Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-07-24
THEIR PLATFORM ON NATIONAL

It doesn't cover much space-not half
2 column-and devotes even less atJen-
ton 10 the issues of the day, State or ma
.ional. than it does space. Oar Repub-
Iican friends are not discussing issues.
Their prophet in this campaign is Mark
Hanna. and Mark is too shrewd to dis
cuss when he is on the wrong side-he
s.raddIes. Orwell. we ali know Million
aire Marks peculiar methods of cam
p2igning.
But let us examine the platform on
which the Republican leaders Of West
Virginia viii have to stand in the pres
ent campaign. There is so little OF it that
it hardly presents standing room for an
able-bodied politician, or target for
even a "globe-sight" rifle, and we are
compelled 10 use a miscroscope in order
10 get at its pith and point.
Ii has nc.hing whatever to say on The
leading issue Of the campaign-,he cur
rency-but is content to endorse that
exceedingly indefinite phrase sound
money" and let it go al thai Intelli-
gent and patriotic Americans contend
that the money prescribed by the Con-
stitution and by all our laws and rulings
is the only sound money and that
money is gold and silver" neither metal
being given the advantage over the other
according to the fundamental and every
other law Of the nation, with the eXcep-
ton Of the law OF 10, which secretly
struck down silveras a money metal, and
the unlawful ruling of Secretary Foster
in 1891. that silver certificates were pay
able in gold, which has since been the
means of increasing the public debs
through the issue of bonds to maintain
the treasury gold reserve s275, 1000, 600.
When the country has to buy gold to
pay off its silver obligations i. certainly
is not on a sound money basis. 1t is
not on a sound money basis when one
of It's money metals is barred from coin
| age.
And now we come TO something de-
finite in the Parkersburg platform;
We condemn the Populitic, Anarch.stic
Democratic platform adopted at CnicaSQ
for its vicious attack on the supreme ana
other federal courts upon the enforcement Mt
Of law.
We have heard this absurd and entire
ly unfounded charge against the Dem
ocra;ic platform before, from people who
are either disingenuous or have neglect
ed to read the Chicago platform wi,l
anything like care. Here is the alleged
Objectionable plank in full;
Urn the money question is settled We
are opposed 10 any agnuOn Tor further
changes in cur tariff avs except such IS
! are necessary 10 meet the deficit caused by
I the adverse decision Of tbs supreme Court
Thsre would be 10 deficit in the revenue
but fer the arnulmtnt by the Suprem=
Court Of law pass ny a Democratic
Congress in strict purSu1nC= OF the Uniform
C5c.s.ca of that court fcr arly loo years.
that court having sUstalrau constitutional
objections 10 rs enactment watch have
b. m ov5rrulei by tA5. ab.sst judges wAo
had ever sat en- THAI bench.
W. declare that Il i the duty OF Con-
cr5ss TO us a.. the constitutional power
which remains after that decision. or
whica may come from lie reversal by the
court Il il nay hereafter be constituted, -
that the burdens Of taxation may be equa
IL and impart.a.iy laid. 10 The end that We
may all bear oar proportion Of tbs expenses
of the government.
Where is the ATTACK" here? What
is there in the above quoted plank be-
yond The statement of a plain and urde-
niable historical fact? This plank de-
clare9 that the treasury deficit of $780,
900, OOe this year was caused by the ad-