Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-08-22
call TO GOLD DEMOCRATS
Executive Committees Formal Address for
the indianapolis National Convention

party was in session here yesterday
and issued q call for a national conven-
ton at Indianapolis September 2 After
sulogizing the democratic party and
saying it has held fast to the funda-
mental principles of free government
formulated by its founders and subse-
quently enforced by its great leaders
from jefferson to Cleveland, it goes on
to review the Chicago convention and
SAYS:
In violation of the trust committed to them. |
majority of the delegates assembled in the
convention. ignoring the rights of the minor
ity, unSeated regularly elected delegates TO
make place for others in sympathy with them
selves They proclaimed a sectional coMbina-
ton of the south and west against the north
and east. They impeached the honesty and
patriotism of President Cleveland. who, under
exceptional embarrassment, produced by past
errors OF legislation has herocially main
tanned the honor and integrity OF the republl
Against the prot est of one-third of the dele
gates thev promulgateda platform at variance
with the essential principles of the democratic
party
The platform proposes to degrade the coin
of the United States by means of the free. un-
limited and independent coinage of silver by
our government and by the exercise OF the
power of the nation to compel the acceptance
of deprecated coins at their nominal value,
thereby working an injustice to creditors de-
frauding the laborer of large part of his
earnings and savings, robbing the pensioned
soldiers Sf a part of their pensions, contract
ing the currency by the expulsion OF gold COIN
from circulation. injuring, if not destroying,
domestic and foreign commerce
While processing to advocate a policy OF bf-
metallism it censures the present democratic
administration for maintaining the parity of
gold and silver 1t proposes to reduce TINS
country a condition of silver monometalliSm,
with its facilitating and unreliable standard of
values, and tends to bring the farmer, the
| wage-earner and the salaried man to the
wretched condition of the classes in countries
| in which the silver standard prevails and
dc 1frrrD 1aa
lower than anywhere in the world
| With what seems to be deliberate attempt
to mislead the people, it asserts that by the
coinage act of 1873 the United States aban-
| doned the of silver money, and that gold
| has appreciated and commodities have fallen
in price solely by reason OF this legislation 1t
ignores the fact that the prices of commodities
have fallen because of the enlarged use OF
labor-Saving machinery, increased production
| and resulting competition. 1t suppreSseS the
fact that a potent reason for the decline IN the
price of silver has been the discovery of new
| and cheaply worked mines. resulting in an
enormous increase in the production Instead
Of recognizing these facts it appeals to the pref
udice of the people
1t demands the free coinage of silver at the
arbitrary and fictitious ratio Of sixteen to one.
although the ratio established in the world S
market is about thirty-two to one, and al
though neither experience nor reason warrants
the belief that the commercial ratio between
the metals be reduced, by the action OF
this government. to any ratio even approx
mating that proposed
| 1t threatens in certain contingencies to in
crease to unlimited extent the volume OF
Illegal tenders issued by the federal govern
ment, the ultimate effect of which would be to
liorce the withdrawal of all coin from c1rcula-
ton and to compel public and private business
to be transacted in deprecated paper currency,
constantly fiuctuating in value and to invite
The ruin and confuSi ion that have always fol-
lowed the adoption of such policy
Its declarations invite, and have almost pro-
duced a financial panic. and many of its pro-
ponents announce that to accomplish their
purpose they are prepared to involve theiI
country in disaster comparable to nothing In
its history save the calamity of civil war.
1t assails the independence of the judiciary
by covert threat to reorganize the courts
whenever their decisions contravene the de-
crees of the party caucus
| 1t seeks to allure Office seekers and spoils-
men to its support by attacking the existing
civil service laws, which good men of all par
ties have labored so long to establish. and tt
| extend to all departments of the public service
| The Chicago convention having thus depart
ed from the recognized democratic faith ant
promulgated doctrines new and strange to thu
democracy, all democrats are absolved from
| obligation to support its programme More
than this as the doctrines announced are de
structive of national honor and private obliga
ton and tend to create sectional and class dis
tinctions and engender diScord and strff
; among the people. all good citizens of the re
public are bound to repudiate them and exer
every lawful means to insure the defeat of tn
candidates that represent these false doctrines
Democrats told that they must accep
, the platform enunciated and the ticket nomi
mated at Chicago because submission to tn
will of the majority is a fundamental principl
of democracy. 1t is true that when a majorit
of the people have expressed their will at
legal election, the will of such majority mus
be respected and obeyed- This is essential
| the peace and existence of the nation But
is monStrouS perversion of this doctrine
. apply it to political party which exists onl
| by virtue of q common, voluntary assent to 1t
principles
, When a democratic convention departs fror
the principles of the party, no democrat re
mains under any moral obligation to supper
Its action nor is there any tradition of tn
party that requires him so to do On the con
| trary. it is evidence of moral weakness for an
5 free man vote enforce policies which, i
, his opinion. are inimical to the welfare of tn
people or to the integrity of the nation.
The duty OF the hour is to stand steadfast i
the defense of our ANCIENT faith In this crisi
there is at stake more than the possibility
| temporary victory. The honor and perpetuit
of the democratic party at stake A pc
litical organization that is untrue to itself, II
9 principles, its history and ira iitions, is di:
. graced and dishonored The existence of OF
:, great historical party, that has withstood tt
assaults of every foe, is threatened by reaso
of the recreancy of many of it's members Thi
u this party, have known it. may not di
d let the faithful of years rally around its hi
y toric banner. reform its broken lines, an
with abiding faith in the final triumph of i
: principles. unite restore the name dem'
IePat to its former meaning and proud distin
ton
To this end request all democrats WI
. are opposed to the platform adopted and cand
n dates nominated at Chicago to organize in the
E several states and to send representatives
4 the convention of the at.ona1 democrat
party. be held at indianapolis on Wedne
e day, September 2, 1885, in accordance with Il
t call heretofore issued by the national coz