New-York tribune., 1896-05-16
PFDTDTaTE THE CALUMNIA TOR

Governor Mckinley pays no attention TO the
demands of his alarmed and desperate enemies
that he should make for them some fresh state
ment of his financial position. Why should he!
His record Is absolutely as sound, as complete
and rs thorough as that Of any Of his COM
petitors Why should any of them make fresh
statement now? Every Republican candidate
for the Presidency is known TO be sound money
man They all favor the maintenance OF the
present standard They all insist that nothing
shall be done TO cheaper the dollar, whatever
II is made Of and they all favor as free use
of silver as Is consistent with preserving the
parity of the metals That is the Republican
National platform Mr.. Reed stands on it. Mr.
Mckinley, Mr.. Allison, every other candidate
real or sham stands on it. Every intelligent
Republican knows the fact and knows that the
next platform will say the same thing in the
plainest possible words.
But Mr.. Plat, a New-York gentleman, who
for four years past has been VIGOROUSLY giving
his DAYS and nights to the cause of sound money.
exclusive Of every other subject of human in
terest sounds an alarm. He screams that Mr.
Mckinley is not safe, because he has not made
fresh declaration on the subject every time
Mr.. Platt demanded it; and his wild Shrek Of
Union as the last card he has to play. Mr..
Platt undertakes the average intelligence. The
people at large are not fools; they know just
what desperate straits Mr.. Platt Is in. They
understand the precise motives which inspire
his present financial virtue and animate this
last despairing effort New-York business men
also know Mr. Platt. know his own financial
record from the early embarrassments Of his
fbo oh which
upon every business he attempts to manage
except that Of cxtoriing money from exposed
corporations to save them from legislative at
tack at Albany. When money men seek Mr..
Platt for champion. or go 10 him for advice
about their interests. bank cashiers will be con-
sulting cracksmen to provide for the safety Of
their vaults.
Thus far the campaign for the nomination has
gone on amid perfect good humor and without
the slightest reflection upon the Republicanism
of any one of the eminent men whose names
have been considered. 1t is worth while 10 con-
slider now whether the present malignant out
break, made by the most unscrupulous OF the
bosses ostensibly in the interests Of Morton. has
that respectable gentleman's approval. Does
Mr. Morton wish to challenge comparison be-
tween his financial record or his record on any
Mckinley? Governor Mckinley led the contest
in his State in campaign in which honest
money was a leading issue, and maintained
and defended ii from the stump in almost every
county in the State. Where Is Governor Nor
tons similar contribution to the cause Of sound
money? Before what successive audiences has
his cloduence extorted the admiration Of his
opponents and added votes in great crisis to
the sound-mOney cause? What record on the
present financial questions has Governor Nor
ton in fact. beyond the record of the banking
firm with which he was connected! And who
does not know that the strong man who fur
nshcd the capital and ability Of that firm is
dead? Is there any evidence that Morton now
has any opinions on any matter that are not
subject TO revision at the demand Of his boss ?
If so. are they to be found in the only place
where he has had the opportunity to display
them, in the legislative and executive history
Of the State?
The National Convention Is only month off.
The delegates are mostly chosen and instructed.
The people have spoken and their determination
is known The trading politician who now be-
gins to hurl his calumnies at the candidate he
breads harms nobody but the candidate he pre-
tends TO support. The sooner he Is repu1lated
| the better