Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-07-16
The Democratic National Convention.

The Democratic National Convention.
As was anticipated. the democratic
national convention has declared un-
equiyocally for free silver, at ratio
of sixteen to one. While it was 4
foregone conclusion that this would
be 50. there IS a feeling of relief now
that the agony Of suspense is over.
The free silver delegates at the con-
vention, finding themselves in con-
troll, and fired by the populistic and
soeiahstie spirit which predominated,
made no effort 70 arbitrate. but rode
roughshod over the gold minority.
carrying the convention with high
hand.
It was the same, emotional, in
famrnable. anarchistic spirit which
created the candidate for president.
Fired by a speech which voiced the
sentiments of the predominating ele-
ment in the convention. William Jen-
nings Bryan, OF Nebraska, the boy
orator, the fanciful within Of an hour.
was placed in nomination for the
highest Office IN the gift OF the people
OF this grand. this dignified republic
The selection of candidate for
vice president was characterized By
the same capriciousness. After the
nomination CT Bryan, it became the
aim 81 This popuiist democratic con
yention 20 nominate some silver
democrat Of respectability and wealth,
but particularly Of wealth. TO link
political and personal fortunes with
the ticket. After three others had
declined the honor Of the nomination,
It fell 70 the lot Of Maine man
Arthur SewaH. the rich ship builder
and ship-owner Of Bath, a genial
gentleman a successful business man,
but man whose reputation is purely
local. who Is il bad odor with the
democratic leaders of the Pine Tree
State for mis- tree silver utterances,
who had Just been turned down as
national committeeman, and who did
not receive the support of the full
delegation from his own State in his
candidacy for second place On the
ticket
Such is the platform and such are
the candidates which the democratic
voters are asked TO support-a plat
form which vast majority of demo-
Gratis Of the great commercial states
of the East repudiate, and candidates
of comparative obscurity, brought
into prominence by an emotional
frenzy OF hybrid convention. at
which nearly one third the delegates
refused TO vote.
How will the democratic voters ac-
cepr it? We can answer in no more
forciole way than by quoting from the
New York Sun, which voices the
sentiments of thousands Of democrats
OF the east, and whose action in bolt
ing the platform and ticket has
already been followed by scores of
other influential democratic papers.
The San says:
The democratic party, assembled regularly in
national convention. pledges itself to revive the
free coinage of silver at the old ratio of sixteen
to one and TO accomplish the imposition of an
income tax. The democracy of Jefferson, from
which have been drawn invariably the ideas
which have given political stability and repub
liean enthusiasm TO this country, has passed
into the control OF Jefersons diametrie oppo-
site, the socialist or communist, or as he Is now
known here. the populist.
The Chicago platform cannot be accepted,
free.siiver coinage would he national dishonor
and monumental anachronism. silver has
had it, day a money standard. The com
merce Of civilization, which has used as
medium OF exchange pretty much everything
from shells to the higher metals, has pro
gTessed beyond silver. 1t mas adapted itself to
gold, and to gold it will stick until it finds some
thing stin more convenient. The silver cam