The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-08-19
IT is DANGEROUS
Comment of the National Demo-
cratic Committee on the
Chicago Platform.
In Issuing the Formal Call For
a Convention at Indian
apolis.
Departure From Time HOnOred
Principles Absolves All From
Obligation.

CHICAGO, Aug 19.-The executive
committee of the National Democratic
party was in session during the day and
issued a call for a national convention
at Indianapolis Sept. ?. The call first
reviews at length the history of the
Democratic party, which ''has for
nearly a century kept its faith without
variableness or shadow of turning"
OF the Chicago convention the call
says:
The delegates to the convention held at
Chicago We're authorized and had the
power to proclaim n platform embodying
their views Of the true solution of the par
ticular problems of the government now
agitating the nation, but upon the condi-
ton that such platform should be con-
sistent with the cardinal principles held
by the party throughout it's existence.
These principles constitute the essential
element of the party's life. They dis
tinguish it from all other political organ
izations. If they are abandoned the party
ceases to exist. 1t was, therefore, not
within the power of any majority of the
delegates assembled at Chicago TO bind
the Democrats of the United States to u
platform inconsistent with the party's
principles, or to any action that should re-
suit in their surrender.
Convention Doinss Denounced.
In violation of the trust committed to
them a majority of the delegates assem-
bled in that convention, ignoring the
rights of the minority, unseated regularly
elected delegates to make places for Others
in sympathy with themselves. They pro-
claimed a sectional combination of the
South ard West against the North and
East. They ilnpeached the honesty and
patriotism Of President Cleveland, who,
under exceptional embarrassments pro-
duced by past errors Of legislation, has
heroically maintained the honor and in
tegrity Of the republic. Against the pro-
test of one-third of the delegates they pro-
mulgated a platform at variance with the
essential principles of the Democratic
party.
This platform Is in its policies danger
Gus to the welfare and life of free govern
ment. 1t Is mischievous in It's tendencies.
But even more threatening and mischiev-
Gus was the spirit Of the convention that
adopted it, a spirit manifested not alone
by It's affirmative action, but as well by It's
reckless rejection OF every proposition
tending to temper the declarations of the
convention with conservatism and justice.
Regarding the silver Question.
The platform proposes to degrade the
coin of the United States by means Of the
free, unlimited and independent coinage
of silver by our government n by the
exercise of the powerof the nation to COM
pei the acceptance Of deprecated coins at
their nominal value, thereby working an
injustice to creditors, defrauding the La
borer Of a large part of his earnings and
savings, robbing pensioned soldiers of a
part Of their pensions, contracting the
currency by the expulsion of gold coin
from circulation, and injuring, If not de-
stroying, domestic trade ard foreign COM
merce.
While proposing to advocate a policy of
bimetallism, it censuIe the present Dem
cratic administration for maintaining the
parity Of geld and silver. It .roroses to