The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-05
THE ISSUE OF DESPAIR.

The New York Sun appeals to the Demo
cratic party not TO give way to ''ths issue
OF despair" a. II calls the free silver idea.
and bids II cheer up In support Of honor
in finance. feariessness In the championship
Of equal rights and fervency In devotion to
the United States OF America.
All this IL very admirable. but w fan 10
sec how the Democratic party Is to draw
OF votes from the Republican strength By
any such platform a. this. The principles
are those Of Republicanism. they are those
Of the great majority Of &hs American peo-
pie. The Sun admits that the issues Pc
culiar TO Democracy have been lost or
stolen. They may have been lost By the
Democratic party. but no American who
cherishes the idea Of honor In finance.
rights and fervent loyalty can be said to
have ''stolen" It. because those principles
belong to all the people.
OF the other Issues It says the force"
bin Is buried. . campaign based on that
deficit-making fraud. the Cleveland Wilson
bill. would be ridiculous." ana only the
"repelling brand Of the Popui,st income tax
In still visible
VIVA. then 10 left to the Democratic
party which II cannot share with Repub-
leans who have an equal right with 1t to
tho fundamental principles of the republic7
The national Democratic platform OF 1892
presents all the national issues. unless there
BE- added IN 1896 that Of free silver. 1t be-
gan by a declaration In general terms for
JefYersonian principles, but nobody now re-
members what they were distinctively. the
only one left being the annual celebration
Of Jefferson's birth. The same plank
speaks Of his illustrious successors from
Madison to Cleveland--and Cleveland Is not
an issue except In connection with third
termism. which Is scarcely Jenersonian
doctrine.
The platform also speaks OF race preju-
dices now abated. but the abatement does
not seem TO be quite complete IN some
Southern states. ana will not be until the
Republican party Is IN power.
The platform denounced Republican pro-
lection as fraud and ,nimica to the inter
ests Of the working classes. We are willing
TO leave this plank to the Democrats II they
care TO mako IL the .ssue.
The platform denounced the reciprocity
OF Bisine-thas might also b included with
the tariff plank
The Democratic pianks on trusts pubic
lands. public schools. waterways ana the
NlcaranguA canal are equally those OF Re
rueiican;sn: ana no less is that which ad-
vocates vigorous foreign policy.
Sympathy with the oppressed OF other ns-
tons, the restriction Of pauper ana other
undesirable immigration. and honesty In
Gnntinw pensions are advocated by Repub-
leans fully As earnestly as by Democrats.
The plank with regard 70 money declared
IN favor Of the coinage OF gold and silver
without discrimination. ''bu. both metals
mus, os OF equal intrinsic value which
means . ratio Of about = toll
The only other plank Is IN favor OF repea,
Of the state bank tax
With tire country overwhelmingly IN IA
vor OF . return 70 higher tariff. which TIE
Democrats denounee. II 10 no, eAsy 70 90.
vss. that party can oeer as an attraction
excer; free silver ana state banks, opposed
90 beth Of which ~ q great mass OF TIA
rsop,e-nss so an;,ealy, perhaps. ~ 70 un-
-s'stshssiy IS m TIE case % TIRE .arsr,.
bot sus,cfertiy 50 10 insure victory 70 TIE
party which declares against them