The San Francisco call., 1896-10-04


cratic clubs. For the great work you have ac-
complished and are yet TO accomplish IN
bringing victory to our standard you VIII
have the gratitude of the Democrats every
where. The gravity of the issues involved In
the pending political struggle cannot be over
stated. Their supreme Importance TO the
masses of our people cannot be measured py
words. make no question as 10 the honest
convictions of those who give their support 70
the ticket nominated at the indianapolis con-
vention. The fact remains, however, that the
contest for the Pres dency rests soIely De-
tween Bryan and Mckinley. 1t cannot be
claimed that any other candidate has a SEM
blance of chance for success or even that ne
will receive a single electoral vote. III Will
avail nothing TO close our eyes to the TACT that
the gentlemen have named are the real cam
didRtes before the people.
1t must pc remembered that during the
thirty-two years Immediately preceding the in
auguration of President Cleveland on the 4th
of March, 1898, there was no single moment
that the Democratic party controlled the
Presidency and both houses OF Congress; never
g moment that il could place single law
upon the statute books. For all of the iegisla-
ton during that period, which brought in its
train financial disaster "monopoiies" and
''trusts," the Republican party is alone re-
spopsibie. During the period l have lndl-
Gated the monetary policy OF the founders OF
our Government wss abandoned and silver
demonetized. The sad results to all kinds of
business, TO all condi tions OF men, that have
followed Gas the night the day" the demone-
tization act OF 1878 have never been, will
never be, adequately told. Something OF the
evils at have followed in its train can be
found in the enforced ldlenesS OF those who
vainly seek employment, In the wrecked tor-
tunes OF men once prosperous in business and
in the deplorable condition of the finances OF
the Nation.
But we are told that the real issue-that
upon which this election is to turns not the
monetary but the tariff question. Our op-
ponents place this in the very forefront OF the
struggle. Meeting them for moment upon
their chosen ground, judging from their past
history, what are their promises, what their
Intentions in the event of success? The noIni-
nation at ST. Louis OF the disting uished author
OF the last Republican tariff law emphasizes
the determination of our opponents when in
the full tide OF power to re-enact the Mckinley
tariff, and restore to our statUte-books the most
unjust the most odious tar schedules known
to any period OF our history.
Without going into details as to the in
creased cost of articles of daily CONSUMPTION,
you Will remember how under the Mckinley
law year by year there was a decrease in the
revenues OF the Government The Republicans
came into power on the 4th of March, 1889,
heir to all that had been achieved by four
years of successful Demo oeratic administration.
The treasury was overhowing; the question
was, "What shall be done with the surplus 2"
Four years later the heritage of the incoming
Democratic administration from It's Republi-
can predecessor was a depleted treasury; Dusi-
ness was paralyZed; workshops closed, wage
earners in enforced idleness and poverty and
want the common lot. Under the conditions
have named the Democratic Congress ad-
dressed itself TO the task of making good its
promises made in the campaign of 1892, TO re-
form the tariff and reduce to the people the
cost of the neeessarIes of life. The Mckinley law
was repealed and the Wilson bill placed upon
the statute-books. 1t should never be forgotten
that this tariff bill-the first lor fifty years en-
acted in the interest of the people-was passed
after q desperate struggle. Since the repeal of
the corn laws in England, the world has wit
messed no such parliamentary struggle against
monopoly and privilege. II was literally
struggle of the people against the monopoly
and greed fostered and made powerful by more
than thirty years of Repu blican leg Station.
The combinations and "trusts," now the
curse OF the American people, have only been
made poss i5le by the bad financial legislation
and the high protective tariffs which have en-
riehed the lew at the expense of the many.
The return of the Republican party to power
means the repeal OF the Wilson tariff law. 1t
means the re-enactment OF the Mckinley law,
or one even yet more odious In its provisions
Ihe financial question, however, overshadows
aH others in the present contest. Believing
as do that gold and silver find equal recogni-
ton in the constitution OF the United States,
that by their joint use in effecting exchange
and performing the other functions of money
we have prospered in the past, and that the
evil days now befalling us are in no small
measure the result of the characterization of
silver. have no hesitation in maintaining my
party allegiance and casting my vote for
Bryan and Sewsll, the nominees of the Demo-
cratic convention.
l deeply regret that many of those with
whom have been associated in former con-
tests now oppose the selection of the candi-
ualco III ACcOTQaQce Win the Time
honored methods and usages of the Demo-
cratic party. Without questioning their sim
certify, the inquiry is significant: What ts
there IN the attitude OF the Democratic party
upon the monetary question to justify its
abandonment by those who have long shared
In its counsels, and who have been the
cipients OF its rewards ana its honors? AS the
"psrting of the Ways has been reached, it is
well to inquire: is their path or Is ours the
true one2 Are we recreant to Democratic
faith and tradition in standing by the historic
organization, or they in aiding directly or in
directly in the triumph OF its great antagonist?
By the constitution of the United States, the
Congress is vested with the sole power "to coin
money, regulate the value thereof and of
foreign coins, and fix the standard of weights
and measures" and it is further provided that
"no State shall coin money, or make ANYTHING
but gold and silver coin tender in payments
OF debts" The system Of bimetallism is here
established Gold and silver coin here find
equal recognition.
AS Democrats we believe in honest money,
the money OF the constitution. We attach
deep Importance to the words of Thomas JET
ferson, 81 concur with you tnat the unit must
stand upon both metals" Il was during the
administration of Washington that the great
Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton
said: ITO annul the use OF either OF The two
metals as sound money is TO abridge the guam
ttty OF the circulating medium and is liable to
all the objections that arise from a comparison
OF the benefits OF full, with the evils OF a
Bcant circulation Have we in the advocacy
of bimetallism departed from Democratic
teachings, from the Democratic faith on this
question?
Mr.. Stevenson then went on to show
that the Democratic platform of 1880 de-
ciared for honest money, "consisl ing of
gold and silver and paper convertible into
coin ON demand" And in 1884 Mr.. Cleve-
land was nominated ana subsequently
elected upon the declaration, I'VE believe
in honest money, the gold and silver coin
age of the constitution and the circulating
medium convertible into such money
without loss" In 1888 the platform of
the last preceding convention was unani-
mously reaffirmed, and in 1892 the plat
form declared for ''the use of both gold
and silver as a standard money of the
country" Mr.. Stevenson continued:
This declaration met the earnest approval
then as il does now. Can it be that those of
Us who four years later still hold to the use of
both metals as standard money of the coun-
try have abandoned the faith and are no
longer worthy to be called Democrats7 Is it
too much TO claim that in giving our support
to the nominees OF the Chicago convention we
are keeping the faith2 The charge of recre-
ancy to our party does not lie at our doors. 1t
is well to inquire now what has been and
what is the attitude of the Republican rarty
upon this question. The financial plank of
the Republican party in 1892 declared for
bimetallism and for the use OF both gold and
silver q standard money. In 1892 both
parties favored bimetallism and demand
ed gold ana silver as the standard money of
tho oau ptrv ba Ranf-blioan Mo Of