The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-18
GOLD DEMOCRATS CALL.
An Address Issued Calling the Gold
Democrats in Convention.

Democrats in Convention.
Chicago, Aug. 18.-The executive COM
mittee of the National Democratic
party was in session here yesterday
and issued the following call Tor q ma
tiOnal convention at Indianapolis Sep
TENDER 2:
To the Democrats of the United
States:
The Democratic party is the only ex-
listing political organization with a his
tory extending back to the birth of the
republic. Party after party has at
tempted its overthrow Some achieved
temporary success. With each triumph
was heard the prophecy that the Dem
Ocratic party would surely die. 1t has
survived all defeats. by virtue of its
indestructible principles 1t has wit
messed the birth and death of every
rival save one, and this its present
great antagonist, with history of no
more than forty years, had no part in
laying the foundations OF the cOnSt1-
tutiOnal popular government For more
than a. century men of principles, noble,
ambitions, unSeIfiSh and patriotic aims
have adhered to the Democratic party
with a cOnStancy of devotion unparal-
leled in the history of parties For
more than a century, through good and
evil report in times of prosperity and
days of adversely it has kept its faith.
Without variableness or shadow of
turning it has held fast to the funda-
mental principles of free government
formulated by its founders and SubSe-
quently enforced by its great leaders
from Jefferson to Cleveland. For more
than a century no man was ever in
doubt as to what constituted DemOc-
racy. He who proclaimed himself
Democrat defined his principles. He
believed, and this was the cardinal
principle of his political faith, in the
ability of every Individual to achieve
his own happiness, and therefore that
to every citizen there should be Sc
cured the right and opportunity peace
ably to pursue whatever course of con-
duct he would, provided such conduct
deprived no other individual OF equal
enjoyment of the same right and oppOr-
tunity. He stood for freedom of speech,
freedom of trade and freedom of con-
tract, all of which are implied by the
century old battle cry of the Demo-
cratic party, individual liberty.
He profoundly disbelieved in the
ability of the government through pa
ternal legislation or supervision to in
crease the happiness of the nation. He
was opposed to all attempts to conjure
comfort into the homes of its citizens
or wealth into their pockets He be-
lieved that it is the function of the gov
eminent to provide the people with an
honest and stable medium of exchange
enabling them to transact their bust
ness safely and conveniently in every
market of the world. He reprObated
every attempt to supply to money by
means of legislation that value which
it can possess only by reason of those
qualities that render it acceptable to
the world when unsupported by legiS-
lative fiat. He believed in the greatest
measure of freedom of trade and in
dustry compatible with the necessity
to obtain by constitutional means an
adequate revenue for the support of
the government. He believed in a sim
pie, economical honest and efficient
administration of the affairs of the
nation to the end that the prime object
of government, the liberty of the peo-
pie should be preserved with the least
possible burden and greatest possible
certainty.
With such record and such creed
the Democratic party was called upon
to select delegates to a Democratic ma
tiOnal convention. The delegates to
said convention were authorized and
had the power to proclaim a platform
embOdying their views of the true So
luton of the particular problems of the
government now agitating the nation,
but upon the condition that such plat
form should be consistent with the
cardinal principles held by the party.
In violation of the trust committed to
them, a majority of the delegates as
sembIed in the convention, ignoring the
rights of minority regularly elected
delegates to make places for others in
sympathy with themselves. They pro-
claimed a sectional combination of the
south and west against the north and
eaSt2 They impeached the honesty and
patriotism of President Cleveland who
under exceptional embarraSsments pro-
duced by past errors of legislation has
heTO1calIy maintained the integrity OF
the republic. Against the protest of
one-third of the delegates they promul-
gated a platform at variance with the
principles of the Democratic party.
This platform is in its policies dan
gerOus to the welfare and life of free
government 1t is mischievOus in its
tendencies. But even more threatening
and nischievOuS was the spirit of the
convention that adopted it.
Democrats are told tibet they must
accept the platform enunciated and
the ticket nominated at Chicago be-
cause submission to the will of MAORI
ty is a fundamental principle of the
Democracy.
And yet it is an evidence of moral
weakness for any free man to vote to
enforce policies which in his opinion are
inimicaI to the welfare of the people or
to the integrity of the nation.
The duty of the hour is to stand
steadfast in the defense of our ancient
faith.
To this end we request all Democrats
who are opposed to the platform adopt
ed and candidates named at Chicago to
assemble at their states and to send
representatives to q convention of the
National Democratic party to be held
at Indianapolis, Wednesday, September
2, in accordance with the call thereof.
Wilson. secretary; Chas. Tracy, F. w
NJ. Cutcheon. S H. Holding, W. B.
HaIdeman, J. NJ. FaIkner, Ellis B. Ush-
err F. w. Lehman, John P. Hopkins,
executive committee of the National
Democratic party.
NOT PARTISAN