The record-union., 1896-09-14
EX-Lieutenant- Governor Sheehan'S Atti-
tude in the Present Campaign.
Stated in a Letter Addressed to J. B.
Mayer of Buffalo.
If the Democratic State Convention
Indorses the Platform or Nomi-
neeS of the Chicago Convention,
He Will Immediately Resign as a
Member of the National Com
mittee.


mittee.
NEW YORK, Sept. 13.-EX-Lieuten-
ant-GOvernOr William F. Sheehan yes
terday sent a lengthy statement of his
views and attitude in the campaign to
Joseph B. Mayer of Buffalo. Mr. Mayer
is prominent Democrat in his city, and
was one of the delegates to the Chicago
convention last June. A synopsis Of
Mr.. Sheehan's communication is here
given:
New York, September II, 1896.
Joseph B. Mayer, Esq, Buffalo, n. Y.
Dear Sir: Replying to your recent
letter of inquiry as to my attitude in the
present campaign. / beg to say:
The proceedings of the recent Chi
cago convention We're unparalleled in
Democratic history. Radicalism and
not patriotism dominated its course. The
guiding and in a large measure the con-
trolling spirits of that body were Re-
publican United States Senators-men
whose votes made it possible to engraft
upon the statutes of this country the
Objectionable and disastrous Mckinley
law. When before We're rock-ribbed
Democratic convention seats of honor
and permitted to dictate and shape the
policy of our party? The patriotic ad-
vice Of men who had grown gray in
Democratic service was spurned, and
the judgment of these new found apos-
ties Of an undemocratic creed was en-
Enthusiastically accepted
After reviewing the official acts of the
convention and its platform in terms as
scathing as any that have been used
by others in the same vein, Mr.. Shee-
han continues:
Democratic principles took root with
the birth of the Republic; they are as
sound and lofty to-day as they were
when first expounded by Jefferson. All
Democrats should give their hearty
support to candidates who stand upon a
platform which reaffirms and upholds
these principles. But when these prin-
ciples are abandoned and set aside, and
new doctrines at variance with national
honor and national progress are
adopted, do we not cease to be Demo-
Gratis if we fail to repudiate that which
is unpatriotic and immoral? What
Democratic doctrine has failed in re-
cent years to justly condemn Republi-
can paternalism? Where is there more
wicked form of paternalism than for
the Government to stamp for the benefit
of the mine-owner 53 cents worth of sill
Yer bullion at 81 in coin? Where in the
Democracy is a proposition to allow the
silver of the world to be coined at our
mints free of charge at ratio far be-
yond its intrinsic or commercial value,
and compels our citizens to accept this
false and dishonest coin at it's face value
in extinguishing their debts and in pay
ment for their labor?
THE advocates of this platform
hazard everything on the single prop
osition that the enactment Of law for
the free coinage of silver at the ratio OF
of 16 to l without the aid or assistance
of other nations, will bring silver and
gold to a parity. We consider our sill
yer dollar to-day as good as gold, be-
cause it has back of it the credit and
faith of the nation pledged to maintain
it's parity with gold. Under free coinage
this credit and faith will be withdrawn
from the new coin.
These men PROPOSE however, that
the power of Congress shall be eXer-
cised to compel our citizens to accept
in payment of their debts dollar that
is intrinsically worth but fifty-three
cents, without being able to compel
corresponding relief to the American
debtors when foreign creditors demand
of them payment in gold How long
will the hum of industry continue, how
long will the workshop remain open,
how long will the manufacturer con-
tinue to turn out the product OF
American genius and skill, If we have
no foreign trade and are compelled to
buy and sell to ourselves? We are
credited for the year ending June Both
last for goods exported to other ma
tions 1868, 200, ,4f7. This enormous
sum represents American capital, pro-
duct and labor. In our dealings with
all people we should receive and pay
the best money in the world. No law
has yet been able to make all men hon
est; but no law should compel men to
be dishonest"
After reciting the debtorship of the
United States for it's outstanding bonds
of SS30,O0O.00O. for which gold was
received, and for which, unless the
intelligence of this Nation be blunted
and its patriotic impulses paralyzed,
redemption will be in the same coin,
Mr.. Sheehan continues:
Nor can the apologist for the Chi
cago platform petifog or beg the ques-
ticn- When they rejected the amend
ment offered by Senator Hill, to the
effect that any change in the present
standard of values should not apply to
existing Government bonds, they
nailed to the masthead of their ship
the inglorious flag of repudiation and
dishonor. Against the perpetuation OF
such crime, in the name of Democ-
racy, l protest. Who are the owners
Of the bonds? Not foreign bankers and
syndicates; not the so-calIed bloated
bondholder, but the ward, whose edu-
cation had been provided for in the
supposed inviolability of United
States bond; the widow, whose sole
support may be the income thus re-
ceived, and five millions of American
citizens who have placed their deposits
in our savings institutions. These de-
posits are not stored away in thevaults
OF savings banks. That which is not
loaned is invested, and most of it in
Government bonds.
Il have heard it said that no at
tempt would be made to affect exist
| ing obligations if the work Of the Chi
cago Convention was ratified at the