Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-09-23
Poor Aavice from oonrrr.s,naa tInndy.

Poor advice from Coneressinan Handy.
Congressman l.. Irving Handy, in the
course of an "otficial communication
to the Milford Herald, essays to give
advice to the Democrats OF Delaware
as TO the course they should follow
in the campaign of next year. And
among other things, he says they
must stand shoulder to shoulder with
their Democratic brethren in other
States" and that 'this means that
they must stand for free silver and
against the Dingley Tariff act. j"
The recommendation that party
should adhere to a cause that was re-
pudiated by the country na undemo-
cratic and dishonest, and divided
the Democratic party instead of unit
ing 1T, can scarcely be classed as good
advice. Besides, the issue of free silver
coinage was trampled undor foot by
the people Of the country at the last
election, and subsequent events have
proved that the people were right, and
free silver coinage wrong. AS well
attempt to prove that 2 and 2 will make
D, as to prove that the people can DO
made prosperous by the unlimited
coinage of dollars containing less than
fifty cents' worth OF metal silver, for
the transaction of business on the basis
OF one hundred cents on the dollar.
However, even il the Democrats oil
Delaware 'must stand shoulder to
shoulder with their Democratic broth
rem in other States" it remains to DO
seen what these Democratic broth
rem" will stand for. In Maryland they
have straddled the issue and pinned
their faith to financial plank that
neither denounces nor endorses the free
coinage of silver. In New York they
have decided to ignore tho financial
issue altogether in their State cam
paign of this year.
So it will he seen that tho suggestion
to stand shoulder to shoulder with
the Democratic brethren'' Of other
States is elusive and unsatisfactory. The
hest plan would he for the Dolnucrnts
of Delaware to be true 10 themselves,
and stand upon the platform they
adopted In 1896 Tho financial plank
of that platform was rs follows:
Tho Democracy Of Delaware. 10 con.
vention assembled. declare again Their
allegiance to the cardinal doctrines al
| their political faith, and that, therefore,
! We are in favor of maintaining the
present monetary standard, and arc op.
| posed to the free coinage of silver at
| any ratio, or to the compulsory pur
chase of silver bullion by the govern.
mont.
Here is financial declaration that is
clear, emphatic and in every senst
Democratic. 1t was adopted, unani
mously, by the Democratic State con
vention held at Dover on the 10th da,
of June, 1896, and was reallirmed by the
State convention of August 18th, a
which Mr.. Handy was nominated fol
Congress, and subsequently, olected. II
advise now that the Democrats of Della
ware should repudiate this sound iinan
cial declaration, and declare themsslve.
in favor of policy that is directly tn,
opposite, is TO advise that the part,
organization make itself ridiculous be
fore the country. 1t would lie, in effect
declaration that the Democrats o
Delaware did not know their politica
belief whom they gave expression to thu
platform of juno 10th, 1896, and are 8,
devoid of sound conviction as to chang,
front completely in the campaign mex
ensuing Az well advise Doiawarr
Democrats to endorse the Dingle,
Tariff bill as to declare themselves, az
a party organization, in favor of tn
free and unlimited coinage OF silver II
the ratio OF Ii to !.