The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-10-20
MADO0 SPEAKS.
The Assistant Secretary Of
the Navy Condemns the
Chicago Platform.
U WITH DANGER
His Record in Congress oppos-
ed to the Free Coinage Of
Silver Visionary
and Vicious.
Great Reforms lmpeded by the
Recklessness of Demagogues-
His Personal Regrets.

The following letter has been written by
Assistant Secretary McAdoo. Of the Navy
Department, to the New Jersey State
Committee of the National Democratic
Party
Lakewood, N. j.. Oct. Is, 1896.
My dear MIR. Curtis
/ am in receipt of your letter, n also
those of other friends In New Jersey,
asking my views on the question involved
in this election, and requesting a public
expression of the same. The issues at
stake are too numerous not to concern
every citizen, and I would consider my
self unworthy the friendship and respect
of those who have hitherto honored me
in this regard if 1 were guilty of either
evasion or silence.
T h great questions depending on this
election are above all partisan and per-
sonal considerations and concern the
maintenance of our institutions and the
honor Of the country.
Personally IT is with deep regret that I
find myself differing with some of my
friends, and for the first time in my
life unable to support the platform and
nominees of a convention held under the
auspices of the Democratic party. 1t
would be a poor requital for the honors
given me by my former constituents in
New Jersey if I should fail in this crisis
to speak to them with candor and sin
certify on matters so vital to their interests.
at the risk of offending some of them,
rather than assume a cowardiy acquies-
cence in a policy which I heartily and
sincerely believe Is fraught with danger
and disaster to the interests of the people
and ominously ~overshadowed with peril
to the nation The great questions Of the
campaign are too sharply defined the re-
suits altogether too momentous and far
reaching to allow political expediency or
temporary partisan advantage to permit
indifference, neutrality or neglect. The
best service one can render to his friends
is to boldly differ with them for the
preservation of what he honestly believes
their best interests, at the risk of for
feiting their friendship or even mourning
| their enmity.
am opposed 20 the platform and I'M
| ahla N r,rcr - ~
Chicago. because I am thoroughly con-
WINGED that the doctrines therein set
forth are unsound and dangerous, and
would work incaiculable injury to the
whole people of the republic. being from
a political and economic point Of view
extremely radical if not evolutionary
fierce with the heat of renewed sectional
ism, and savage with the bitterness Of
class distinctions hitherto unknown to
this new and happier hemisphere.
AS a representative in Congress I had
the privilege of speaking and voting on
several occasions against the free coin
age of silver, one of the more objection
able features of the Chicago platform,
and have heard no new argument in its
favor since then, and indeed a careful,
reading of the best that can be said for
it strengthens my conviction as to its
folly and danger. The untenable char
acter Of this proposition. and its especial
ly injurious effects On the wage workers,
has been so clearly demonstrated tina ]
do not deem it necessary at this time tc
review the objections to a scheme which
seems to me both visionary and vicious,
Bad as I believe this measure to be
when in addition 1t is coupled with dras-
tic and violent remedies for evils in gov.
eminent imaginary or existent, and Which
would prove worse than the evils them.
selves, it must give the most violen,
partisan, who still remains a patriot
pause before giving to such a platform
support, either active or passive. Did tn.
principles at issue beget only minor differ
ences as to degree and expediency, W,
might well within party lines, and 70
tHS SdhS v oSdi1aefon, dpPiy tHe AL
gustinian maxim. Unity in essentials
liberty in non-essentials, and toleratiol
in all things" but the platform has tn
one virtue of being bold and u~ndisguiset
and admits of no neutral position to
! wards the doctrines it advocates: on til
rock or the san bank you shah tax
your stand, and etwee them runs II
. deep sea-
The most painful reflection ID connet
: tton with this subject is that those net
dssary and progressive reforms, either ]
tfhe principles Or practice of governsnen
and which should constantly under 40
mai condttiens ~ u acttve o1sta<aaay s.