The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-01
deprecated legal tender which IT pro-

deprecated legal tender which II pro-
poses To establish.
We repudiate the Chicago platform be-
cause II proposes TO substitute for our
present standard OF value. which is equal
TO the best In the world, an unstable and :
deprecated standard, which has been
rejected by every civilized and prosper
Gus nation. and which would put us on
monetary level with China, Mexico
and other countries where labor IL
notoriously underpaid.
The Chicago platform declares against
gcft monometallism, and advocates
legislation which must inevitably lead
20 silver monometallism; IL advocates a
monetary system which would offer an
unlimited field of speculation to the
capitalist, but would materially reduce
the purchasing power OF every dollar
paid to the Wage-earner, and punish
honest thrift by depreciation OF value in
every savings bank deposit and every
Nfe insurance policy. 1t advocates
liberal pensions, and at the same time
seeks TO impair the value OF every pen
sion paid by the government; IL con-
demns the only method provided for
keeping inviolate the national credit
and favors policy which must result in
partial Reputation OF the public debt;
II disapproves OF the issue of national
bank notes secured by the pledge OF gov
ernment bonds and suggests no substi-
tute therefor, except paper money, re-
deemable In debased and fiuctuating
coin. 1t covertly attacks the existing
civil service laws, upon the preservation
and extension OF which the efficiency OF
the public service depends.
Ii contemporary omits all reference
10 the administration of the only Demo-
crat who In this generation has held the
presidential office, whose integrity of
purpose and firm determination To main
10 N IA ha
nized and acknowledged by all classes
cGAhis fellow citizens.
We heartily commend the administra-
ton OF Grover Cleveland. He has been
loyal TO the principles OF true Democ-
racy. His administration has been efti-
Client, honest and economical. He de-
serves the thanks OF the whole people
and has earned and will receive the
praise OF grateful posterity.
We hold that II is the duty OF the gov
ernment OF the United States in the ex-
ercise OF its constitutional functions, in
respect To coinage and currency, TO fol-
low and not force the preferences Of the
people. The gold standard is q monetary
fact, which cannot be changed by act OF
congress. In the face Of the long con-
tinued existence OF that standard In the
United States. and the unmistakable
Worldwide selection of gold in prefer
ence to silver as monetary standard,
any attempt TO tamper with that stand
ard Is vicious in principle. dishonest in
practice, destructive of confidence and
thoroughly un-Democratic. We, there
fore. are in favor Of firm and unvarying
maintenance OF the present gold stand
ard OF value so long as that standard
continues to be a monetary fact.
We believe that the federal govern
ment should be entirely divorced from
the business of banking. and therefore
demand the repeal of all laws authoriz-
ing the issue OF legal tender, or treasury
notes, by the government, or the re-
issuing OF such notes when they have
once been redeemed in gold. We favor
the enactment by congress Of such leg
islation as will permit the establishment
or banking currency ample in volume
for the needs OF business, readily ADJUST
ing itself 10 such needs, absolutely Sc
cure in every contingency. and at all
times redeemable in gold.
We are opposed to Republican protec-
tcn. We recognize in protection. by
which the federal power OF taxation on
imports is exercised for the benefit of
class, the mainstay of trusts the parent
OF monopoly. the fruitful source of the
present political dangers which threaten
the nation. The silver agitation began
In the efforts of the producers OF silver to
obtain higher price for their products
and they have as much right to seek the
interference of the government in their
have the manufacturers OF steel or cot
tons. The Bland-Allison act of 1873 and
the so-called Sherman act OF 1890 were
measures largely designed To afford pro-
lection TO the producers OF silver; and
the latter act, under which from 1890 TO
1893 the government of the United States
purchased monthly $500 900 ounces Of
silver, nearly six tons daily, and issued
treasury notes therefor. so threatened
the national credit and produced such
distrust OF the power of the government
TO maintain the standard of value that
To II far more than to any other influence
Is due the business depression OF the
last three years, and the consequent free
silver agitation which finds in that de-
preston its only hope of success.
We believe the enforcement OF the
civil service laws is essential TO an eff
cient administration OF the public bus-
ness, and we commend the extension of
those laws by President Cleveland to the
remainder OF the unclassilied service.
AS Democrats loyal TO the mante-
nance Of the constitution and Jealous in
our support Of the conduct and honor of
our country. we cannot endorse the can
didates nominated at Chicago or the
champion Of Republican prohibitory
protection nominated at st. Louis.
We declare, therefore. that the ap-
preaching convention at Indianapolis
should nominate on a Democratic plat
form Democratic candidates, to whom
we pledge our hearty support, and we
instruct our delegates to that convention
to use every effort TO bring about such
nominations.
VERMONT LEADS OFF.