The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-09-01
GRIFFIN SAYS WHY
KEYNOTE SOUEDER OF NEW YORK
GOLD DEMOCRATS.

| Hated, If Possible, Worse Than Bryan
nd Free MckinIey's Financial
Attitude GrudgingIy Commended aud
Insincerity Charged Thereupon.
Syracuse, ". Y, Aug. S1.-The fol-
lowing is the speech Of Daniel E Griffin,
as temporary chairman of the gold
| Democratic convention, which met here
today:
when a citizen has to choose be-
tween duty 10 his country and an op-
posite demand to his party, if he hest
tates or attempts TO minimize or palii-
/ ate the extent of his defiance of his
party organization under such circun-
stances. the thereby publishes his own
/ pusillanimity. For q, party is but a in
! strument selected by patriotic citizen
as the best means for effectuating the
public welfare and when it ceases to per-
! form this function and becomes, in
stead, the exponent of dangerous doc
trine, he is bound TO attempt its purifica-
| ton; and failing in that, then to select
the next best means to accomplish his
duty.
ITO those who ask US why We do not
support Mr.. Bryan, our answer is: we
are Democrats and not revolutionists.'
INC Kinley's daily teaching that it is
the duty of the government to provide
and control a market for every business
enterprise, and especially for the enter
prises of his nearest neighbor, is found
ed on the same vicious idea Of govern
ment paternalism which finds express
n mr. n OF, in
the Populistic demand for government
control Of railroads and telegraphs, and
the other demand Of the silver miners
that the government shall also provide
and control a market for his product.
We deny that it is the duty or the right
of the government to do either. and ad-
here to the Democratic doctrine, that tho
government shall not lay its hands on
commerce for any purpose except for
revenue. No emergency has yet arisen
which requires Democrats TO stultify
their convictions in this respect by CIV
ing their support to a candidate who
typifies the extreme opposite policy.
CALLS IT FAIR TRADE"
''In so far as the Republican candidate
has been coerced into an unequivocal
declaration for sound money, we COM
mend the influences which have pro-
duced so satisfactory a, result; but
when ne claims such material advan-
tages for ourselves from reciprocity
from South American states we pause to
inquire: II fair trade with colored peo-
pie is such good thing, why not with
the whites?'
''The road to prosperity is not in fol- |
lowing wildcats nor over broken prom |
Uses, as proposed by Bryan, nor through |
an increase of taxation, alone, proposed |
by Mckinley, but IA ther by a preserva-
ton Of our credit, and a reduction of ex- |
penditures. This is a homely maxim, |
but it has stood the test of experience, a !
better guide than dishonor, and surer
relief than the relentless pursuit of a |
discredited hobby.
THE CHICAGO PLATFORM
THE chief charge We made against the
Chicago platform, and which, so far,
stands undisputed by its adherents and
the candidates nominated thereon, is
that it proposes the free and independ-
ent coinage Of silver at ratio far in
excess of its commercial value, and that
such coin shall be a legal tender in pay
ment of debts. No matter how skill
fully such doctrine may be advocated
nor how its results may be obscured by
the arguments of DemagOgues, or doc
JlnareS, Its practical result can only
be a debaSement Of the currency and
the reputation Of obligations, the worst
results which can befa1l commercial
people. And Furthermore, the doctrine
alluded to has hitherto been repeatedly
spurned by the founders of the Demo-
cratic parties and all others qualified
10 determine its principles
Nh. Griffin then referred to Mr.. Bry-
ans speeches through this state, COM
batting his arguments.
a TRIBUTE TO GROVER.
Mr.. Griffin closed by speaking Of Pres I
ident Cleveland as follows: s:
Since his entry into public life he {
has never been recreant TO a sound prin- ]
ciple or broken promise to his country.
Beset during his last term with difi- +
cufties which would have appalled, the I
deserted by majority of his s
party in congress and villified for bis T
worthiest acts, he has nevertheless |
stood immovable for sound prIncinles [
our safety at home and our s
dignity abroad, and finally in the midst S
of an illuStrious career achieved The g
highest compliment which could be rsid q
% public man, in the refusal Of a ma,
ority Of the Chicago convention to en-. c
iorSe his administration. Well NAV his
friends point to that event as the best
Of his courage and of his L
Northiness OF the reputation already