The San Francisco call., 1896-09-14
Says Radicalism, Not Patriot.
ism, Dominated the Chicago
Convention.
LOFTY AIMS OF DEMOCRACY
ABANDONED.
Can Never Fight Under a Banner of
Reputation and National
CiShonor.

tenant-Governor w. +. Sheehan Yesterday
sent long statement of his views and atti-
tude in the campaign to J. B. Mayer of
Buffalo, Mr.. Mayer is prominent DEM
ocrat in his city and was one of the dele
gates to the Chicago convention last June.
A synopsis of Mr.. Sheehan's communica-
tion is here given:
NEW YORK, Sept. IL, 1896.
Joseph B. Mayer, Esq., Buffalo, N. Y-DEAR
SIR: Replying to your recent letter OF inquiry
as 10 my attitude in the present campaign I
beg leave 10 say:
The proceedings of the recent Chicago con.
vention were unparalleled In Democratic his
tory. Radicalsm and not patriotism dominated
its course. The guiding and in large measure
the controlling, spirits of that body were Re-
publican United States Senators-men whose
votes made it possible to engraft upon the
statutes OF this country the Objectionable ana
disastrous Mckinley law. When before were
rock-ribbed Republican protectionists given in
Democratic convention seats of honor and
permitted to dictate and shape tn e policy of
our party? The patriotic advice of men who
had grown gray in Democratic service was
spurned and the judgment of these new-found
apostles OF an undemocratic creed was enthu-
-siastically accepted.
. Alter reviewing the official acts of the
convention and Its platform in terms as
others in the same vein, Mr.. Sheehan con-
tinues:
Democratic principles took root with the birth
OF the Republic; they as sound and lofty to-
day ss they were when first expounded by JEFF
ferson. All Democrats should give their hearty
support 70 candidates who stand upon plat
form which reafirms and upholds these prtn-
ciples; but when these principles are aban-
doned and set aside and new doctrines at varf-
f&L ~
gress are adopted, do we not cease to be Dem
ocrats if we fail to repudiate that which is un-
patriotic and immoral?
What Democratic convention has failed In
recent years to justly condemn Republican pa
ternalism? Where is there a more wicked
form of paternalism than for the Govern.
ment to stamp, for the benefit of mine owners.
50 cents worth of silver bullion as 81 in coinf
Where in Democracy is a proposition that al
lows the silver of the world to be coined at our
mints, free of charge, at a ratio far beyond fts
intrinsic or commercial value, and compels
our citizens to accept this false and dishonest
coin at its face value in extinguishment of
their debts and in payment for their labor?
The advocates of this platform hazard every
thing on the single proposition that the enact
ment OF law for the free coinage of silver at
the ratio of 16 to l, without the aid or assist
ance of other nations will bring silver and
gold to parity.
We consider our silver dollar TO-DAY as good
as gold, because it has back of it the credit and
faith of the Nation pledged to maintain its
parity with gold. Under free coinage this
credit and faith will be Withdrawn from the
new coin. These men propose, however, that
the power OF Congress shall be exercised to
compel our citizens TO accept in payment of
their debts dollar that is intrinsically worth
but ffty-three cents. without being able to
compel corresponding relief to the American
de btors when foreign creditors demand of
them payment in gold.
How long will the hum of industry continue:
how long will the workshop remain open; how
ong will the manufacturer continue TO turn
out the product of American genius and skill,
if we have no foreign trade and are compelled
to buy and sell to ourselves?
We received for the year ending June 80 last
for goods exported to other nations 1868 2OO,-
467. This enormous sum represents American
capital, product and labor. In our dealings
with all people we should receive and pay the
best money in the world. No law has yet been
able to make all men honest, but no law should
compel men to be dishonest.
After reciting the debtorship of the
United States for its outstanding bonds of
$3.50, 600, ,000 for which gold was received
and for which, ''unless the intelligence of
this Nation be blunted and it's patriotic
impulses paralyze redemption will be
in the same coin, Mr.. Sheehan continues:
Nor can the apologist for the Chicago plat
form pettitog or beg the question. When they
rejected the amendment offered by Senator
Hill to the effect that any change in the pres
ent standard of values should not apply to
existing Government bonds they nailed to the
N masthead of their ship the inglorious flag of
reputation and dishonor. Against the perpe-
| tration of such a crime in the name of De-
mocracy protest.
Who are the owners of these bonds? Not
| foreign bankers and home syndicates. not the
so-celled bloated bondhoIder, but the ward
whose education has been provided for in the
supposed inviolsbility OF United States bond;
the widow whose sole support may be the in
come thus received and 5000, 900 of Ameri.
cans who have placed their deposits in our
savings institutions The deposits are not
stored away in the vaults of savings banks.
That which is not loaned is invested, and most
of it in Government bonds.
1 have heard ii said that no attempt would
be made to affect any outstanding obligations
if the work OF the Chicago convention were
ratified at the polls. The answer is two-fold.
The proposition not to repudiate these obliga-
tions was Overwhelmingly defeated by the
convention after Mr.. Bryan had concluded
| the speec ch which resulted in his nomination.
| Under free coinage silver would become the
money of the country. The revenue of the
/ Government through its customs and internal
revenue would be nothing but silver, or, If the
dream of the Populist be realized, unlimited
fiat paper money with no coin. behind it for
redemption. With silver or fat paper money
as our only means Of revenue, how, ask the