The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-09-14
lie Bitterly DenounCes the Action Of the
Chicago Convention.
MOST SCATHING ARRANGEMENT 7
Never Before Has the Party Been
Asked to Make u Compromise Be-
tween National Honor and National
DeyradatiOn..iIe He Proposes to Bolt
the Buffalo Convention If the Ac.
Endorsed.

Governor William +. Sheehan yester-
day sent lengthy statement of his
views and attitude in the campaign to
Joseph b. Mayer, of Buffalo. Mr..
Mayer is a prominent Democrat and a
delegate to the Chicago convention.
Mr.. Sheehan says:
The proceedings of the recent Chicago
convention were unparalleled in Demo-
cratic history. Radcalism and not pa
riotism dominated its course. The gud-
ing and in a large measure the controlling
spirits of that body were Republican
United States sena torS-men whose votes
made 1t possible to engraft upon the stat
utes of this country the Objectionable fea-
lures of the Mckinley law. The patriotic
advice OF men who nave grown gray III
Democratic service was Spurned and the
judgment of these new found apostles of
an un-Democratic creed was enthusias-
tically accepted.
After reviewing the official acts Of
the convention and it's platform in
scathing terms, Mr. Sheehan continues:
What Democratic convention has failed
in recent years to justly condemn Repub-
lican paternaliSm. Where is there more
wicked form of paternalism than for the
government to stamp for the benefit OF
the mine owners tfty-three-cent worth or
silver bullion as one dollar in coin. Where
lows the silver of the world TO be coined
at our mints free OF charge at IA ratio far
beyond its intrinsic or commercial value
and compels us as citizens to accept this
false and dishonest coin at its face value
in eXtinguishment Of Their debts and in
payment for their labor. The advocates
of this platform hazard everything on the
single proposition that the enactment Of a
law for the free coinage OF silver, at the
ratio of sixteen to one. without the ald CT
assistance of other nations. Will bring sill
Yer and gold to parity. We consider our
silver dollar today as good as gold because
it has back of it the credit and faith OF
the nation pledged TO maintain its parity
with gold. Under free coinage this credit
and faith will be withdrawn from the new
coin.
After reciting the debtorship of the
United States for its outstanding bonds
OF $3.50, O,0O0,o 900 for which gold was receiv-
ed and for which unless the intelligence
of this nation be blunted and its pa
triotic impulses paralyZed. redemption
will be in the same coin"
CANNOT PETIFOGG THE QUES
IloN., N.,..#.is.
Mr.. Sheehan also says:
Nor can the apolosist for the Chicago
platform petifog or beg the question.
fered by Senator Hill TO the effect that any
change in the present standard of values
should not apply 10 existing government
bonds, they nailed TO the masthead OF their
ship the inglorious flag OF reputation and
dshonor. Against the preparation OF
sucn a crime III the name of Democracy, |
protest. Who are the owners of these
bonds? Not foreign bankers and home
syndicates, not the so-called bloated bond
holder, but the ward whose education has
been provided for in the supposed IN
volatility of a United States bank, the
widow whose sole support may be the in
come thus received and five millions of
American citizens who have placed their
| deposits in our savings institutions. These
! deposits are not stored away in the values
loaned Is frvestns,Sss eanSs and Tnat wnrh NJ is is mot not
ernment bonds. With siiaesr or fl tiai - paoer
money as our only means of-fsxen,ne , how how
! can three millions of United States buu-s
! be redeemed in gold?
! Mr.. Sheehan criticised the plank of
the Chicago platform and attacks the
! United States supreme court and asks:
| Does party regularity demand blind and
! stupid allegiance to everything a conven-
| tion held under the name of Democracy
may do. | admit the impossibility Of
| drawing platform that in all the things
viii be satisfactory to all Democrats. But
never before have we been asked to make
a compromise between national honor and
national uCtTdtS'lDN. DlflNlpniStS may
| be made on many matters even on the cur
| rency issue, but the immortality and de-
| basement Of compromises on questions
| that directly effect the nation, honor and
| good faith are not TO he considered for a
moment. The Democrats who responded
to President Lin, oln'S call to take up arms
for the maintenance Of the nations honor
did not cease to be Democrats because
they served themselves patriots.
! STANDS ON A GOLD PLATFORM.
After referring to the condition of the
country and the lack of confidence pre-
vailing. and to the fact that the gold
necessary to start business "is and has
been waiting the settlement of our fin
arcial difficulties along the lines Of
honor and the reason Mr. Sheehan
says. referring To the platform of the
last Democratic state convention in
New York:
l stood on that platform. which never
have left since and do not propose to 10
so now Let those whose judgment leads
them in different direction support the
Chicago nominees. Let them not, how
ever. east structures upon the men who in
s!st Upon standing where they have al
ways stood
After citing the fact that no existing
power can take from his his credentials
as member of the Democratic national
committee unless with his consent, MIR.
Sheehan concludes:
If the state | have the honor to repre-
sent stands in September where it stood in
June | will gladly continue as its represen-
tative on that committee. But If the or
ganized Democracy of the state reverses
its position and hoists the flag of Popu-
lsm, | viii not continue to represent it.
In lItr q ion tp1n (. .l,,
platform Of the Chicago convention or its
nominees my resignation will Immediately
be forwarded to the national committee.
BRYAN AGAIN TALKING.