The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-09-19
HE DOES NOT LIKE IT
W. Il. SHEEHAN HAS NO USE FOR
THE CHICAGO PLATFORM.
New Norls's Ex-Governor Criticizes
the Democratic Campaign
Document.

NNhA lCNA1A VI AlAAOAAS Altbi JOotPh -.
Mayer Of Buffalo as to the attitude of
Ex-Governor William Il. Sheehan in
the present campaign, the governor
makes his position plain in the follow
ing interesting statement.
The proceedings of the recent Chicago
convention were unparalleled in demo-
cratic history. Radicalism and not pa
triotism, dominated it's course. The guild
ing, and in a large measure the control
ling, spirits of that body were republican
United States senators-nen whose votes
made it possible to enter upon the stat
utes of the country the Objectionable
and disastrous Mckinley law. When be-
fore were rock-ribbed republican protec-
tonists given, in a democratic conven-
ton, seats of honor and permitted to die
tate and shape the policy of our party
The patriotic advice of men who had
grown gray in democratic services were
spurned, and the judgment of these new
found apostles of undemocratic creed was
enthusiastically accepted.
"A platform was adopted under the
guise of democracy from which all
thoughtful democrats should recoil. There
never has been a moment since its adOp-
ton that / could support it, except by a
loss of my self-respect. What is that
platform? There is not a line in 1t that is
| democratic, that is good. There is not
word in 1t that is not bad and therefore
undemocratc. that has not been stolen or
| taken from the populist platform. Base
as repubcanism is, subversive as 1t has
| generally been of the best interests of the
| country 1t is infinitely preferable to pop
| ulism, which is next of kin to socialism.
| We should examine our past platforms
| in connection with the teachings of the
| founders and statesmen of our party to
| ascertain what is the test of party inith
| Democratic principles took root with
| the birth of the republic; they are as
| lofty today thew
when first expounded by Jefferson All
| democrats should give their hearty sup
| port to the candidates who stand upon
platform which reafiirms and upholds
these principles. When was 1t ever
| tenet of democracy that, by the fiat OF
the government, So cents worth of silver
should be made equal to 100 cents worth
| of gold in payment of public and private
| debts? What democratic convention has
| failed in recent years to justly condemn
republican paternalism? Where is there
a more wicked form OF paternalism than
for the government to stamp for the BEN
eft of mine owners SO cents worth of sill
YER bullion as one dollar in coin? Where
In democracy is a proposition that allows
the silver of the world to be coined at
our mints free of charge at a ratio far
beyond its intrinsic or commercial valIe.
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
everything on a single proposition, that
the enactment of a law for the free coin
age of silver and gold at the ratio OF 16 to
l. without the aid or assistance OF other
nations, will bring gold and silver to a
parity. We consider our silver dollar to-
day as good as gold, because il has back
of it the credit and faith of the nation.
pledged to maintain it's parity with gold
Under the free coinage of silver, this
credit and faith will be Withdrawn from
the new coin The government will have
no interest in or responsibility for II.
These men propose, however, that the
power of congress be increased to compel
our citizens to accept in payment of their
debts a dollar that is intrinsically worth
but SO cents, without being able to com
pei corresponding relief to the American
debtors when foreign creditors demand
of them payment in gold. No law hhs
been able to make all men honest, but
no law should compel them to be dshon-
est.
Production can not find a profitable
market in the impoverishment of the peo-
pie. Panic, disaster and ruin will follow
gold was paid, justice, morals and ma
+ tional honor all cry out for redemption
principal interest-all-in the same coin
But it is claimed that on the face OF
these bonds the government is given the
legal right to redeem in COIN and there
|
"A question of morals should always
2 rise superior to a legal question. Fol
the $3.50, 900 900 of government bonds now
outstanding we have received gold DIN
and unless the intelligence of this ma
4 ton be blunted and its patriotic impulses
e. paralyzed these obligations will be re
deemed in similar coin.
, Il have heard 1t said that an attempt
would be made to affect existing obliga
tons if the work of the Chicago conven
ton be ratified at the polls. The propo
sition not to repudiate these obligation:
was Overwhelmingly defeated by tn,
: convention after Bryan had concluded hi!
speech which resulted in his nomination
. Under free coinage, gold would be ex
ported or boarded, and silver would be
come the money of the country. With
p silver or fiat money as our only mean
y of revenue, how can these millions o
n United States bonds be redeemed il
j. gold?
n with a legitimate proposition to in
Fl crease the number of United States
S supreme court judges, or to abolish within
= constitutional lines the life tenure of of
flee, may have no controversy; nor d'
l object to proper criticism of judges o.
> public officials. But when an open, bolC
i attempt is made to increase the number
s. OF these judges with the avowed purpos'
os securing a decision on any question il
S a predetermined plan, patriotism and in
= telligent men may well hold up thei
Il hands in horror.
n For the first time within nay memorl
= we have a candidate of a so-called demo
/; cratic convention appealing, not to tn
l. | patriotism and democracy of our people
l. not to the conscience and intelligence
II but to their prejudices and dislilzes. L
r the state l have the honor to represen
r stands in September where 1 stood il
n / xvf11 r1a re