Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-29
THE MAssAcHusETTs PLATFORM.

THE MAssACHUsETTs PLATFOHm'
Massachusetts, follows New York In lay
ing down a platform for her Republicans
TO stand upon. Even In charging 'ne
Democrats with tariff legislation injurious
to American Industries. the Republicans
of the old Bay State initiate the eh-
ample OF those OF the Empire State. But
Massachusetts Republicans, whilst Keep
ing In line with the Republicans OF New
York on the silver question and the tarin
question, availed themselves OF tho op-
portunity to denounce ''the unsound ana
dangerous system OF State banks. Al
there are any practical financiers In the
United States--that Is to say, men VINO
understand both the theory and the prac-
tice of fnance-we suppose they may be
found i'm Boston. They have lived through
all the plots and schemes to destroy the
existing national-bank system, and nave
come out safely from the encounter here
IS what the Republicans of Massaehu-
setts say on the subject OF banking. we
quote:
I'VE are opposed 10 the unsound ana
dangerous system OF State banks; We
support the Observation-Disclosures ana
believe that II should be so amended as
to give IL room for expansion, and oppor-
tunity to meet the demands OF the grow
ing business and population OF the coun-
try"
This resolution will not induce the De-
mocrats to declare for currency OF
promissory notes.
The next feature OF the platform OF tha
Massachusetts Republicans to which we
wish to call attention is the declaration
that they are entirely opposed to any
change In the existing gold
standard except by international
agreement" How long since the gold
bugs denounced international agreement
as thing which it was folly ever even
to hope for?
AS we have all along notified our readers
that the Republican national platform
would be for sound money, they Will not
be surprised TO read the rest of the Bos-
ton platform-that is, so much Of It as is
contained in the financial plank. 1t reads
as follows:
1--WE regard the silver agitation az hurt
Iul " buNlltSS anu utslIutlAFC VI NOAth-
dence. and, as has recently been shown,
hostile to all tariff legislation designed TO
give protection 10 our industries and reve-
nue. to our Treasury.
I'VE are entirely opposed 10 the free
and unlimited coinage Of silver. and TO
any change I'm the existing gold standard,
except by international agreement. Each
dollar must be kept as good as every
other dollar. The credit of the United
States must be maintained at the highest
point, so that II cannot be questioned
anywhere. either at home or abroad.
Every promise must be rigdly kept. and
every obligation redeemable in coin must
be paid In gold"
II the Republicans elect their candidate
for President. and put him on this plat
form, there will thencefOrth be no ques-
ton as TO whether or not the govern
ment's obligations must be paid in GOLD.
Greenbacks, Treasury notes, bonds, in
terest, and what not will all be paid in
gold. This will DO the logical outcome OF
| the war upon the Democrats and their
| financial theories which has been going on
| for years in the financial centres. 1t re-
| quired good deal Of boldness for the Re-
publicans to take this position, but. II
they can hold 1t, they will make a name
for themselves all over the world. Right
here, the two parties can divide; for It
may be set down as certain that the
! Democratic National Convention will not
declare for paying every obligation OF the
government in gold which is now redeem
able in either silver or gold. And. yet.
| to declare for the gold standard. as the
Republicans are expected TO do, will be,
! in effect, the same thing as declaring for
paying every government obligation in
gold which is now payable in either gold
| or silver.
| The bold course OF the Republicans OF
| New York and Massachusetts, Will help
the Republicans as we'll as the Demo-
Gratis when their respective national con-
ventions begin the work OF laying down
national platform. Note that Reeds
| New York and Massachusetts, platforms
are so framed that the Reed men seem
| to have tried TO make platforms upon
which Mckinley could not stand.