The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-08-13
WRIGHT RESIGNS AS STATE DEMO.
CRATIC CHAIRMAN AND GIVES
HIS REASONS.

Ut ClSdIllSl(l, inc secretary Oh lne
State Democratic committee, the fol
lowing announcement of his resigna-
tion and the reasons which led to it :
I" | hand you my resignation of the
craftsmanship of the State central
committee, and authorize you to
present it at the meeting which has
been called for August 13. In re-
linquishlng the position | feel that it
is due to the committee, from which
l have always received the most
cordial support, as well as just to my
self, that l should freely declare to
them the reasons impelling me to this
conclusion.
Entrusted at the Allentown Con-
vention with the work of preparing
the outline of platform for its con-
sideration, submitted financial
plank which received the unanimous
approval of the delegates assembled,
and which was truthfully declared in
the platform itself to be expressive
of the sentiments Of the united Demo
cracy of Pennsylvania" To that
declaration l cordially subscribed in
April, and it accords with my con.
victions now. believe il expresses
the views of large majority of the
Democrats of Pennsylvania at this
time.
/ cannot bring myself to believe
that the hundreds of Democratic news
papers, and hundreds Of thousands Of
Democratic voters in this State, who
in June of this year proclaimed their
adherence to the Allentown platform,
were aught but sincere then, nor that
they have abandoned their opinions
| since.
Tested by clearly defined, and oft
repeated declarations of Democratic
doctrine, the Chicago platform in my
Judgment is not a Democratic utter
ance. 1t is coldly received, or open
ly opposed by hundreds of thousands
Of lifelong Democrats, and by the
great leaders in whom the party has
trusted; while it is hailed with bolster
Gus demonstrations of approval by
political organizations with which
| Democracy has hitherto had no SYM
jpathy.
| Abandoning the sound money
doctrines always upheld by our party,
this platform proposes to flood the
country with debased silver currency,
and compel its circulation at double
Its intrinsic value. For the first time
in the history of civilized countries it
is intended that silver shall be freely
coined into money without limit as to
quantity and without reference to its
intrinsic worth.
1t is apparent, on the contrary, that
they have but subordinated their own
convictions to the decree of the
| Chicago convention. In this SUBJ
mission to that decree l for one can
not join. 1t was brought about by un-
Democratic influences and gives ex-
preston to doctrines not only sub
versive Of all that Democracy has
taught on the subject, but which be-
lieve will bring dishonor upon the
country, incalculable harm to Its peo-
pie and disaster to our party.
l am Democrat because believe
in that code of governmental doctrines
that for nearly century has stood for
Democracy in this country. Party
organization and a submission to
inajorities in duly organized party
tribunals are doubtless of great i'm
portance. Yet they are but instru-
mentalities to an end. They cease to
be useful when correct principles are
abandoned, and become absolutely
dangerous when false doctrines and
unrighteous purposes are proclaimed.
| conceive that the most dangerous
demonstration of the past month is
to be found in the apparent ease with
which a great political party has been
suddenly turned from its well settled
convictions to views diametrically
their opposite, for no other reason
than because an accidental and tenn
porary majority in a party convention
has so ordered. When it comes to
pass that political parties are mere
machines, swayed at will by leaders
and conventions, instead of being
aggregations of individual thinkers
moved by some common and intelli-
gent purpose for good, an evil time
will have come to the Republic.
No pledge is made for its redemp-
tion, no provision for maintaining it
on parity with gold. On the con
trary, the means that have enabled
the present administration to main
tain the credit of the government,
and to keep the present issues of silver
equal to gold, are now to be taken
from it. Its protecting hands are to
be tied, while the wage-earners and
thrifty citizens of the country ora laf.