The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-08-26
THEN AND NOW.
The platform of Iowa Democracy in
1893, upon which Uncle Horace Boies

Inc plat1Orm OF Iowa democracy In
1893, upon which Uncle Horace Boies
stood for governor, read:
''We denounoe the Republican legis-
lation known as the Sherman act OF
1890, as cowardly makeShift which
has brought present financial per1ls
and troubles upon us, and demand the
immediate repeal of the silver-purchase
clause thereof. and with the national
Democratic convention of 1892 we hold
to the use of both gold and silver as
standard money of the country, but
the dollar unit of coinage of both
metals must be of equal intrinsic and
eXchangeable value. or be adjusted
through international agreement or by
such safeguards of legislation as shall
insure the maintenance of the parity
of the two metals and the equal power
of every dollar at all times in the mar
kets and in payment of debt; and we
demand that all paper currency shall
be kept at par with and redeemable in
such coin. We insist upon such as,
of the farmer and laboring classes, the
first and most defenceless victims of
unstable money and fuctuating cur
rency."
1t was during this campaign that
Bryan made reputation in Iowa,
speaking for Uncle Horace upon this
platform. 1t will be noted that the
Iowa platform, that Bryan approved
in 1893, made the most imperative
statement that 1.-The dollar unit OF coin
age of both metals must be Of equal
intrinsic and exchangeable value, or
be adjusted through international
agreement" What does equal in
trinsic and exchangeable' value mean?
That each dollar shall have enough
bullion in it that it will have market
or "exchangeable value" with the
other dollar That is to say the silver
dollar should have had at that date 100
grains of standard silver instead Of
4l2h grains. Otherwise there should
be an international agreement In
ternational agreement is treason now.
1t asserts that this nation Is helpless
to protect the rights Of its own cii-
Zens." 1t must have been a pretty
good thing three years ago in Demo
cratic platform or Bryan would not
have advocated it.
Another thing not less significant in
this Iowa Democratic platform is:
Eve insist upon such policy as espe
cially necessary for the protection of
the farmer and laboring classes, the
first and most defenseless victims Of
unstable money and fuctuating cur
rency.' 1t can't be argued that free
and unlimited coinage by the United
States alone will enhance the bullion
value Of silver TO the coinage value and
make silver bullion worth S1-29 per
ounce in gold throughout the world"
The ratio of Is 10 ! IS not mentioned
The market or '-exchangeable value"
is distinctly mentioned ''We insist
upon such policy" What policy: That
silver shall be coined with gold upon
the market or Interchangeable value"
which was then 26.i6 To l." or be adj
justed through international agree
ment~ To adopt any other policy, as
for example. 10 have coined the metals
at tie ratio OF I6 90 would hare pro
duced unstable money an6 ii itpiatins
cIrrenc, Tse platform cncaares d
''es, eoialIy necessary" 10 protect the
farmers and wagc-earners against an
unstable and iiuetuat!ng currency.
against free coinage ut 16 70 ], and
assures Us that these classes Farmers
and laborers) 1.-The first and most de-
fenseless victims" OF such Currency.
How could Mr.. Bryan consistently
stani on such a platform. o.edra.o TO