The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-18
New Convention at Indi-
annapolis on Sept. :.
To Fight Sturdily for the Gold
Standard.
Democracy Misrepresented at Chi
cago, Says Appeal.


mittee Of the national Democratic party
was in session yesterday. and issued the
following call for a national convention
at Indianapolis. Sept q
40 the Democrats Of the United States:
The Democratic party Is the only ex-
isting political organization with his
tory extending back TO the birth of the
republic. Party after party has at
tempted its overthrow. Some have
achieved temporary triumphs. with
each triumph was heard the prophecy
that the Democratic party would surely
die. Ii has survived al defeats. BY
virtue OF its indestructible principles IL
has witnessed the birth and death OF
every rival, save one, and this its present
great antagonist, with history of no
more than so years, had no part ia laying
the foundations of constitutional popu-
lar government. For more than a CEN
tury men OF high principles, noble, ambi-
uous, unseliish and patriotic aims have
adhered 10 the Democratic party with a
constancy OF devotion unparalleled in
The history OF politics. For more than a
century. through good and'evil report.
IN times or prosperity and days OF ad-
versity IL has kept it's faith.
without variableness, or shadow OF
turning" IL has held fast TO the funda-
mental principles OF free government
formulated by its founders, and subse-
quently enforced by it's great leaders,
from Jefferson TO Cleveland. For more
than century no man was ever In
doubt as 10 what constituted Democracy.
he who proclaimed himself a Demo-
crat, defined his principles. He believed,
and this was the cardinal article of his
political faith in the ability OF every in
dividual, unassisted, IL unfettered by
law, 10 achieve his own happiness, and
therefore that TO every citizen there
should be secured the right and opportu-
nifty TO peaceably pursue whatever
course OF conduct he would, provided
such conduct deprived no other indi-
vidual of the equal enjoyment OF the
same right and opportunity. He stood
for freedom Of speech freedom Of con-
science, freedom of trade and freedom OF
contract, all OF which are implied by the
century-old battle cry of the Democratic
party, Individual liberty"
AS "a CONSEQUENCE. every Democrat be-
leved in the rule OF law, and the rule OF
an impartial law, in the unhesitating
protection, not only of the lives OF citi-
Zens, but of private rights and property,
and In the enforcement of obedience to
duly constituted authority. Every true
Democrat insisted upon strict Observ-
ance of the mandates of the federal
constitution and OF the limitations
therein prescribed. as we'll as upon
loyal support OF all the institutions
thereby created to be guarantees of the
liberty IL sought TO perpetuate. He pro-
foundly disbelieved in the ability of gov
ernment. through paternal legislation
or supervision. TO increase the happi-
ness of the nation.
He believed that IL Is the function OF
government TO provide the people with
an honest and stable medium OF ex-
change, thus enabling them To transact
their business safely and conveniently
in every market OF the world. tie repro
bated every attempt 10 supply 10 money
by means OF legislation that value which
IL can possess only by reason OF these
qualities that render IL acceptable 10 the
world when unsupported by legislative
fiat. He believed in the greatest meas
ure of freedom OF trade and industry
compatible with the necessity to obtain
by constitutional means an adequate
revenue for the support Of the govern
ment. He believed i'm simple, economi-
cal, honest and efficient administration
of the affairs of the nation to the end
that the prime object Of government, the
liberty of the people should be preserved
with the least poBsible resulting burden
and the greatest possible certainty.
With such a record and such a creed,
the president, moreover. being Demo-
crat, elected on a platform Teafirming
the sound principles of Democracy, the
Democratic party was called upon to
select delegates TO national conven-
tion.
The delegates 10 the convention held
at Chicago. were authorized, and had the
power, to proclaim platform embodying
the views Of the true solution of the par
ticular problem of the government, now
agitating the nation, but upon the condi-
ton that such platform should be con-
Gstent 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 IL frona all other political organ
K1n aen Na nd nA ha
party ceases 10 exist. II was therefore.
not within the power of any majority
OF the delegates assembled at Chicago
60 bind the Democrats OF the United
States TO platform inconsistent with
the party's principles, or to any action
that should result in their surrender.
In violation Of lie trust committed to
them, majority ss the delegates assem-
bled in that convention, ignoring the
rights of the minority, unseated regular
ly elected delegates TO make place for
others in sympathy with themselves
They proclaimed sectional combina-
tion of the south and west against the
north and east. They impeached the
honesty and patriotism OF President
Cleveland, who, under exceptional en-
barrassments, produced by past errors
o. legislation, has heroically maintained
the honesty and integrity OF the republic.
Against the protest OF ono-thlrd OF the
delegates, they promulgated a platform
at variance with the essential princi-
pies OF the Democratic party. This plat
form Is. i'm it's policies, dangerous 10 the
welfare and life OF free government. It
Is mischieVous in its tendencies. But
even more threatening and mischievous
was the spirit of the convention that
adopted it. a spirit manifested not alone
by It's affirmative action. but as well by
its reckless rejection of every PROPOSE
tion tending To temper the declarations
OF the convention with conservatism and
Justice.
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.
and by the exercise OF the power OF the
nation to compel the acceptance OF de-
preciated coins at their nominal value
thereby working an Injustice 90 credit
ors. defrauding the laborer OF large
part Of his earnings and savings, rob- |
bing pensloned soldiers OF a part OF their |