The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-07-23
'HThn nlntform olontpd nv thn Chico 90

"The platform adopted by the Chicago
convention is directly at variance with
the doctrine which, from its creation,
has been part of the creed of the Dem
! ocratic party. While Democracy has
for nearly II century been the advocate
of honest money and ut all times opposed
| to its debasement u, Chicago conven-
ton declared in favor If compelling the
citizens of the United States to receive
us a dollar one-half value in the pro-
duction of Il single industry. While the
Democratic party has sturdily main
tanned that the courts in which justice
is administered should be above and be-
yond political control. the convention at
Chicago adopted Il resolution looking to
the construction of the supreme court
OF the United States to accomplish the
reversal of its decision. While we con-
denim the use of that court in 1887 for
political purposes and to accomplish the
| inauguration as president of Il candidate
not elected: while we denOunce an ap-
pointment made by Il Republican pres-
dent to position in that court for the
purpose of reversing Il decision which
denied the right of the government to is
sue paper money in times of peace. we
are asked by the resolution referred to
to adopt the same methods which we
have condemned in our opponents.
That convention refused to approve of
the fidelity and honesty of the one Dem
ocratic administration elected during the
past forty years.
The principles enunciated in the Chi
cago platform other than those in favor
of the free coinage of silver are socialist
IL in their character and commend them
selves to the communists of the coun-
try. The candidate chosen by that con-
vcntiOn publicly announced his determi-
N a on To h., t,x
party and fight for free silver in the
ranks of the Populist party. Under
these circumstances the undersigned del
egates at that convention felt it their
duty under the instructions received by
them to oppose with the utmost vigor
the adoption of the platform, and after
it was adopted to decline to vote for a
| candidate who represented it.
we have thought it only proper to
make report of our action to the Dem
| ocrats of Wisconsin and to say that a
crisis is imminent, such as has never in
the history of the Democratic party con-
| fronted 1t. Its enemies predict its dis
solution; its false friends invite its all
sorption by the Populist party. Such
enemies aud such false friends are alike
untrustworthy and mistaken. The
/ Democratic principles are the foundation
upon which free government rests:
of the American people; they can not
be destroyed so long rs the love of lib
erty and Il belief in republican form
of government exists, No act of men
Selling fOrcibly upon the machinery of
the party can control the votes of Dem
ocrats believing in those principles.
We have faith to believe that large
majority of the Democrats of Wisconsin
are as much today in favor of the prin-
cipes declared by our state convention
as when that declaration was made.
We have entire confidence that if
proper opportunity will be offered to the
majority to express its views in a mass
| meeting or convention to be called at
some date not far distant. the true prin-
ciples of Democratic faith will he again
pronounced in no uncertain tone and that
some way will be found by which Dem
ocrats can cast their votes in favor of
a Democrat and at the same time against
the pr0tectionists nominated by the st.
Louis convention and the Populist nomi-
mated by the Chicago convention.