democrats are a law unto them
selves Nevertheless. they place Governor
rattison upon this platform as their can.
l.date Tor President OF the United States
Michigan VIC had set down as a free
,i.ver State: But the action of the Demo
cratic state Convention shows that Michi-
gan stands side by side on the silver
question with Nebraska and Pennsylva
iia. We will not quote Michigan again.
The Nebraska State Convention put
orth sound-money plat:orm-a Jefferso
alan creed-and sound doctrines generally
we quote:
I'VE believe. with Thomas Jefferson
thai the market value o. bullion regulates
the value OF The coin. and not II.
eotn-yalue We accept the teachings OF
economic science that under free condi
tons the cheaper money VIII always drive
out the better money. leaving nothing
hut the poorer IN circulation; and that
under this uivaryiag law. the adoption
OF the free coinage OF silver al iG 10
would expeI from circulation all the gold
and paper money rcdeemaDle ia gold
and leave the country on a silver basis
~ifh = psfel cuuency. era @ech les o.