Evening star., 1896-08-08
CHAIRMAN WRIGHT RESIGNS.
Why the Pennsylvania Committeeman
BOlts the ChicnKo PIatform

Why the Pennsylvania Com tie eeman
Bolts the Chicago Platform.
Chairman Robert E. Wright Of the Penn
sylvania democratic state central commit
tee has forwarded his letter of resignation
as chairman Of the committee to Secretary
Matt Savage. Secretary Savage is author
lied to present the letter at the meeting of
the committee which will be held in Harris
burg August 13.
After referring to the financial plank of
the democratic convention held at Allen
town few months ago. which. Mr. Wright
declares. was expressive of the sentiments
of the united democracy of Pennsylvania"
he continues:
II am a democrat because believe in that
code of governmental doctrines that for
nearly century has stood for democracy
in this country.
Party organization and submission to
maJorities in duly organized party tribunals
are doubtless Of great Importance. They
cease to be useful when correct principles
are abandoned and become absolutely
dangerous when false doctrines and un-
righteous purposes are proclaimed.
Il conceive that the most dangerous
demonstration of the past month is to be
found in the apparent ease with which a
great political party has been suddenly
turned from its well-settled convictions to
views diametrically their opposite, for no
other reason than because an accidental
and temporary majority In party conven-
tiOn has SO ordered.
when 1t comes to pass that political
parties are mere machines. swayed at wilJ
by leaders and conventions, instead Of being
aRSregations of individual thinkers, moved
by some common and intelligent purpose
| for good. an evil time will have come to the
republic.
Tested by clearly defined and oft-repeat-
ed declarations Of democratic doctrine the
Chicago platform. In my judgment. is not
democratic utterance. 1t is coldIy re-
| ceived or openly opposed by hundreds of
thousands of lifelong Nv,
the great leaders in whom the party has
trusted: while it is hailed with boisterous
demonstrations Of approval by political or
| ganizations with which democracy has
hitherto had no sympathy.
| Abandoning the sound money doctrines
always upheld by our party this platform
proposes to flood the country with a debased
| silver currency. and compel its circulation
| at double Its intrinsic value. For the first
| time in the history of civilized countries it
! is intended that silver shall be freely coined
| into money, without limit as to quantity.
| and without reference to its intrinsic worth
| NO pledge is made for its redemption no
provision for maintaining 1t on parity with
| gold On the contrary. the means that have
| enabled the present administration to main
! tain the credit of the government and to
| keep the present issues of silver equal to
! gold are now to be taken from 1t. Its pro-
tecting hands are to be tied. while the wage
! earners and thrifty citizens of the country
are left to bear the losses that, in my opin-
| ion, would be inevitable Not content with
| burdening the country with this terrible
| load of deprecated silver 1t is proposed to
| add to 1t unlimited issues Of greenbacks,
| redeemable in this debased coin.
The curse of an irredeemable paper
| money. that has wrought ruin in every
country that ever resorted to It, and against
| which the democratic party has ever con.
| sistentiy fought. Is to be visited upon US.
| The power to borrow money to meet its
| current obligations and maintain it's credit,
| power inherent in the smallest subdivision
| OF local government. is to be taken from
| the general government. leaving its honor
and credit the sport of irresponsible specu-
| lators upon national disaster
THE best and safest system of banking
| and of paper money the world has ever seen
| Is to be stricken down. to be replaced by
the worst that the ingenuity of man has
| ever devised.
| In 1902 a national democratic convention
at the dictation of the south and extreme
west. declared In favor of the freest pos
| sible issue of banking currency. and in 1896
at the behest of the same sections, 1t de-
| clares against all such issues.
Then We declared that our gold and silver
coin metals must be of equal intrinsic value.
| and that the parity OF all issues must be
| maintained: now we denounce intrinsic
s'bIe. Ie' anu 'A"Ae purity '' 'a'oe '"p0S-
THE Chicago platform attacks the su-
| preme Court Of the country and makes q
| covert threat to reorganize 1t. 20 that its
decisions may be reversed. No act in the
history Of the republican party ever re-
1 CeiNeO SeSeEeI concentration from the de-
| mocracy than did it's prostitution of the Su-
| preme Court In the same way. during the
| administration Of President Grant
1t invites anarchy by denouncing Presi-
dent Cleveland for following the example OF
Jackson in enforcing federal laws BY the
| armed power of government when riot
reigned In Chicago.
With these declarations of principles and
| policy. and with the influences behind them
| i have no sympathy.
Opposition to this platform means fidelity
| to democracy and to country, to liberty &c
progress. to all that IL worth preserving IN
| American civilization