The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-09-14


recent letter otlnquIry from Joseph Il.
Mayer, OF Buffalo, us TO the attitude OF
ex.Lleutennnt Governor William f.
shcchan In the present campaign. the
later makes his position plain in the
FLOWING interesting statement:
THE proceedings OF the recent Chlcn-
20 convention were unparalleled in
Democratic history. Radicallsm. and
10, patriotism dominated its course.
The guiding star In a large measure. the
controlling spirits OF that body were
Republican United States senator's
men whose votes made It possible to en-
craft upon the statutes OF this coun-
Try the Objectionable and disastrous
Mckinley Inv. When before were rock
ribbed Republican protcctlonists given
In a Democratic convention seats OF
honor and permitted to dictate and
shape the policy OF our party? The
patriotic advice OF men who had grown
gray in Democrats service was spurn-
ed and the Judgment of these new found
nDOstlsS OF un-Democrntic creed was
enthusiastically accepted.
"a platform was adopted under tho
Eu!se OF Democracy, from which all
thoughtful Democrats had to rcccoil.
Thtre never has been a moment since
It's adoption that could support It. eN-
cept by loss OF my self respect. What
is this platform: There Is not line
In IL that Is Democratic that Is not good.
There is not word in II that Is bad.
and therefore un-Democrntic,- that hns
not been stolen or taken from: the Pop
ulist platform. Bad as Republlcanism
a., hoe Cpnnrplly hppn
OF the best interests OF the country, It
is infinitely preferable 10 Popullsm,
which Is next OF kin 10 socialism. Wo
should examine our past platforms in
connection with the teachings OF the
founders and statesmen OF our party
10 ascertain what Is the test OF party
faith. Democratic principles took root
with the birth of the republic: they are
as sound and lofty to-day as they were
when first expounded by Jefferson. All
Democrats should give their hearty
support to candidates who stand upon a
platform which re-aillrns and upholds
these principles.
when was Il ever q tenet Of Democ-
racy that by the fat OF government
fiity-three cents worth OF silver should
be made equal to one hundred cents OF
gold In payment OF public and private
debts?
What Democratic convention has fall
cd In recent years 10 justly. condemn
Republican paternalism?
Pointed Question.
Hherc Is there q more wicked form
0. patcrnallsm than for the govern
ment 10 stamp for the benefit OF the
mine owner flfty-three cents worth of
silver bullion as one dollar In coin?
Where Is Democracy In proposition
that allows the silver OF the world TO
be coined at our m!nts free OF charge
at ratio far beyond Its intrinsic or
commercial value. and compels our cit
izcns 10 accept this false and dishonest
coin at its face value In extinguish-
mcnt OF their debts and In payment for
their labor? The advocates OF this
platform hazard everything on the sin
gle proposition that the enactment of
Il law for the free coinage Of silver at
the ratio OF l6 to 1. without the aid or
assistance OF other nations will bring
gold and silver 10 parity.
We consider our silver dollar to-day
as good as gold because II has back OF
It the credit OF the nation pledged to
maintain It's parity with gold. Under
free coinage. this credit and faith will
he withdrawn from the new coin. The
government will have no interest In or
responsibility for II. These men pro-
pose. however, that the power Of Con-
gress shall be exercised to compel our
ccitlzcns to accept In payment OF their
debts dollar that is lntrlnsically worth
but iifty-thrCc cents. without being able
to compel corresponding relief 10 the
American debtors when foreign credit
No law has yet been able to make all
ors demand OF them payment In gold.
mon honest; but no law should compel
them 10 be dishonest.
but more sacred to every citizen
than the honor and business interests
Ot individuals Is the honor OF the nn-
ton itself The United States is deb
tor by virtue OF the bonds It has issued,
II for these bonds gold was paid JUS
tice. morals and national honor all cry
out for redemption principal and inter-
est, In the zane coin. But 1t IL cinlmel
innt on the face OF these bonds the gov
crnmcnt Ia given the legal right to re-
deem them In coin. and, therefore, may
redeem them In silver coin. a question
OF morals should always rise superior
10 legal question. For the $3.50, 900, ,0OU
"t gdvcTnment bonds now outstanding.
we have received gold coin, and unless
the Intelligence be bluntcd and Its pu-
triOtic Impulses pnrnlyZcd, those ohli-
shtioha VIII be redeemed In similar
coin.
A RrInindrr.
u have henrd II said that no nLtempt
VIII be made TO affect existing ohlI-
cations II the work OF tho Chicago con-
Vcntlon be ratified at tho poIls. The
answer Is twO-fold. The prop1sItIon moi
70 repudintc these Gbligatipns wn7
overwhelmingly defeated by the con-
vention inter Mr.. Bryan had concluded
the speech which resulted In his nomI-
nation. Under free coinage. gold
would be exported or boarded and
silver would become the money OF tho
country. With silver or flnt paper mo-
ncy as our only means Of revenue, how
can these millions OF United States
bonds be redeemed In gold?
WIN legitimate proposition TO In
'Frda" the number OF United StateE S,l-
prnmc court Judges, or To abolish With
N constitutional lneH life tenure In Of
ic". may have no controversy; nor do
ohJect to proper crIticIsm II juducg
or public OiIlclnlF. But when an omen.
hhIh attempt II attempted to Incrnn 80
the number OF thcse Judges with tho
A'"wed purpoSc OF securing n decision
~ any question In PREDETERMINED
way. patriotic ana Intelligent men nav
"rll hold up their hands In horror.
In Wow OF this indictment or lhe
"0rk OF the Chicago convention, I cam
not support lGj candidates. cxccnt upon
tHc plea OF purty regularity. Tho claim
thnt Democrats ghould support tho
uckct for the sake OF regularity would