Evening journal., 1896-06-22
AR. HMIAlTNEY's APPEAL
Urges the Democracy Oppose
Free Silver Coinage.
MYs He IS NOT A CANDIDATE.

10 defines the political situation. makes
lis position clenr AS regards his decision
@ remain IN this country instead OF going
Europe and concludes by saying that
io Is not a presidential possibility; that
~ would not run II nominated and
would not serve " elected. "
Tho full text OF the statement is as fol.
ows
II nnd It necessary to make public
statement embodying my views on the
htuaton 70 correct misconceptions and
ave time now occupied IN answering
questions.
81 have been practically out Of politics
or four yoars, and there are now many
,nstorn Democrats who of.n do much more
han can for the party. / shall not as
ume any position OF leadership. My do
hsion to stay was simply bnscd on the
iuty OF every person who believes IN the
larty for It's principles TO stay by and lend
iis aid aud take his chances whom The
tfeat crisis IS upon the Democratic party
Fundamental differences of principle ex.
st inside the party, marked almost by
ieotional lines.
1.-THE gruat question to my mind is
whether the party meets In convention
aow as In 1860, with issues and differences
hat are for the moment irrccOncllable.
NOi lHb DuhI 10 years AtuhAlF VI IUHlN
opinion IN the south aud west have been
advocating ns the great remedy for exist
ny ills the free coinage OF silver nt 10 TO
with or without the cooperation OF
other nations.
ut has come TO be believed IN there
quito generally and oonsciontiously. a
hrge majority OF the delegates to the com.
nR Democratic convention have boen
ilected by the people for the purpose of In
cooperating that doctrine Into the plat
,orm OF the Democratic party.
'Our people, on the other hand entirely
lisagree with these Views and believe al.
most universally that Il will bring general
uim to the business and prosperity OF the
sountry. It Is deemed a new doctrine
ghen proposed to be Incorporated into the
platform OF the national Democracy. II
Is true that In no previous platform OF the
party can It specifically be found Conse.
auently no party obligations heretofore as-
Iumed oblige them TO subscribe to It.. I'm
ier these circumstances IL the results Of
he Democratic convention should be TO
establish as TIM issue OF this campaign tho
.ree coinage OF silver at a ratio Of i6 to /,
independent OF other nations In the IN
iensity Of feeling likely to arise It Is TO be
seriously apprehended that a disruption OF
lhe Democratic party might occur. Ger
lhinly no substantial following could be
,eonred for the doctrine among eastern
Democrats. They might not vote the Re-
publican ticket for other reasons (believ
ing that tho Republican party stands for
othor issues that are detrimental to the
,ountry), but the Democrats In the east
would not In my opinion, vote for II.
The Free Coinage Movement.
= "This movement for free coinage pur,
oorts 60 have for It's object the establish.
ment and maintonnnoe OF gold and silver
As the money OF the country upon equal
,erms.with ench other and at parity OF
purchasing power II by the proposed
measure that objoct could be secured,
here would be no substantial disagree
ment Ia the party Every national DemU.
,ratio platform that has heretofore spoken
apon the subject has declared for both
gold and silver noney. IL Is our tradl
lona policy. But the maintenance OF the
double standard nt the present time Is not
= question of desire it Is a question OF
ability. The commercial value OF silver
has declined greatly In the markots Of th'
world.
Whatever tho casises are and whoever
is to blame. the faot Is that silver has de
sllned. and free coinage now at 10 10 Il
she samo as our Offering for ali the silve
IN tho world about twice what Il Is selling
tor In tlre market International exchange
have to be paid In gold. And IL woul'
seem plain that N we, under these condi
lions, open our mints TO the free coinag
of silver aud gold at a ratio OF compare
live value which Is largely at ynrinnc
with the commercial value OF the two met
ais wo must take the entire silver surplu
ourselves maintain It's parity with gold
or else we shall 90 Go a silver bnss.
"grance In 1873 closed her mints agains
silver and abandoned this experiment
ieeming herself unequal 60 the task alon,
aud at that time it WAS much less dii
sult, for silver was then at pax. with gol
at the ratio in use, and even England
mants IN India were open to the FREQ coli
age OF silver. II the experiment. of mair
faining the parity Of the two metals at
soinage standard was difficult then,
would seem to be positively hopeless no
without International agreement.
Double Standard Countries.
"Germany, France, Belgium, Italy an
Austria believe In double standard an
desire 20 establish it, but no one, two
bhree OF them deem themselves ablo
maintain the double standard, even wit
the cooperation OF the United States.
The result OF the measures proposed wou
DO TO carry us TO a silver basis, it Is n
felt here that such proposal would be
tine with the principles of the Democrat
party. II Is not the joint standard wi
the purchasing power Of the dollars
parity with each other, but 1t is changli
from one standard TO another, and th
change being to q deprecated coin.
"And It Is also felt, aside from the a
sence of any Democratic principle to su
sain It, that you cannot have such d
Iurhanoe Of value as T0ule come fro
eing FROM a gotd "a a silver bal
without shock 90 confidence, the hoai
ing Of gold and contraction Of your ava
able circulating medium, as would brin
in the opinion of our people, the woi
panic and distress we have ever seen
this country. The creditor GLASSES are p
pared for It. The obligations mortgag
railroad and otherwise, are quito gener
ly payable In gold. Debts would ST
have to be paid in gold, but wages In
ser, the sufferers, as usual, being the po
or classes.
"This movement purporting to be
the interest Of the joint standard, con
at most inopportune time, in my op