Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-08-20


II was NATIONAL united party. which de-
feated Republican tyranny over the South,
drove out its 'carpct-bag' government,
withdrew the Federal soldiers and re-
pealed the Federal election law. Divided
and sectional 1t cannot stay the Republic
can hand.
We recall, too, tonight the contests
united democracy has fought and won
against Republican protection which used
the power of government for class and
selfish interest. taxing the people for pri-
yate ends, not public purposes. taking
from one TO give to another, and enriching
the few at the, rxpsqse ri the many. True
to its mission ", thd ipeople's party and TO
its belief that the peoples government was
to serve their interests only. and was
not to be controlled by the cIaIuorous de-
mands OF section or of seltishness, our
people threw down the gauntlet tn mo-
nopoly and wealth and went forth to the
great victories Of 1890 and 1892. wild
applauseI The Democratic party then.
as now, stood for lifting the burdens OF
unjust and unequal taxation. unsbackl.
ing industry and for tariff for public
uses only. and the country overwhelming
ly sustained this policy. Now. as then,
it has to meet aud fight the same issue.
The Republicans party seeks to reverse
the Democratic policy, repeal its law. re-
agitate the question, unsettle business
and bring back the regime Of Mckinley
ism, with its era of trusts and monopolies,
taxation and privilege, extravaganza and
corruption. IL successful, il will issue
from Washington its old invitation,
.Whoever has influence here may have
his share of the legalized pilage." Twice
has our party united and fought this the
peoples battle. Democrats East and
West, North and South, stood shoulder to
shoulder proelaiming the same principle
and serving the same cause. Illinois and
New York, New Jersey and Alabama,
united In one faith, alike contributed TO
the victory, and even Republican Mas
sachusetts, devoted to manufactures and
protection, slipped from her ancient
moorings to join the Democratic column.
Ii was glorious cause and SPLEEN
| did victory. Again the people call upon
| us to battle with McKinleyism and to
defend them against its attack upon their
rights and their interests. Shall we stand
hating and faithless to our principles,
decline this patriotic service because II
section of our party would thrust upon us
a new doctrine which inevitably splits us
in twain? tCries of "N0. Nor'l
For the first time in its history the Demo-
cratic party is urged to make the cardinal
principles of its faith and the leading issue
of its campaign silver recommendation
n new and deprecated standard of value.
The demand is for free coinage of silver
at 16 to /, which means that the power
and force of government are to be- invoked
to change our unit of value and to substi-
tute so cents of silver for 81 in gold, and
then to adjust the business of the c0un-
try-all wages, earnings and savings, all
debts and credits, all public obligations
and the national honor--to this dcpreci-
ated standard. The demand comes from
a section and class, and appeals to n
paternal government to give value where
none exists. Is this demand sound
Democratic principle? tShouts of "No.'')
Does il accord with the teaching and
record of our party, with the faith of JEFF
ferson and Cleveland. with its unilinching
position always in favor of sound and hard
money, with its opposition to paper legal
tender and Sherman silver bills, with its
constant, undying struggle against pater-
nalism and protection and its proud boast
of being the peoples party-broad as the
nation, controlled by no class or section OF
selfish interest? May the delegates here
gathered to proclaim our old Democratic
faith put this question 10 their conscience
before they plunge into heresy and schism
assert that this demand of section OF
our party is a now and radical departure;
that it is in conflict with the vital princi
pies for which we have successfully
fought; that it repudiates orr past Demo
cratic platforms and administrations
that logically it is Republican principle
and historically Republican policy, and
that it is fraught with peril to our country
and disaster to our party. tCheers.)
Never yet has this demand been plank
in any National Democratic platform. Ii
was expressly repudiated in the convcn
ton of 1876, and thereafter abandoned
Three times in twenty years we have
elected a Democratic President, with can
, didate and platform hostile to such doe
trine, yet cordially supported by n loya
and united party. If free coinage of silve
is Democratic doctrine ii is such doctrin,
only in the year Of our Lord 1896: ueve
in any year before nor likely to be In any
, year hereafter.
Ii is not only new but n radical de
partnrc. II destroys our present STANDARD
of value, and ends all hope Of u bimetalli
standard. No power under heaven eve
: has established and maintained or eve
can, Il bimetnllic stn ndard M n IN ito wher,
one coin is given double its intrinsic value
tCries. of THAT'S riglt."l 10 make 3,
cents of silver by force Of government
! equal to 81 in gold will, by incxorabl
laws of nature over which our goyernSicii
is powerlcss, drive out gold, contract on
currency, deprcciate our standard, unset
lie business, impair credit. reduce all saw
ings and the value of all wages. And tn
masses of the people will he the heavies
, losers and the greatest sufferers. Fiv
, millions of our people, with nearly 81,
, 0OOOOO,000 of deposits in our saving
, banks will he paid their claims in dc
preciated currency; 2.000,OOO of our PEG
/: pie with life insurance policies, $500 90
: who have made payments TO cooperative
: fraternal and life associations. netrl
7,0OO,000 of members of industrial com
Y panies--these and many more, with tn
5 millions dependent upon them. all wi
: suffer in being paid in money Of less vau
: than they parted with. And every wag
q Garner paid in deprecated money vii
2 suffer II reduction of his wages; paymcn
! of his present wages in 50-crnt dolla
: would reduce them just one-half. Tn
masses would suffer, and the great corpoi
= ations owing these debts and employers o
labor would reap a benefit MT the expens
of the people. 1t is the old principle an
: experience of protection over again; tn
power of government used to give valu
| nd 10. Al