Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-01

| tracts which provide for payment In any
medium more valuable than the depre-
ciated legal-tender which II proposes to
| establish.
I'VE repudiate the Chicago platform
because IL proposes TO substitute for our
| present standard of value. which is equal
TO the best i'm the world, an unstable and
deprecated standard. which has been re
jected By every civilized and prosperous
| commercial nation, and which would put
us on a monetary level with China.
| Mexico, and other countries where labor
Is notoriously underpaid.
MONOMETALLISM.
"The Chicago platform declares against
| gold monometaliism and advocates legs-
| latiOn which must inevitably lead TO
silver mononletallism; it advScates a
monetary system which would offer an
unlimited field OF speculation TO the CAPT
talist. but would materially reduce the
purchasing power OF every dollar paid to
the wage-earners, and punish honest
thrift by depreciating the value of every
savings-bank deposit and every life-in-
| surance policy. 1t advocates liberal pen
| sons and at the same time seeks to
impair the value Of every pension paid
by the government; it condemns the only
method provided to keep invi0late the
| national credit, and favors a policy which
must result in partial Reputation Of the
| public debt; IL disapproyes OF the issue
| of national bank notes secured by the
| pledges OF government bonds, and sug-
| gests no substitute therefor, except un-
| limited paper money redeemable In de-
| based and huctuating coin. 1t coyertly
attacks the existing civil-service laws,
upon the preservation and extension Of
which the efficiency OF the public service
T.. oil
reference TO the administration of the
only Democrat who. in this generation,
| has held the presidential office, and whose
integrity Of purpose and firm determine
| ton to maintain the national honor have
| been acknowledged by all classes of his
| fellow-citizens.
COMMENTATOR OF CLEVELAND.
1--WE heartily commend the admins
| tration OF Grover Cleveland He has
| been loyal 10 the principles of true De-
| mocracy. His administration has been
| efficient, honorable and economical He
deserves the thanks of the whole people,
and has earned and will receive the
praise of a grateful posterity.
THE GOLD STANDARD.
eve hold that It is the duty Of the
| Government of the United States. in the
exercise Of its constitutional functions in
respect to coinage and currency 10 fol-
low and not 10 force the preferences Of
the people. The gold standard is a none
tary fact which cannot be changed by act
Of Congress. In the face Of the long-con-
tinued existence Of that standard in the
United States, and the unmis taxable
worldwide selection OF gold I'm preference
10 silver as a monetary standard, any
attempt to tamper with that standard is
vicious i'm principle dishonest in prac-
tice. destructive of confidence. and
thoroughly un-Democratic. We are,
therefore, in favor Of firm and unvary-
ing maintenance of the present gold
standard OF value, so long as that stand
ard continues to be a monetary fact.
I'VE believe that the Federal Govern
ment should be directly divorced from the
business OF banking; and therefore de-
mand the repeal Of all laws authorizing
the issue Of legal-tender or Treasury
notes by the government or the reissuing
OF such notes when they have only been
redeemed in gold. We favor the enact
ment by Congress of such legislation as
will permit the establishment of a bank
ing currency ample in volume for the
needs of business. readily adjusting itself
to such needs, absolutely secure in every
contingency. and at all times redeemable
in gold.
PROTECTION.
"We are opposed to Republican protec-
tion. We recognize I'm protection by which
the Federal power Of taxation on imports
is exercised for the benefit of a class the
mainstay Of trusts. the parent Of monop-
oily. the fruitful source of the present po-
litical dangers which threaten the nation.
The silver agitation began in the efforts
Of the producers Of silver to obtain
higher price for their product; and they
have as much right to seek the influence
Of tie government in their behalf (how-
ever fruitless it may be- as have the man.
ufacturers Of steel or cotton. The Bland
Allison act Of 1878. and the so-called Sher-
man act of 1890. were measures largely
designed 10 afford protection to the pro-
ducers Of silver; and the latter act, under
which from 1880 to 1898 the Government
Of the United States purchased monthly
10000 ounces Of silver, nearly six tons
daily, and issued Treasury notes therefor.
so threatened the national credit and pro-
duced such distrust Of the government
10 maintain the standard Of value. that
TO IT, far more than to any other influence.
is due the business depression of the last
three years. and the consequent free
silver agitation, which finds I'm that de-
preston its only hope OF success.
CIVIL SERVICE LAWS.
I'VE believe the enforcement OF the
civil service laws is essential to an eff
cient administration of the public busi
ness. and we commend the extension Of
those laws by President Cleveland 10 the
remainder Of the unclassifed service.
"As Democrats loyal to the mainte-
nance Of the Constitution, and jealous in
our support Of the credit and honor of
our country. we cannot endorse the can
didates nominated at Chicago. nor the
champion Of Republican prohibltory pro-
lection nominated at st. Louis.
1--WE declare, therefore, that the ap-
preaching convention at indianapolis
should nominate on a Democratic plat
form Democratic candidates, to whom
we pledge our hearty support and we in
struct our delegates to that convention
20 use every effort to bring about such
nominations"
ELECTORS AND DELEGATES.
Electors-at-large and delegates to In
dianapolis were selected. Among the lat
Ter are Patrick j. Gleason. Horatio c.
King. Perry Belmont, Theodore Sutro.
John Dewitt Warner. John r. Fellows.
oscar S. Strauss, Charles X: Miller, and
Simon Stern.
The following delegates-at-large and
alternates to the Indianapolis convention
were selected:
Delegates-Roswel L. Flower, OF
Watertown: General Charles Tracey, of
Albany; Edward NJ. Shepard, of Brook
lyn: and General George Magee, of Wat
kins.
Alternates-F'rancls NJ. Scott, OF New
York: Henry A. Richmond. OF Buffalo:
George A. Brockway, of Cortland; and
Charles j. Bisseil, of Rochester
A resolution. offered by Edward NJ. |
Shepard, OF Brooklyn, was, after debate, |