Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-18

delegates they promulgated
al variance with the essential principles
OF the Democratic party. This platform
Is IN rs policies dangerous TO the wetate
and life OF free government. lt ls mis-
chiovous In its tendencies. but even more
threatening and mischievous was the
spirit OF the convention that adopted ia
spirit manifested not alone by it's afiirma-
tive action. bat as well by its reckless re-
fectfon Of every proposition tending 10
temper the declarations OF the convention
with conservatism and Justice
'rhc platform proposes TO degrade inc
coin OF the United States by means OF the
free. unlimited, and independent coinase
/ Of silver by our government, ana by We
! exercise Of the power Of the nation 10
compel the acceptance OF depreclaleu
/ coins ~ their nominal value, theIeps
working an injustice 70 creditors uelIa
ing Tie laborer Of a large part or ms
/ earnings and savings. robbing pensioned
soldiers Of a part Of their pensions, con-
/ tracing the currency by the expulsion OF
! cold coin from circulation. and iniuring, II
/ not destroying domestic trade ana loreish
| commerce.
while processing TO advocate pohcy
| Of bimetallsm, il censures me present
! Democratic administration for maintain
( ing the parity Of gold and silver IL pro-
/ noses to reduce this country 10 a condi-
/ iion Of silver monomeiallism with its
| vscillating and unreliable standard OF
values. and tends 10 bring the farmer the
| wage-earner. and the salared man to the
wretched condition of the same classes IN
/ countries I'm which the silver standard
prevails. and where the rewards OF agri-
/ culture and labor are lower than any
where else ia the world.
FREE-COINAGE QUESTION.
oZyith what seems to be a deliberate at
tempt to mislead the people, II asserts
that by the coinage act OF 1873, the tnlted
/ states abandoned the use Of silver as
money. and that gold Das %ppreclaleu'
and commodities have fallen IN price
solely by reason OF this legislation. IL
| ignores the fact that the prices OF com
| modities have fallen because OF me en-
/ larged use Of labor-saviag machinery
| increased production, and resulting COM
i netition. 1t suppresses the :1ct mat
! notent reason for the decline in the price
| Of silver has been the discovery of new
and cheaply worked mines, resulting ih
\ enormous Increase IN its prodIe.ion. IN
/ stead Of recognizing these facts IL APP
! peals TO the prejudice OF the peop'e'
1t demands that free coinage OF siiNel
N the arbitrary and fictitious ratio oil
| 1s TO 1. although the ratio established
/ I'm the worlds market Ia about 81 10 j.
and although neither experience nor
reason warrants the belief that the com
| mercial ratio between the metals can De
raised by the action Of this government
! 10 any ratio even approXlmaung thal
| proposed. ..-.-.,...
at threatens i'm certain contingencies
TO increase 10 an unlimited extent me
volume of legal tenders issued by the
Federal Government, the ultimate effect
of which would be to force the with
drawal Of all coin from circulation. ana
TO compel public and private business 10
| be transacted in deprecated paper-cur-
rency. constantly fuctuatng IN Value;
and to invite the ruin and confusion that
have always followed the adoption oil
J such a policy
INVITATION TO PANIC.
cts declarations invite, and have all
| most produced. a financial panic ana
| many OF fits proponents announce that 10
| accomplish their purposes they are pre-
! pared 10 involve their country In dis
| astor comparable 20 nothing in its his
tory save the calamity OF the civil war.
1T assails the independence Of the ju-
! dietary by a covert threat TO re-
organize the courts whenever their de-
cislons contrayene the DEGREES Of the
! party caucus.
1T seeks to allure ohice-seekers and
| spOilsmen TO It's support by attacking
the existing civn-service laws. which
good men Of all parties have labored so
! long TO establish. and to extend 10 all
| DEPARTMENTS Of the public service.
1.-THE Chicago convention, having thus
departed from tho recognized Democratic
faith and promulgated doctrines new
and strange to the Democracy. all Demo
Gratis are absolved from obligation 10
support it's programme. More than this,
as the doctrines announced are destruc-
tive Of national honor and private obliga-
ton. and tend to create sectional and
class distinctions and engender discOrd
and strife among the people, all good
citizens of the republic are bound to re-
pudiate them, and exert every lawful
means to insure the defeat OF the candi-
dates that represent these false doc
trines."
DOCTRINE OF MAJORITY RULE.
Democrats are told that they must &C.
cept the platform enunciated and the
ticket nominated at Chicago because
submission TO the will of the majority Is
a fundamental principle Of Democracy.
Il e. true that when a majority Of the
people have expressed their Will at a
LEGAL election the viii Of such majority
/ must be respected and obeyed. This is
essential to the peace and existence oil
the nation. But II is a monstrous per
version Of this doctrine TO apply II 10 q
political party which exists only by
virtue OF combination voluntarily "a
assent to its principles. When a Demo
cratic convention departs from The
principles Of the party, no Democrat re-
mains under any moral obligation TO sup
port It's action. nor is there any tradition
Of the party that requires him SO to do.
On the contrary, IL il evidence Of mora
weakness for any free man TO vote &c
enforce policies which, IN his opinion, are
inimical 10 the welfare Of the people OF
10 the integrity Of the nation.
"The duty Of the hour is to stand stead
fast in the defence of our ancient faith.
In this crisis there is at stake more than
the possibility Of temporary victory The
honor and perpetuity of the Democratic
party are at stake.
"a political organization that is untrue
to itself and its traditions is disgraced
/ dishonored. The existence of our great
historical party, that has withstoOd the
assaults of every foe. is threatened by
reason of the recreancy o. many of its
members. That this party. as we have
! known It. may not die. let its faithful fol
{ lowers rally round its historic banner. re-
form its broken lines and with abiding
> faith I'm the final triumph Of its principles
unite 10 restore the name Democrat 10 us
former meaning and proud distinction.
"To this end we request all Democrats
p who are opposed 10 the platform adopted
and candidates nominated at Chicago &c
organize IN their several states ana &c
} send representatives 10 the convention OF
4 the National Democratic party, to be held
az indianapolis on Wednesday. Septem
Der 2. 1895 I'm accordance with the cal
heretofore issued by the National Com
mittee.
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