The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-08-18
We ARE THE PEOPLE
The Address Of the "Natl Onal' Demo
cratic Party to the People.
GOLD FROM TOP TO BOTTOM
They Urge All Good Men to Follow
the Procession to indianapolis
on September 2 and save
the Country.

Chicago, Aug. 1.-THE executive
committee Of the national democratic
party was In session here to-day and
issued the following call for q national
convention at indianapolis. Sept 2:
To the democrats OF the United
States: The democratic party is the
only existing political organization
which. In history. extends back TO the
birth OF the republic. Party after par
ty has attempted It's overthrow. Some
have achieved temporary triumphs.
With each triumph was heard the
prophecy that the democratic party
would surely die. It has survived all
defeats. By virtue of Its indestructi-
BILE principles, IL has witnessed the
birth and death Of every rival save
one, and this, Its great antagonist with
history Of no more than 40 years.
had no part In laying the foundations
Of constitutional popular government.
For more than q century. men Of high
principles. noble ambitions. unselfish
and patriotic aims have adhered to the
democratic party with q constancy OF
devotion unparalleled In the history of
politics. For more than q century.
through good and evil report, In times
OF prosperity and days Of advervity. II
has kept Its faith without variableness
or shadow OF turning; II has held fast
to the fundamental principles OF free
government formulated by its found
ers and subsequently enforced by Its
leaders from Jefferson to Cleveland.
For more than q century no man was
ever In doubt as to what constituted
democracy. He who proclaimed him
self q democrat. defined his principles.
He believed and this was the cardinal
article Of his political faith. In the abil-
ity Of every Individual. unassisted. un-
fettered by law. to achieve his own
happiness. and therefore that TO every
citizen there should be secured the
right and opportunity peaceably to
pursue whatever course OF conduct he
would. provided such conduct deprived
no other individual OF the equal enjoy
mentof the same right and opportunity.
He stood for freedom Of speech,
freedom Of conscience. freedom Of
trade and freedom Of contract. all OF
which are implied by the century-old
battle cry Of the democratic party,
individual liberty"
As q consequence every democrat be-
lieved in the rule of law and the rule
VI uIl lAlVdA lu4 INV tAA 0hAt<sit6ttuk
tr4Ueecttou not only Of the lives Of citi-
Skna. but Of private rights and prop
erty. and in the enforcement OF obedi-
ence to duly constituted authority.
Every true democrat insisted upon a
strict observance of the mandates of
the federal constitution and OF the
limitations therein prescribed. as well
as upon the loyal support OF all insti-
tutionS thereby created to be guaran-
tees OF the liberty II sought to perpetu-
uate. He profoundly disbelieved In
the ability Of the government, through
paternal legislation or supervision, to
increase the happiness OF the nation
He believed II was the function Of the
government to provide the people with
an honest and stable medium Of ex-
change. thus enabling them to transact
their business safely and conveniently
In every mart and market Of the
world. He deprecated every attempt
to supply money by means Of legisla-
tion with q value which IL can possess
only by reason of those qualities that
render II acceptable to the world when
unsupported by legislative nat. He
believed in the greatest measure of
freedom OF trade. and industry COM
patible with necessity to obtain to a
platform inconsistent with the party's
principles or to any action which
should result in their surrender.
In violation Of the trust committed
to them, q majority OF the delegates
assembled In the convention. ignoring
the rights Of the minority and unseated
regularly elected delegates TO make
places for others in sympathy with
themselves. They proclaimed a Sec
tional combination Of the South and
West against the North and East.
They impeached the honesty and pa
triotism Of President Cleveland. who,
under exceptional embarrassments,
produced by past errors of legislation.
has royalty maintained the honor and
integrity OF the republic. Against the
they promulgated a platform at vari-
| the democratic party. This platform
| IL. in It's policies. dangerous TO the wei.
| fare and life Of free government II
is misc chievous In Its tendencies. Blu,
even more threatening and mischievou,
was the spirit Of the convention that
| adopted 1t.
The platform proposes to degrade the
| coin Of the United States by the means
| Of free and unlimited and independent
| coinage Of silver by our government
and the exercise by constitutional
means OF an adequate revenue for the
| support of the government. The dele
| gates to the convention held at Chica'
| go were authorized and had the power
| to proclaim a platform embodying theil
Views of the true solution of the par
ticuIar problems of the government
now agitating the nation. but upon tn,
condition that such platform should b.
consistent with the cardinal principles
held by the party throughout Its ex
tstence. These principles constitut,
the essential element of the party
life. They distinguish 1t from all othel
political organizations. n they ar,
abandoned the party ceases to exist
II was, therefore. not within the powel
Of any majority Of the delegates Assem-
bled at Chicago to bind the democrati
Of the United States. the power OF tn,
nation, to compel the acceptance Of de
preciated coins at their nominal value
thereby working an injustice to cred
itors, defrauding the laborer OF a larg
part Of his earnings and savings. rob
bing pensioned soldiers of part OF thei
pensions. contracting the currency b!
the expulsion OF gold coin from circula
tion. injuring. II not destroying domes
| tic and foreign commerce. While pro