The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-08-22

democratic party was called upon 10 elect
delegates to the national convention. The
delegates to the convention held at Chi
cago were authorized and had the power
to proclaim a platform embodying tier
views of the true solution of the par
ticular problems of the government now
agitating the nation, but upon the condi-
ton that such a platform should be con-
sistent with the cardina' principles held
by the party throughout its existence.
These principles constitute the essen
tal element of the party's life. They dis
tingush it from all other political organ
izations. If they are abandoned the party
ceases to exist. 1t was therefore, not |
within the power of any majority OF del |
egates assembled at Chicago TO bind the |
democrats of the United States and the |
power of the nation to compel the people |
to accept deprecated coins at their nomi- |
nal value, thereby working an injustice |
to creditors, defrauding the laborer CT
a large part Of his earnings and savings, |
rcbbing the pensioned soldiers of part OF
their pensions, contracting the currency
by the expulsion of gold from circulation
and injurlng If not destroying domestic
and foreign commerce.
while processing to advocate the pol
icy of bimetallism, 1t censures the present
democratic admin stration for maintain
ing the parity Of gold and silver. 1t pro-
poses to reduce this country to condi-
ton of silver monometallism, with its
vacillating and unreliable standard OF
values, and tends to bring the farmer
the wage Garner and the salaried men to
the wretched condition of the same classes
as countries in which the silver standard
prevails, and the rewards of agriculture
and labor are lower than anywhere in the
world. With what seems to be deliber-
ate attempt to mislead the people, Vt as
serts that in the coinage act of 1873 tie
United States abandoned the use of silver
as money, and that gold has appreciated.
and that commodities have fallen In price
solely by reason of this legislation. 1t ig-
nores the fact that the prices Of COM
modities have fallen because of the en-
larged use of labor-saving machinery, in
creased production, and resulting compe-
tition. 1t suppresses the fact that po-
tent reason for the decline in the price
of silver has been the discovery of new
and cheaply worked mines, resulting in
an enormous increase in its production.
Instead of recognizing these facts, IT
appeals to the prejudice of the people.
1t demands the free coinage OF silver
at the arbitrary and fictitious ratio OF
16 to 1, although the ratio established in
the worlds market is about 30 to 1, and
although neither experience nor reason
warrants the belief that the commercial
ratio between the metals can be reduced
by the action of this government to any
ratio, even approximating that proposed
Il threatens in certain contingencies, 10
Increase to an unlimited extent the volume
l of legal tenders issued by the federal
f government, the ultimate effect of which
: would be to force the withdrawal of al
coin from circulation, and to compel pub
lie and private business to be transact
= ed on deprecated paper currency, con
e stantly fiuctuating in value, and to in
t. vite the ruin and confusion that have
J. always followed the adoption of such
n policy. Its declarations invite and hav'
i almost produced a financial panic, ant
t many of it's proponents announce that Il
e accomplish their purpose they are pre-
d pared to involve their country in a dis
S aster comparable to nothing in its his
l. tory save the calamity of the civil war.
IS 1T assails the independence of the ju
e dietary by a covert threat to reorganiz
n the courts whenever their decisions con
l. travene the DEGREES of the party caucus
l. 1t seeks to allure Office seekers and spoils
o men to its support by attacking the eN
lie listing civil service laws, which good me
II of all parties have labored long to estat
If lish and to extend to all departments {
lie the public service.
< 1.-The Chicago convention has thu
ct changed from the recognized Democrat
y faith, and promulgated doctrines ne
and strange to the democracy. All demo
e. Gratis are absolved from obligations
Of support it's program. More than this, 8
IS the doctrines announced are destructiN
lie of national honor and private obligation
a. and tend to create sectional and ella:
st distinctions and engender discord al
s. strife among the people, all good either
b. of the republic are bound to repudia
ne and exert every lawful means to defe;
at the candidates that represent those fall
doctrines.
10 1.-THE duty of the hour is to star
s. steadfast in the defense of our anciel
he faith. In this crisis there is at stal
u more than the possibility of temporal
ss victory. The honor and perpetuity of Il
IS democratic party are at stake. A poll
on cal organization that is untrue to itse
IN its principles, its history and traditi
ty is disgraced and dishonored. The exis
ld' erce of our great historical party, tn
's' has withstood the assaults of every fC
~, is threatened by reason of the recrean
,'N of many of its members. That this par
~ as we have known it, may not die, let t
- faithful of years rally around its histol
~ banner, reform its broken lines, and wi
- an abiding faith in the final triumph
,ro its principles, unite to restore the nal