The sun., 1897-08-17
Voices from Prison.

II some former anti Bryan Democratic
newspapers will consult the 500 platforms
Of their party in certain States, they will
lose something of the disposition to herald
the casual Democratic opposition to free
silver now exhibited there as a sign Of
Bryanism's repentance. What occasion Is
there to rejoice over new evidences of liking
for honest money among the Democratic Of
New York Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and
Marylandi Before the Chicago Convention
the New York Democrats showed their In.
dividual belief In the gold standard in this
heroic manner:
eve favor the rigid maintenance Of the present gold
standard essential TO tho preservation of our
tona credit and tho redemption Of public pledges
and the keeping inviolate OF our covntry's honor.
We insist that all paper and silver currency shall
be kept absolutely at parity with gold"
And Pennsylvania Democrats resolved
1--WE are In favor of q arm. unvarying maintenance
OF the gold standard We arc absolutely opposed to
the free coinage of silver. We believe that the inter
ests OF the people demand that the earnings OF trade
agriculture. manufacture. and commerce. and espe-
caly the wages of labor should be paid in money Of
tho greatest intrinsic value. and Of the highest stand
ard adoptod by the civilized nations of the world.
We therefore unalterably opposed to all devices
and schemes for the dcbasement OF our currency
and to all evasions and compromises Of question
closely affecting individual and national credit and
honor"
And the New Jersey Democratic money
plank was as follows:
1--WE are in favor OF the nrm. unvarying mainte
nance OF the present gold standard We arc opposed
to the free coinage of silver at any ratio. We bo
eve interests OF the people demand tho
earnings of trade agriculture. manufacture. and
opd Ity .hav Inho aho ~,
paid in money OF the greatest intrinsic value and OF
tho highest standard adopted by the civilized nations
of the world. We therefore, unaterably opposed
to all devices and schemes for the debasement of
currency"
And the Maryland Democrats, likewise
In State Convention assembled, declared
patriotically:
believing that the true interests Of the people
quire that the earnings of agriculture and trade and
the wages Of labor should be paid in money intrins
cally worth in all the markets OF the world what It
purports TO be worth. we demand the maintenance
OF the existing gold standard Of value and that the
Government shall keep all its obligations at all times
redeemable and payable in money Of the greatest
tnsic value and OF the highest standard adopted by
the civilized nations of the world. We. therefore.
resolutely oppose the free and unlimited coinage of
silver at the ratio of 10 to IL
How could conviction, political or moral,
be more emphatically expressed than by
the Democratic platforms of these four
great States9 Yet, after the Chicago plat
form mas adopted, the Democratic Or
ganization In every one of the four States
cast aside its pretended devotion to the
national credit and honor and to honest
trading, and labored for the success of free
silver coinage at 10 to and for the revo-
luton of Organism.
In the States that voted for free silver at
Chicago the Democrats are successfully
reafiirming their allegiance to it. Demo-
Gratis of the anti-silver States speak now
from bondage from which there is no escape,
short of absolute rebellion, before the Ma
tional Democratic Convention of 1900.
The only declaration against the Chicago
platform that Democrats can make impor-
tant is square repudiation of it, and a
solemn resolve that it shall be fought with
as unflagging determination at the polls
as In party conventions. All lesser opposi-
tion from such quarters is merely added
demonstration of weakness in the past and
helplessness for the future.