The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-08-18
THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATS.
The Call For the National Convention at
Indianapolis.
CHICAGO CONVENTION ARRAIGNED,
THE Honor and Perpetuity Of the Demo-
cratic Party Are at stake-Let the
Faithful of Years Rally Round
It's Historic Banner"

CHICAGO, Aug. 18.-The executive com
mittee of the National Democratic party
was in session yesterday and issued a call
for n national convention at indianapolis
Sept. 2. 1t is addressed Ito the Demo-
Gratis Of the United States" and is in sub
stance Us follows:
1.-THE Democratic party is the only ex-
listing political organization with q history
extending back to the birth Of the repub-
lie. Party after party has attempted its
overthrow. Some have achieved tenn
porary triumphs, With each triumph was
heard the prophecy that the Democratic
party would surely die. 1t has survived
all defeats. By virtue of its indestructible
principles, it has witnessed the birth and
death of every rival save one, and this, its
present great antagonist, withn history of
10 more than forty years, had no part in
laying the foundations of constitutional
popular government.
For more than q century men Of high
principles, noble, ambitious, unselfsh and
patriotic aims, nave adhered to the Demo-
cratic party with n constancy Of devotion
unparalleled in the history of politics. For
more than n century, through good and
evil report, in times of prosperity n in
days of adversely, it has kept its faith. 1t
has held fast to the fundamental prinCi-
pies of free government formulated by its
founders and subsequently enforced by It's
great leaders, from Jefferson to Cleveland.
For more than q century no man was even
in doubt as to what constituted Democ-
racy.
Every Democrat believed in the ruleo of
law, and the rule of an impartial law, in
the unhesitating protection not only of
the lives of citizens, but of private rights
and property, and in The enforcement of
obedience to duly constituted authority.
Every true Democrat insisted upon a strict
observance of the mandates of the federal
constitution and of the limitations therein
prescribed, as well as upon a loyal sup
port Of all the institutions thereby created
to be guarantees of the liberty it soughtto
perpetuate.
HE profoundly disbelieved in the abil-
ity of government, through p%aternal leg
~islation or supervision, to increase the
business Of the nation. He was opposed
to all attempts to c~onjure comfort into
the homes of its citizens or wealth into
their pockets. He believed that it is the
function of government to provide the
people with an honest and stabl union Of
exchange, thus enabling hen to transact
their business safely and conveniently in
every mart md market of the world. He
reprobated every attempt to supply to
money by means Of legislation that value
which it can personally by reason of those
qualities that render it acceptable to the
world when unsupported by legislative
fiat.
with such a record and such a creed,
the president moreover being a Demo
crat, elected on Il platform reatiirming the
sound principles of the Democracy, the
Democratic party was called upon to Sc
lect delegates to a national convention.
"The delegates to the convention held
at Chicago were authorized, and had the
power to proclaim n platform %embodying
their views of the true solution of the par
ticular problems of the government now
agitating the nation, but upon the condi-
ton that such platform should be con-
sistent with the cardinal principles held
by the party throughout its existence.
These principles constitute the essential
element of the party's life, They distin-
guish 1t from all other political organiza-
lions. If they are abandoned the party
ceases to exist. 1t was, therefore, not
within the power of any majority of the
delegates assembled at Chicago to bind
the Democrats of the United States TO a
platform inconsistent with the party's
principles, or to any action that should re-
suit in their surrender.
I'm violation of the trust committed to
them a majority of the delegatesassembled
in that convention, ignoring the rights of
of the minority, unseated regularly elected
delegates to make places for othersin SYM
pathy with themselves They proclaimed
a sectional combination of the south and
west against the north and east. They inn
peached the honesty and patriotism of
| Dr,ziIanf T1aNaIan1 nrhp hoe happfaaIlu
maintained the ono and integrity of the
republic.
against the protest of one-third of the
delegates they promulgated a platform at
variance with the essential principles of
the Democratic party. This platform is
in its policies dangerous to the welfare
and life of free government, 1t Is mis-
chievous in its tendencies. But even more
threatening and mischievous was the
spirit of the convention that adopted it, a
spirit manifested not alone by its affirm
ative action, but as well by its reckless re-
jeotion of every proposition tending to
temper the declarations Of the convention
with conservatism and justice.
"While protesting to advocate a policy
of bimetallism, it censures the present
Democratic administration for maintain
ing the parity of gold and silver. 1t pro-
poses to reduce this country to a condi-
ton of silver recommendation, with its
vacillating and unreliable standard of val
ues, and tends to bring the farmer, the
wage Garner and salaried man to the
wretched condition of countries where the
silver standard prevails and where the re-
wards of agriculture and labor are lower
than anywhere else in the land.
'Its declarations invite, and have almost
produced, a financial panic, and many of
its proponents announce that to accomplish
their purpose they are prepared TO involve
their country in a disaster compared to
nothing in its history save the calamity of
the civil war.
ut assails the independence of thesaas
dietary by a covert threat TO %reorganize the
epurts wheneyert their decisions contravene