The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-08-12
Announcement OF Charles A, Dana.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT VI CHHTltS A. DHnas
"Some personal response seems to
be due to the numerous friends who
have sought from me an expression of
my individual opinion as to the duty in
the present political campaign of those
who adhere to the principles which
hitherto have characterized the demo-
cratic party.
The declaration of notions adopted
in the name of democracy by the
Chicago convention is for the most part
30 hostile to the doctrines which have
prevailed in the democratic party in the
past as to demand its rejection by all
those who would not abandon the
democracy's essential ideas and best
traditions.
"The Chicago platform invites us to
establish currency which will enable
man to pay his debts with half
as much property as he would have to
use in order to pay them now. This
proposition is dishonest l do not say
that all the advocates of the free coin
age of silver are dishonest. Thousands
of them, millions, if there be 30 many,
are doubtless honest in intention. But
|
integrity change in the law which
will permit man who has borrowed a
hundred dollars to pay his debt with a
hundred dollars each one of which is
worth only half as much as each dollar
he received from the lender.
"The Chicago platform sanctions
the use of the appointing power of the
president in such way as to control
the federal judiciary in deciding ques.
tions of constitutional law. 1t cOntem-
plates a change in the personnel of the
supreme court of the United States to
the end that the recent decision de-
claring the income tax unconstitu-
tional may be reversed. Strange times,
indeed, are these, when man is told
that in order to be a democrat he must
favor the imposition of an income tax,
and the destruction of the independ-
ence of the judiciary
"Still more alarming is the clearly
implied approval of lawless violence
contained in the denunciation of what
is denominated in the platform gov
eminent by Injunction Yelled in the
language of moderation, the wild light
of anarchy shines through.
SIN my opinion, without reviewing
the Chicago platform further, the de-
claration in regard to the currency, the
supreme court, and the income tax,
and the repression of forcible lawless-
ness by the aid of injunctions, are
enough to demand its rejection by all
good citizens and the defeat of the can
didates who stand upon it.
81 regret exceedingly to find dis
position quite prevalent to array the
West against the East in the discus
sion of these matters. l see no occa-
sion for making our differences Sec
tional. Here there is no political hos
tility toward the West, such as is ex-
pressed toward the East by some west
ern newspapers and public speakers.
Good citizens can perhaps best aid the
cause of honest money and law and Or
der by devoting more time to rational
arguments and less to inefficient
abuse.
"All questions relating to the tariff
have become insignificant for the time
being, in view of the possibility, how
ever slight, that the abhorrent princi-
Piles of the Chicago platform may pre-.
vail. The duty and the necessity to
compass the final overthrow of that
platform by assisting in the defeat OF
William j. Bryan are most imperative
and solemn. This may most certainly
be accomplished by voting for the
electors pledged to the support of Will
liam Mckinley; but have no quarrel
with any democrat who adopts any
other course which seems to him
equally well adapted or better adapted
to the same end. @. A. DANA"
Senator Chandler of New Hampshire
in his paper, the Concord Monitor, says
this announcement calls for manly
recognition on the part of the repub
licans of New York. Mr.. Dana repre-
sents thousands of democrats in thai
state who are willing to vote for Nc
Kinley and Hobart electors. Mr.
Chandler believes that these democrats
among whom are men like Dana, Gen
eral Sickles and Bourke Cochran, should
be asked to name substantial numbeI
of electors and that they should b,
given place upon the Mckinley cleo
toral ticket. In respect to New Hamp
shire Senator Chandler says cat al
events, whatever the republicans o
New York may do, there should be NJ
doubt about the willingness of the New
Hampshire republicans to cordially &C
cept the help of those patriotic citizen
who are democrats and intend to re
main such, and vet wish to aid in tn
work of giving Is 900 or 10000 major
ity in this state for the Mckinley cleo