, 1896-09-14
MR.. SHEEHAN BOLTS.
AND GIVES HIS REASONS IN
NO UNCERTAIN
TERMS.
The Platform Of the Chicago Conven-
ton is Not Democracy, But Means
Ruin and Repudiation-He Will
Support the Party of Jefferson and
Jackson.

New York, September 13.-In reply to
a recent letter of inquiry from Joseph
B. Mayer of Buffaio rs to the attitude
Of Ex-Governor William F. Sheehan in
the present campaign, the governor
makes his position plain in The follow
ing statement:
THE proceedings of the recent demo-
cratic convention were unparalleled in
democratic history. Radicalism and
not patriotism dominated its course.
The guiding, and in a large measure,
the controlling spirits of that body
were republican United States senators
me whose votes made it possible to
enter upon the statutes of the country
the unobjectionable and disastrous Nc
Kinley law. When before were rock
ribbed republican protectionists given
in a democratic convention seats OF
honor and permitted to dictate and
riotic advice of men who had grown
gray in democratic service was spurned
and the judgment Of these newly found
apostles Of the un-democratic creed
was enthusiastically accepted.
"A platform was adopted under the
guise Of democracy from which all
thoughtful democrats should recoil.
There never has been a since
Its adoption that I could support it. ex-
cept by a loss of my self-respect. What
Is this platform? There is not a line in
1t that Is democratic that is not good.
There is not a word in it that is bad
and therefore un-democratic, that has
lot been stolen or taken from the p
list platform. Base as the republican
party is, subversive as 1t has generally
been Of the best interests of the coun-
try. 1t is infinitely preferable to popu.
lism. which is next OF kin to socialism.
We should examine our past platforms
in connection with the teachings Of the
founders and statesmen of our party to
ascertain what Is the test of party faith.
Democratic principles took DOT with
the birth Of the republic: they are as
sound and lofty today as they were
when first expounded by Jefferson.
"All democrats should give their
hearty support to candidates who stand
upon a platform which reafirms and
upholds these principles. When was
1t ever a tenet Of democracy that by the
fiat of the government SO cents worth
OF silver should be made equal to 100
cents of gold in payment Of public and
private debts? What democratic con
vention has failed In recent years to
justly condemn republican paternal-
ism? Where is there a more wicked
form of paternalism than for the gov
eminent to stamp for the benefit Of the
mine owner So cents worth of silver
bullion as 81 In coin? Where Is democ-
racy in a proposition that allows the
silver OF the world to be coined at our
minis free Of charge at a ratio far be-
yond its intrinsic or commercial value
and compels our citizens to accept this
false and dishonest coin at its face
value In extinguishment Of their debts
and In payment for their labor? The
advocates Of this platform hazard ev-
erything on the single proposition that
the enactment Of a Law for the free
coinage Of silver at the ratio Of 16 to l,
without the aid or assistance of other
nations, will bring gold and silver to a