The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-13

to the debasement of our monetary stand
ard. and threaten unlimited issues of paper
money by the government. They abandon
for Republican allies the Democratic cause
OF tariff reform TO court the favor of pro-
tectionisss to their fiscal heresy
1T then asserts with earnestness and in
terms which viii not satisfy those who as
sert it, to be the duty of a Democrat to
first vote the ticket and then read the plat
form: that in view of these and other
grave departures from Democratic princi-
pies we cannot support the candidates OF
that convention nor be bound by its acts.
.sThe convention held in Indianapolis
then declares, with force ana e&iictuess,
the Democratic doctrines with respect 10
taxation. whether by tariffs, excuses or by
direct imposition, and asserts that none
of these can be rightfully imposed except
gain and reaffirms the historic, Demo-
cratic doctrine of tariff for revenue
only -. .oa -, Tho oo,ve,tio,,
in it's declaration of principles that the
experiences of mankind has shown. that
by reason of their natural qualities. gold
is the necessary money of the large afialrs
of commerce and business. while silver Is
conveniently adapted to minor transac-
tions, and the most beneficial use or potn
together can be insured only by the adop-
ton of the former a standard or none
tary measure, and the maintenance OF 81,
yer at a parity with gold by ITS limited
coinage under suitable safeguards OF law;
Thus the largest possible en1oyillenl OF
both metals is gained with value UNI
versally accepted throughout the worio,
which constitutes the only practlcat , pl-
metallic currency assuring the most stable
Standard and especially the best and safest
money for all who earn their livelihood
by labor or the produce of husbandry.
They cannot suffer when paid in the pest
money known to man, but are the gef baad
and most defenseless victims of a debaseo
and fiuctuating currency Whlch oIIerS coli-
tinual profits to the money changer, at
their cost.
Realizing these truths, demonstrated
by long public inconvenience and loss, the
Democratic party, in the interests OF IN ene
masses and of equal justice to all, practl-
cally established by the legislation or 1854
and 1858 the gold standard of monetary
measurement, and likewise entirely oil,
vorced the government from banking ana
currency issues. To this long-establlshed
policy we Of adhere b od an san dss5
and of the parity Herewith of every dol
lar issued by the government and are
coinage Of silver and to the compulsory
purchase of silver bullion.
THE POPOCRATIC SCHEME.
This language is but a reitera ton of the
terse demand of the Democrat atform of
1892 that Every dollar, coin issued
by the government, shall have al power
in the market and in the payment of debts
The convention which assembled in Chi
cago in July of the present year. in de-
manding the unlimited coinage Of silver
dollars on the ratio of 4121a grains of stand
ard silver to % $40 grains of standard golo,
with full legal-tender quality for all oeptS
and dues, public and private, offer TO the
country a scheme from which every voter
may expect whatever advantage to the
country or himself his reason or even his
Tine advocates Of the unlimited COIN
age of full legal-tender silver do not agree
as to what will be the consequence OF
the adoption by the United States or their
favorite measure. The mere Intelligent
to silver bullion, or silver CON-, local
value in the United States; and, there
fore. Mr.. Bryan. who must be regarded
the official interpreter of the free,siiver
dogma, asserts his belief that the unlimited
coinage of lesal-tender silver by the
value of silver bullion. which is to-day
81 cents per ounce. to $l.2s, and he asserts
his belief that under unlimited coinage
of standard silver, coined by the author
ity of the United States. would be of
lar containing % $40 grains of standard
gold in all the markets of the world.
1T is something that this opinion has no
support in the experience of mankind. 1t
is enough for present purposes to say 1t
has no foundation other than the confident
assertions of those who share in that belief.
No party in the country ever undertook
much do the advocates of the unlim-
tied coinage of silver. They not only UNI
value of about 1884 SOP, 041 silver dollars al
ready coined by the United States under
the authority of the acts of the 18th of Feb,
the silver dollars that hereafter may be
coined but they assume the task of ad.
vancing the value of the silver coinage of
all the nations of the world to equal
acceptability and value with coins of gold
If the expectations of such of the advo-
Gates of free coinage of silver are realized
it would be difficult upon their own prem
Uses to perceive what would be gained by
those who expect cheap money.
Accepting their claim that under free
coinage the dollar of silver would become
of equal acceptability and value, and equal
power in the markets, and in the pay
ment of debts throughout the civilized
world. the silver dollar would then be- as
difficult to procure the dollar of gold
is now. They complain now that the dol
lar of gold has too much purchasing
power and is too difficult to obtain.
But the real expectation of the great
body of supporters of the free coinage
of silver, and one much more in harmony
with the experience of mankind, is that the
unlimited coinage of silver would give to
the country a deprecated and cheaper
dollar which would enhance nominal val
ues and be used in the payment of debts.
but would be attended and followed by
ruin of all industries the destruction of
public and private credit and irreparable
mischiefs.
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen-Our
platform commits us to the maintenance
of the Democratic faith Many of our asso-
GATES deluded by deceptive sophistres,
are supporting a coalition which dsavows
the traditional faith of the Democratic
party. The best we can hope for them is
that they may be defeated, and when de-
feated they may return to the safe paths
that they have heretofore trOdden."