Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-07-23
ADDRESS TO DEMOCRATS.

many years were chosen by the state
Democratic convention as representa-
tives Of the Democracy Of Wisconsin
at the convention held in Chicago on
the 7th of July. The state Democrat
ic convention, by which we were APP
pointed AS such delegates declared
itself in unequivocal terms in favor
OF the principles Of Democracy TO
which we have been taught to give ad-
herence. Its platform contained an
unqualified declaration in favor of
honest money, and its delegates were
instructed to cast their votes at the
Chicago convention as u unit when
and as the majority of such delegates
should direct.
Upon the assembling of the Chi
cago convention it Immediately be-
came manifest that II new force and
undcmOcratic element had sliced upon
and was in control of that convention.
The traditions of the party were dis
regarded and long established usaTes
trampled upon by men who had as
sumed the garb Of Democracy for the
accomplishment of single purpose.
1.-The selection Of the national Dem
ocratic committee of II temporary pre-
siding officer, made in accordance with
Il custom prevailing for more than
half a century, was set aside and the
place tiled with one peculiarly repre-
sentng the dominant element in that
convention. Delegates chosen by the
state Democratic convention Of the
state Of Michigan to represent that
state in the Chicago convention, and
against whose right to hold that pc
sitiOn no protest WAS made in the state
convention, were deprived OF their
seats in order that by applying the
unit rule the entire twcnty-eight votes
of Michigan might be cast for plat
form declaring for the free coinage of
silver at the ratio Of ii to |, and in
favor of II candidate in accord with
such declaration Four delegates rep
rrsrntinG the Fourth and 1'inth dis
trcls Of Michigan, were SO unseated,
in order to accomplish Il majority of
the delegation, while the four dele
gates at large chosen by the same con
yentlon, and the title to whose seats
rested upon the same foundation, were
allowed to remain because under the
unit rule referred TO, they would be in
u hopeless minority in that delegation
after the four district delegates had
been unscatcd. Such agrant viola
ton Of the right Of representation by
Il state has mover before occurred in
any Democratic convention.
THE right of the state of Wiscon-
sin to control ~ its instruction the
votes of its delegates and to deter
mine when and how such votes should
be cast, was likewise denied.
"The platform adopted by the Chi
cago convention is directly at variance
with those doctrines which, since Ms
creation, have been part of the creed
of the Democratic party. While De
mocracy has for nearly century been
the advocate Of honest money and at
all times opposed to its debasement,
the Chicago convention declared in
favor of compelling the citizens of
the 'nitcd States to receive rs Il dollar
one half its value in the product Of u
single industry. While the Demo
cratic party has sturdily maintained
that courts in which Justice is admin
istcrcd should be above and beyond
political control, the convention at
Chicago adopted resolution looking
to the reconstruction of the supreme
court Of the United States to accom-
plish the reversal Of its decision.
While we condemned the use of that
court in lSI1 for political purposes
and to accomplish the inauguration rs
president Of u candidate not elected
while we denounced an appointment
made by II Republican president to \
position in that court for the purpose
of reversing u decision which denied
tho right Of the government to issue
paper money in times Of peace, we
are asked by the resolution referred to
to adopt the same methods which we
have condemned in our opponents.
THAT convention refused to app
prove Of the fidelity and honesty of