The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-04-25

The Republicans of the East, from Mary
land to Maine, are running wild IN denounc-
ing ''the free silver heresyn and declaring for
gold as the only standard ofvalue, until an in
ternational agreement is reached rehabiltating
silver. They seem TO have forgotten their re-
cord for the past few years. The Sherman sill
yer purchase act was worse than free coinage of
silver-''a miserable makeshift and the ad-
mittance to the Union of four or five silver
states showed the party more intent upon Sc
curing control of the Senate than in upho!ding
''sound money principles.
Whatever is wrong or unsound in the imam
ciaI situation is the result of Republican leg
islation, for every act on the statute books
relating TO finance is of Republican origin and
was passed by a Republican Congress In
their brief ascendancy in both houses OF Con-
gress the Democrats repealed the Sherman
act. which was nothing but an attempt to raise
the price of silver, and consequently the proht
of mine owners, ut the expense of the whole
people, Just as the Mckinley act enabled the
manufacturers to fatten at the expense OF
consumers. Both were measures of protec-
lion. and both were passed by the Reed Bill
lion Dollar Congress.
The Republican party, holding to the doe
trine of Protection, could not have done less
for the silver interests of the Pacific Slope,
after the great measure of protection accorded
TO the manufacturers of the Eastern and Md
die States by the Mckinley act. lfprotection
is good for the manufacturer, it is good for
the mine owner, and to be consistent the Re-
publican party could not have refused gov
ornamental aid to the mining interests.
The sound money principles of the Re
publican party is a new doctrine Of that or
ganization. The policy of Mr. Cleveland and
Secretary Carlisle, in maintaining the equality
of all dollars, gold. silver and paper, has met
with such a hearty endorsement by the people
of the Eastern and Middle States, the Repub-
lican party has made haste 10 change its policy
and declare for a single standard, not because
it believes in it, but for policy's sake to catch
the popular breeze of public sentiment in
these states.
The Republican party is playingto win. II
cannot risk the loss of the New England state:
and Pennsylvania TO gain the few elcctora
votes of the four or five silver states, number
ing not over twenty, hence the declaration
for gold standard. Yet the party every
where is irving to conciliate the silver Repub
licans also. While declaring for the single
gold standard, and denouncing free coinage
hope is held out TO the free silver Republi
cans by advocating larger use of silver when
ever the chief commercial nations of the world
shall meet and agree upon proper ratio ;
very improbable occurrence.
The Republican party of Maryland has JUS
adopted such platform. Last summer, when
the Democratic party challenged it to combat
upon the financial issue, among others, its
platform was silent. The Democrats, in their
declararations. said, speaking of Mr.. Cleve-
land
I'VE heartily commend his Administration for
the vigor and success with which il has met and
overcome the many and great difficulties which
the Administration of President Harrison and the
Republican party left it to deal with, and especially
for the courage sagaeity and ability which 1t has
displayed in its determined and resolute efforts to
huctuating unstable and debased currency, ana TO
crush the pernicious financial heresy of the free
coinage of siver at the ratio of l6 to
The platform upon which we won onr great VIC
tory in 1892 denounced the Republican legislation
known as the sherman Act Of 1880 as eowardiy
makeshift fraught with possibilities of danger III
the future which should make all of its supporters
as well as its author. anxious FORTS speedy repeal
What was the Republican policy then
One ofsience, and harping upon "bossism,
when it was preparing to give the people OF
this grand old commonwealth the worst exhi-
bition of it known in its history What is the
Republican position today, honestly inter-
preted, but straddie pa gold standard de-
claration to please the Eastern and Middle
states, and bimetallism advocacy. when the
very improbable international agreement to
that end is reached, TO please the Pacific
Slope states.
The financial question, rather than the tar
iff, is to be the leading Issue of the next presI-
dental campaign, and it would be most fitting,
considering the preponderancy of the senti-
ment of Maryland Democrats for the gold
standard of value, that Hon John 4. Hurst
should head the Maryland delegation to the
Democratic National Convention. He stood
squarIy upon the declarations of the conven-
ton of last year, and his defeat was not at
tributable to his position upon national OF
state policies. If the Democrats have not
changed their financial views, no more capable
representative of them can he sent TO Chicago
than Mr. Hurst, as a delegate -at-large. IT is
certain that many Democrats who did no
support him last year heartily regret that the,
did not, since the Republican party has shown
its incapacity, its unequaled greed for Office
rather than regard for the public welfare, ant
since its triumph has brought with it a bossisn
unheard of before in Maryland.
We believe, if Mr.. Hurst will accept I
position as delegate-at-large, united part,
will be swift TO select him.