The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-06-12
THE INDIANA PLATFORM.

The talk at st. Louis seems all to point
now to the adoption by the Republican
Convention of the money plank adopted
by the Republican Convention Of Indiana
That plank is as follows:
We are firm and emphatic in our de-
mands for honest money. We believe
that our money should not be inferior TO
the money Of the most enlightened ma
lions Of the earth. We are unalterably
opposed to any scheme which threatens
to debase or depTeciate our currency. We
favor the use OF silver as a currency
but TO the extent only and under such
regulations that its parity with gold can
be maintained, and I'm consequence are
opposed to the free and unlimited coinage
of silver at the ratio Of l5 TO /.
II is not for us. Of course. TO advise the
Republican Convention in regard to its
platform, But 1t is very clear to us that
10 Will make a great blunder if 1t yields
in the smallest degree to the free-silver
sentiment. If it should declare that the
Republican party turns with horror from
suggestion to have free coinage of silver
at the ratio Of 16 to I or any other ratio
and plants itself immovably and forever
upon the proposition that the standard
Of value in this country is and Shall re-
main the gold dollar containing 1922
grains OF pure gold. and that the public
credit shall be preserved inviolate, as
peGsed, 1t would sweep this country
from Maine 20 Texas and from the At
lantic to the Pacific. Every friend OF
order. every man who owns his home
every man who hopes to improve his
condition in life by industry and fru-
gality would pray that as between that
proposition and a proposition to plunge
the country into the throes of a terrible
financial panic by degrading the stan
dard Of value. the first might be APP
proved of by a majority Of the American
people. We believe these people are
in a great majority in this country, and
we have not the slightest doubt, there
fore. that ii the Republican Convention
should adopt this simple, plain, and
straightforward platform. they would
elect their candidate by great majority.
This win probably not be done. how
ever. Their platform will trim some
what, we expect, and, as We have said;
the talk now is that it will be upon
the lines Of the Indiana platform.
Even that platform will be accepted by
a majority of the American people in
preference TO straightout platform 81
free coinage at 16 10 /. Indeed, when
the Indiana platform is critically ex-
amiuod, though most artfully drawn
we see nothing in it that a free coner
can hang any hopes upon II condemns
the free and unlimited coinage Of silver
at a ratio Of 16 to T. and that - what the
free coiner demands. Deprive him Of that
demand. and you have deprived him of
his whole cause. 1t favors the use Of
silver, it is true, as a currency, which
holds out some hope to him. perhaps
but that hope is at once killed by tile
statement that the quantity OF silver must
be so held down by law that the parity
OF the silver dollar with the gold dollar
shall always be maintained. There is no
god-standard man who will not concere
this much TO silver There IS no gold
standard nan who does not, indeed. de-
mand this much for silver. Every gold
standard man comedies that there shall
be as much silver coinage as can be kept
at parity with the gold coinage The
point between him and the free coiner
IS as to the quantity. The free coiner
insists that there shall be no limit. while
the gold man insists that we have al
ready reached the limit. II we have not
passed il.
But We see nothing in the Indiana plat
form 10 give any comfort TO the free
cOincr.