The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-09-14

NEW YORK, Sept 13.-Ex-Lieuten-
ant Governor William F. Sheehan yes
terday sent a lengthy statement of his
views and attitude in the campaign to
Mr.. Jospeh B. Mayer of Buffalo. Mr.
Mayer is a prominent Democrat in his
city, and was one of the delegates to
the Chicago convention last June. A
synopsis Of Mr.. Sheehan's communica-
ton is here given.
New York, Sept. II, 1896.
Joseph B. Mayer, Esq, Buffalo, N. Y
Dear Sir-Replying to your recent
letter of inquiry as to my attitude in
the present campaign, I beg leave to
say:
1.-The proceedings of the recent Chi
cago convention were unparalleled in
Democratic history Radicalism and
not patriotism dominated its course.
The guiding and in a large measure
the controlling spirits of that body
were Republican United States sem
ators-men whose votes made it posi-
BILE to engraft upon the statute of this
country the Objectionable and disas-
trous Mckinley law. When before were
rock-ribbed Republican protectionists
given in a Democratic convention seats
of honor and permitted to dictate and
PATRIOTIC ADVICE OF MEN
who had grown gray in Democratic
service was spurned and the judgment
of these new-found apostles Of an I'M
Democratic creed was enthusiastically
accepted"
After reviewing the official acts of
the convention and its platform in
terms as scathing as any that have
NV nj in 1.a Y1Q
Mr.. Sheehan continues:
Democratic principles took root
with the birth of the republic; they are
as sound and lofty today as they were
when first expounded by Jefferson. All
Democrats should give their hearty
support to candidates who stand upon
a platform which reaffirms and up
holds these principles. But when these
principles are abandoned and set aside
and new doctrines at variance with
national honor and national progress
are adopted. do we not cease to be
Democrats if we fail to repudiate that
which is unpatriotic and immoral?
What Democratic convention has
failed in recent years to justly con-
denim Republican paternalism? Where
is there a more wicked form of pa
ternalism than for the government to
stamp for the benefit of the mine own
er SO cents worth Of silver bullion as
81 in coin? Where is the Democracy
in a proposition that allows the silver
of the world to be coined at our minis
free of charge at a ratio far beyond
it's intrinsic or commercial value, and
compels our citizens to accept this
false and dishonest coin at it's face
value in extinguishment of their debts
and in payment for their labor? The
advocates of this platform hazard ev-
erything on the single proposition that
the enactment of a law for the free
coinage of silver at the ratio of 16 to 1,
without the aid or assistance of other
nations, will bring silver and gold to
a parity.
1--WE consider our silver dollar today
AS GOOD AS GOLD
because it has back Of it the credit and
faith of the nation, pledged to main
tain it's parity with gold. Under free
coinage this credit and faith will be
withdrawn from the new coin.
These men propose. however, that
the power of congress shall be exar-
cised to compel our citizens to ACCEPT
in payment of their debts dollar that
is intrinsically worth but SO cents,
without being able to compel cor
responding relief to the American debt
ors when foreign creditors demand of
them payment in gold. How long will
the hum of industry continue, how long
Will the workshop remain open, how
long will the manufacturer continue to
turn out the product of American
genius and skill, if we have no foreign
trade and are compelled to buy and sell
to ourselves? We received for the year
ending June 30 last, for goods exported
to other nations, 1868, 2OO4 67. This
enormous sum represents American
10 Tn
dealings with all people, we should re-
ceive and pay the
BEST MONEY IN THE WORLD.
No law has yet been able to make all
men honest; but no law should compel
men to be dishonest"
After reciting the debtorship of the
United States for its outstanding bonds
of $3.50, 900 900, for which gold was re-
ceived and for which unless the intel
igence of this nation be blunted and
its patriotic impulses paralyzed" re-
demption will be in the same coin, Mr..
Sheehan continues:
Nor can the apologist for the Chi
cago platform pettifog or beg the ques-
ton. When they rejected the amend
ment offered by Senator Hill to the
effect that any change in the present
standard OF values should not apply to
existing government bonds, they
nailed to the mast head of their ship
the inglorious flag of reputation and
dishonor. Again the preparation of
such a crime in the name of Democ-
racy, l protest. Who are the owners
of these bonds? Not foreign bankers
and home syndicates, not the so-called
bloated bondholder, but the ward
whose education has been provided
for IN
THE SUPPOSED INvIOLABILITY
of a United States bond, the widow
whose sole support may be the income
so received, and five millions of Amer
lean citizens who have placed their
deposits in our savings institutions.
These deposits are not stored away in
the vaults of savings banks. That
which is not loaned is invested. and
most of it, in government bonds.
Il have heard that no attempt would
be made to effect existing obligations if
the work of the Chicago convention
was ratified at the polls. The answer