The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-07-16
THAT PLATFORM.

The platform proposed by The free sill
yer majority of the committee on reso-
lutions at Chicago has the marks OF Il
studied effort to antagonize the CON
servatism of the country. 1t evlnces no
disposition to maintain the true prlll-
cipies of Democracy or to promote the
| tr1p interests of the country. In II
single opening paragraph it affects to give
an epitome of some Democratic IDEAS,
but they are sIurred over with such pre-
cipitancy as to suggest the fear that they
might be Objectionable to some of the
loose and homogeneous political elements
whose votes the platform is constructed
to catch.
Il is noteworthy that tne platform. in
! specific expressions and in its general
tenor, is decidedly more hostile to the
Democratic administration than to the
Rcpublican party or to the POpulist
party. to winch it makes cringing adj
yances. The animus of the resolutions
is first and foremost against Mr. Cleve-
land and his administration and sound
money Democracy. The palpable pur-
pose OF tie platform is to make the free
coinage issue the one issue, with such
platform features only as will empha-
size the antagonism to the conservative
Democracy and will court free silver Re-
pubicans and charm POpulist votes TO
mated.
The protective tariff policy is con-
demned, bur the demand for tariff for
revenue adrOitly omits the word "only,,"
and the whole pronouncement on the
tariff question is pretermitted bv a declh-
ration opposing further discussion of that
economic question until the money ques-
ton is settled.
The railroad plank is intended as tub
- Al, OF hn Ia bn
is an imitation of the Republican bid for
the soldier vote; the demand for the ad-
mission of the territories of New Mexico
and Arizona as states is a play to please
the western silverites, and the extension
of sympathy for Cuba is just what is
was in the Republican convention, solely
for campaign effect.
The denunciation of federal interior
ence for the suppression of violence and
for the preservation of the peace Is Il
concession to Altgeldisni.
The financial feature of the platform is
simply free silverism run mad. 1t is
political recklessness which heeds no in
terests of the party or the people and has
no basis of permanency in politics. 1t
defes all sound money sentiment, bars
the door to ali argument and is an order
to all gold standard Democrats to leave
the party or surrender their convictions.
n femarka Dle feature OF the DIutloTIl
is the revival of the greenback doctrine.
The platform not only declares for free
silver. bur opposes national bank issues
and declares that paper money should be
issued by the government direct.
Nothing is said about providing for the
redemption of such money, and it seems
to be an avowal of the old-time fiat idea.
This plank was patiently put in TO placare
the Populists and certainly is Il marked
concession to the Ocala demands.
The broad assertion is positively made
that the Democratic party will oppose me
issuance of bonds in time of peace. This
is. of course, aimed at the presidents
action in borrowing gold with which to
maintain specie payments and prevent
the depreciation of the vast bulk of paper
and silver money the country carries.
But it has further significance. If in
no emergency, except war, can the gov
eminent issue Understanding bonds, the
only other recourse will be fiat money.
and this may. therefore, be considered
another declaration in favor of green
backs. Another sop to the Populist
cerberus.
With all of these radical features en-
bodied the platform is rendered still
more Objectionable by virtual declarl-
ton in favor of the spoils. system. 1t is
Il document every way offensive to peo-
pie of conservative ideas, and in no re-
spect can it be considered Democratic
Nashville Banner Dem.).