The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-02
THAT GLORIOUS MASSACHUSETTS
PLATFORM.

rvhe state ~ Massachusetts has always
had. and has to-day. as true ana trus'-
worthy Democrats as any other lana IN
the world. They are Democrats accord
ing IN that definition Of Democracy when
understands one man TO be the equal OF
any other man before the law Of the
land. and which insists that the laws
shall bear in exactly the same way upon
each and every citizen, neither bringing
advantages to some nor imposing disabili-
ties upon others
That Is the true idea OF Democracy, and
any platform or candidate that puts forth
any doctrine that does not square exactly
with that idea is neither q Democratic
nlatform nor Democratic candidate. H@
il n wolf in Sleeps clothing He Is some
kind of a hybrid bedeckcd in Democratic
feathers. which do not belong 10 him.
In the great debate in the United states
senate in which Ben. Hin Smoked Ma
hone out and made him confess that he
was going TO vote with the Republicans,
though elected as n Democrat, Governor
Brown, Of Georgia. told the following an
ecdote as illustrative OF Mahone's decep-
tive part:
He said a coon left his hollow one day to
hunt up food for his young While he
was gone pole-cat climbed the tree
and got into the coon's nest amongst the
young. The old coon came back, and
peeping down into the hollow, he saw
the pole-cat. Said ne: 'Who are you?'
81 am a COON" replied the pole-cat. you
don't look like COON" said the coon;
"you don't smell like a coon and id il
yod are coon. anyway
What was true then Of Malone is true
now Of any one claiming 10 be Demo-
craft who advocates any proposition that
does not square with the foundation idea
of Democracy that we have stated. There
IS nothing Of that about these Massachu-
setts Democrats. They are Democrats
"nitus ct in cute
All this Is preparatory to what we wish
TO say OF the platform which the National
Democrats of Massachusetts adopted on
Thursday last, when they nominated
DIR. Everett for Governor. We printed
their platform yesterday. but it is such
a model Of true Democracy that we shall
print II here again. OF IT, it may be said
truly "res ipsa loquitur," and very little
can be added to it BY comment.
1t is as follows:
1--WE adhere to and insist upon the main
senance of the present gold standard. We
believe that the free coinage OF silver at
a ratio OF 16 TO I. when the present COM
mercial ratio Is nearly 40 20 ]. would be
destructive 20 the interests Of wage-earn-
ers. OF dopositors IN savings banks. of the
insured. OF the veterans and OF the whole
people.
1--WE believe that the payment Of debts.
s6blic or private. In dollars on less in
trinslc value than those in which they
were contracted Is dlshonorable and dis
honest Therefore. we re-affirm our al
legiance 20 The great financial principle
which guided Jefferson. Jackson, and
Cleveland that 10 Is tho sole function OF
the Federal Government In monetary
matters 10 provide a standard OF value
and to coin metallic money, every dollar
of which shall be Of equal intrinsic value.
that nothing but this coined money shall
he leEai ltNOtl ana ihdt the aoNtiNutcnl
shall not carry on n banking business.
BANKING FACILITIES.
eve demand that some safe plan he
adopted whereby our legal-tonder paper.
silver and silver certificates. shall be
withdrawn and = banking system under
proper control be established through
which adequate banking facilities may
be furnished 10 all parts OF the country.
I'VE believe that currency based upon
business assets and issued upon proper
safeguards responds Automatically 10 the
necessities OF commerce and permits the
issue OF an elastic medium OF exchange
IN those sections where IL IS most needed
for the creation Of new enterprises and
tie employment OF American labor"
That platform f written word for word
out OF the Constitution OF the United
states. u embodies The experience OF the
world through all ages. and no man. or
body OF men. can act IN violation OF a
slnee word contained In II without invlt-
ing frcablc ana disaster. Standing fairly
and earnestly upon il, a people may defy
the worst tAai fGsc can do. Departing
from It In any material particular, peo-