The Indianapolis journal., 1896-10-13
BAYARD NOT A PoPoCRAT.
The Ckevalier Urges Democrats to
support Palmer and Buckner


WILMINGTON, Del, Oct. 12.-In a letter
to Samuel Bancroft, jr., editor of Every
Evening, the Hon. Thomas f. Bayard,
United States ambassador to Great Britain,
has repudiated the platform and nominees
of the Democratic convention held at Chi
cago, and advises constitutional Democrats
tC vote at the approaching presidential
election for Messrs. Palmer and Buckner
the nominees of the Indianapolis conven-
ton. The letter is dated at London, Sept
80. 1t is, in part, as follows:
ut seems scarcely possible that any one
could be in doubt in relation TO my per-
soDa1 opinion on the very serious issue
new placed before countrymen by the
machinery of the several political organ
izations. When a citizen processing him
self to be a Democrat is called on by many
or by few to yield his convictions and as
sent to the doctrine that Congress has the
power and can rightfully exercise 1t by its
legislative fiat to create values, and, re-
gardless of their intrinsic or commercial
value, to invest one or the other of the
earths metals with arbitrary power as
money. and override and alter, at legisla-
tive will or caprice, the ratio of the ex-
cEangeability of such metal. regardless of
the impairment of the obligation of con-
tracts, his answer should be that such a
claim of power is not consistent with a
government OF limited powers, defined
by our Constitution, but contains the quint-
essence of tyranny, dishonesty and abso-
lutism, and is destructive of that morality
which Is essential to the peace and sta
Dfllty or ctV1iIZad society. 1t Is In piaIn
words a proposition TO destroy the institu-
ton of property and break down every
legal defense for its protection.
This one question and it is answered
sufficiently, justifies the prompt and abSo-
lutte refusal of a constitutional Democrat
to support in any degree, the nominees of
the Chicago convention fMesSrS. Bryan
and SewalD, and the preposterous claims
OF legislative power contained in their
platform under which the credit of the
Nation and the peace and order of society
would Inevitably perish.
Mr. Bayard then displays his free-trade
tendencies in an attack on the Republican
party. Continuing, he says:
But. happily, there remains a citadel
and an asylum for the political conscience
or any man honestly convinced that the
path of duty leads him to keep steadily in
view the great purposes for which our
fathers ordained the Constitution of the
United States: the formation of q more
Perfect union; the establishment of justice;
the insurance of domestic tranquility; pro-
vision for the common defense; promotion
OF the general welfare and the security of
liberty to ourselves and our posterity
Happily candi dates are presented upon a
Gear and unambiguous platform that as
sures safety to the financial honor of our
country; to the honest business tranSac-
t1onS or all its citizens, without discrimin-
Htlon OF race, age, sex. occupation or for
tune. The personal reputation of the cam
didates of the national constitutional De-
mccracy. Messrs. Palmer and Buckner is
unsullied, and guarantees their fidelity to
their pledges, and their election would go
far to re-establish the moral health of our
country. ] hope and believe that in every
state or the Union an electoral and con-
gressional ticket will be placed before the
people; and that every citizen may have
the opportunity of recording his vote ac-
cording to his conscientious belief and in
maintenance of the government of our
birth and dearest hopes"