The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-09-10

AZ clV6r CortluChEeS, anu tHe
prlce OF the metal has steadily declined
ipoin W5 Sl.l5 per ounce to 68 cents per ouce.
Mnat Will be the decline whom the sup
Ply Is augmented by the offerings Of all
ine "orldYs The loss upon the silver pur-
cnAses has now been nearly $50 millions
1ne dollar of our fathers, about which
SO much is said, was an honest dollar,
silver maintaining full parity OF in
trlnslo value with gold. THE fathers
would have spurned and ridiculed a
proposition to make silver dollar worth
only nfty-three cents, stand OF equal
value with gold one worth hundred
Genus. The experience of all nasions
proves that any depreciation, however
sllght Of another standard. from the
parity with gold, has driven the more
valuable one out Of circulation, and
suchsexperience in matter ofathis KIND
Is worth much more than mere interested
speculative opinion.
The proposition for free and unlimited
silver coinage, carried to its logical con-
clusion, and but one is possible. means,
as before intimated. legislative warrant
for the reputation of all existing in
debtedness, public and private, to the
extent Of nearly fifty per cent. of the face
OF all such indebtedness. 1t demands an
unlimited volume of fat currency, ire
deemable, and therefore without any
standard value In the markets of the
world. Every consideration Of public in
terest and public honor demands that
this proposition should be rejected by the
American people.
But vastly more than a mere assertion
OF q purpose to reconstruct the national
currency is suggested by the Chicago
platform. 1t assumes, in fact. the form
OF revolutionary propaganda. 1t sm-
bodies menace of national disintegra
tion and destruction.
Not content with proposition to thus
debauch the currency and to unsettle all
conditions Of trade and commerce. the
party responsible for this platform denies
the competency of the government to
protect the lives and property Of its oiti-
zens against internal disorder and yio-
lence.
1t assails the Judicial muniments reared
by the constitution for the defence OF
individual rights and the public welfare
and II even threatens to destroy the in
tegrity and independence of the Supreme
Court. which has been considered the last
refuge of the Citizen against every form
OF outrage and injustice. u
In the face of the serious peril which
these propositions embody, it wonld
seem that there could be but one senti-
ment among right-thinking citizens, as
to the duty Of the hour. All men, Of
whatever party. who believe in law, and
have some regard for the sacredness OF
individual and institutional rights must
unite in defence Of the endangered inter
ests of the nation.
While the financial issue which has
been thus considered is admittedly Of
primary importance, there Is another
question which must command careful
and serious attention. Our financial Band
business condition is at this moment one
80 all, n<~1E A@I "a.
Our great industrial system IL seriously
paralyzed. Production in many import
ant branches of manufacture has al
together ceased. Capital is without re-
munerative employment. Labor is idle.
The revenues Of the government are in
sufficient to meet it's ordinary and neoes-
sary expenses These conditions are not
the result Of accident. They are the
outcome OF mistaken economic policy
deli herate1y enacted and applied. 1t
would not be difficult, and would not in
volve any violent disturbance of our ex-
istinR commercial system, 10 enact nec-
essary tariff notifications along the lines
Of experience.
Our party holds that by wise adjust
mont Of the tariff, conceived In modera-
tion and with q view to stability. we
may secure all needed revenue, and 1t
declares that in the event of its restora-
tion TO power, 1t will seek to accomplish
that result. 1t holds. too, that 1t is the
duty Of the government to protect and
encourage in all practicable ways the
development of domestic industries, the
elevation Of home labor, and the enlarge
menJ of the prosperity of the people.
II does not favor any form of legislation
which would lodge in the government
the power to do what the people ought
to do for themselves, but 1t believes that
1t is both wise and patriotic to discrimi-
nate In favor Of our own material re-
sources, and the utilization, under the
best attainable conditions, of our own
capital and our own available skill and
industry.
In 1899, when by universal consent
national prosperity, We were under the
Same financial sy stem that we have today.
Gold was then the sole standard, and
silver and paper were freely used as the
common currency. We had tariff
framed by Republican hands under the
direction of the great statesman who now
logically leads the contest for restoration
of the policy whose reversal brought par
alysis to so many of our industries and
distress upon so large a body of our
people. We were under the policy Of re-
oiprooiEy, formulated by another illustri-
GUS statesman of the genuine American
type. We may, If we choose to do so, rs-
turn to the prosperous cond1tlons which
existed before the present administration
came into power.
The Republican party has always been
the defender of the rights of American
citizenship, as against all aggressions
whatever, whether at home or abroad.
1t has, to the extent Of Its power, de
Tended those rights. and hedged them
about with law. Regarding the ballot
as the expression and embodiment of the
sovereignty of the individual citizen, it
has sought to safeguard it against as
sault, and to preserve it's purity and in.
tegrity. In our foreign relations it has
labored to secure to every man entitled
to the shelter of our flag the fullest ex.
cruise of his rights consistent with in.
ternational obligation. If it should be
restored to rulership 1t would infuse
needed vigor into our relations with
Powers which have manifested contempt
and disregard, not only of American oit.
izenship, but of Humanity itself.
Sons of Veterans Encampment.
Louisville. KY, September 9.-The
main features Of the Sons of Veterans
encampment today was the parade and
review this morning. There We're about
1000 SONS in line, esoorted4by the Louis
III - r.