Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-08-08

like Hon. William Henry Clifford, who
for many years has been listened to
with the closest attention and respect
at Democratic conclaves in this state,
think of a convention assuming to be
Democratic turned into a mob the mo-
mcn/ he stepped to the platform to
address them, Think of that mob
bowling, hooting. jecring, catcalling
like infuriated schoolboys. shrieking
Throw him out" and Kissing like 500
escape valves, Then think if you can.
that this fragrant public insult to every
the platform adopted by the State con
vcntion at Portland represented the
principles of the Democratic party will
pass unnoticed that thqsc men viii
fan into line like whipped ours in Sep
tcmber and vote for everything that
Watcrvillc convention signifies and for
everything signified by its prototype
the Chicago convention,
History repeats itself In 1892 the
Republicans of this country in strong,
vigorous language depicted what
would follow upon the heels Of an as
sault upon the tariff. But those words
were not SO strong nor SO vigorous as
have been the eloquent facts, the
4 II
ment of the revolutionary, socialistic
work of that Chicago convention was
read the Republicans of the country
though expecting much were astound
ed, and expressed their establishment
and Indignation in terms unmistaka-
bic and not lacking in vigor. But the
DeInocratic press rivalled the Repub-
lIcan press in their expressions of con
domination. and now lifelong Demo
Gratis of this good State forced to re-
pudiate the work of that Watervillc
convention in order to maintain with
Democratic principles as they under
stand them, come out in the following
declaration of principles, and de
scription of the dangers OF Popocracy.
that cannot be surpassed by the express
sion of the most radical Republican in
the land:
To the Democratic voters of Maine:
At a recent convention in Chicago Il
platform processing to be Democratic
was adopted by a majority of the dele
gates which declares for the free coin
age Of silver at a ratio to gold which
would at once effect the substitution of
a silver standard of value for the one
now existing in our country. This
means reputation by the government
of the United States of about one half
of its obligations. The platform pro
Vides for an indefinite issue by the fed
cral government of legal tender
paper money. If authorized by law
it would deprive the citizens of in
diVidual right of private contracts in
financial matters. 1t aims at the over
throw of our federal judiciary and its
degradation to a mere instrument Of
party politics. 1t sets up the revolu-
tionary doctrine that the government
of the United States is without means
to protect the safe transmission OF mails
OF the goods of interstate commerce.
while at the same time it claims that
the control of cur great line of do
mestic traffic should be under govern
ment control The platform of this
convention distinctly calls for the
overthrow of one of the coordinate
branches of our national government
and the abolition of our national con
stitution of our social order. The dec
larations of the platform of this con
vention are dangerous. revolutionary
injurious to government and social or
der and utterly opposed to the time
hOnorcd principles of the Democratic
party. The honor of our country is
as dear to us as our lives. We would
die rather than suffer a national dis
grace. We know that the honor of our
republic is pledged to the redemption
of its obligations. We desire also to
accomplish the work and the mission
of the Democratic party. The Demo
cratic party aims to improve the con
dition of the masses of men. for these
men have only their labor to exchange
for money. They constitute the great