The herald., 1896-07-05

record OF our party, with the faith o.
Jefferson and Cleveland. withaits un
fiinching position always IN fawer.s q
sound and tsrd .no opey, with sts oppo
!, sition 10 nas,s) le,:al tepder and aher
man silver hiiis. with its constant indy
ing struggle against paternalisn snt
protection and its proud boast of being
the peoples party, broad as the nation
controlled by no class or section or sell
selfish interest. Maythe delegates hers
| gathered to proclaim our old Democratic
faith put these questions to their con.
science before they plunge us into heresy
| and schism. I assert that this demand
of a section of our party is a new and
| radical departures: that it is in conflict
with the vital principles for which we
successfully fought; that it repudiates
our past Democratic platforms and ad-
ministrations; that logically it is Re-
publican principle and historically Re-
publican policy; and, that it is fraught
with peril to our country and disaster
to our party.
Never yet has this demand been a
plank in any national Democratic plat
form. 1t was expressly repudiated in
the convention of 1875 and thereafter
abandoned.
No power under heaven ever has estab-
lished and maintained, or ever can, q
bimetallic standard at ratio where one
coin is given double it's intrinsic value.
To make so cents worth of silver by force
Of government equal to 81 in gold, will,
by inexorable laws Of nature over which
government is powerless, drive out gold,
contract our currency, depreciate our
standard, unsettle business, impair
credit reduce all savings and the value
of all wages And the masses of the peo-
pie will be the losers and the greatest
sufferers.
1t is the old principle and experience Of
protection over again, the power of gov
ernment used to give value and wealth
for the benefit of the few to the burden
and expense of the many. Surely this
principle has no place in our Democratic
creed.
No wonder this new doctrine staggers
some of us, who have been steadfastly
loyal to political faith we love. 1t
would force us to repudiate the solemn
PlOlCooAOnS we nave IlduG Ildny d
Democratic convention, to reverse the
honorable record of our party in many a
struggle for sound and stable currency;
and then to turn our backs upon a Dem
ocratic administration which with cour-
age and fidelity has upheld the nation s
credit and honor and saved us from dis
aster and disgrace. This new doctrine,
Republican in principle, is in line with
past Republican policy, only just dis
carded in the hope that the Democratic
party may be deluded into putting on
Republican cast-off things. Every law
which for generation has threatened
the stability of our national currency
and credit has come from Republican ad-
ministrations. Greenbacks, imitation,
I silver-all are the children of Republican
rule, and now it has nominated as its
candidate one whose record is more
shaky than its own and whose cowardly
silence is oninous to future trade and
commerce. Can our party of today
with sincerity or upon any Demo-
| cratic policy follow in these Republican
| footsteps? Can it hope for any success
| in repudiating its own honorable record ?
Can 1t even maintain its honor and its
life in this departure from its own faith
I am not here to utter any threat Of 9
section Of our party. have no interest
to serve. Every Democrat, true to his
faith and conscience, must determine
his duty II the crisis comes which is now
| Impending. But state an evident fact
whea ! say that II our party takes THU