The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-16
Tile KENILCKY PIATfOEM.

THE KENTUCKY PIAIfoEM.
Elsewhere we refer 10 the general
work of the Kentucky convention, but the
platform deserves a separate article
The platform is Democratic through
and through. 1t approves the action Of
the Sound Money Democrats in 1886 and
the platform upon which they stood as
being in accord with previous platforms
of the Democratic party. With this pre-
amble it continues:
We reafiirm as the pledge Of the Demo
cratic party that when intrusted with
federal power ii will enact such tax laws
as will produce sufficient revenue, ana
framed for revenue only, levying neces-
sary taxes only and impartially and with
out bounties, bonuses or favors, will re-
form the currency laws 50 as to MAIN
tain the standard OF the world and fur
nish u sound, stable and sufficient cur
rency of gold and silver interchangeable
with each other at equal commercial
value; Will regain. with suitable revenue
and navigation laws, the supremacy OF
the sea, enforce a proper ciyi-serVice
system; preserve the public order. main
tain the public peace and protect the
rights, liberties and property Of the citi-
zens by such means as may be necessary
at home and abroad.
We denounce the free and unlimited
coinage OF silver as inevitably producing
silver monOmetallism and we advocate u
gold standard and the coinage of silver
10 the requirements OF commerce as OFFER
ing the only means of maintaining BIZ
metallsm and denounce any attempt to
fix the ratio between the metals arbitra-
rily by law without reference to their
commercial value as unsafe and danger
Gus TO public welfare and private inter-
esis
And this as to law and order:
The public order is the basis Of the
public credit The Democrats of Ken
lucky. who have renewed their allegi-
ance to the credit of the nation as pro-
claimed by the indianapolis platform,
take this occasion to declare their devo-
tion TO the public order in the nation and
in the State:
They denounae lawlessness of every
kind wherever it appears. whether at
the hands of mobs usurping the functions
of the courts or Of masked maraduers In
timidating peaceful citizens, assailing the
property Of the people, menacing the
public highways or otherwise endangering
the peace Of society.
to restore the supremacy OF law and 10
punish those who violate the laws, and
we call upon all honest and patriotic men
to join with US in this first duty OF good
Democrats and good citizens.
The particular reference is to recent
acts Of lawlessnesses IN Kentucky, but
the principle is general Sound money; a
currency sufficiently flexible to meet the
demands Of the people, a tariff for reve-
nue. only and not for the purpose Of en-
riching the few at the expense Of the
many; a proper civil service system; the
preservation Of public order; the mainte-
nance Of the public peace and the pro-
lection of the rights, liberties and prop
erty of the people by such means as may
be necessary at home and abroad.
That is Democracy. pure and simple.
call 1t what you may. That is the Demo-
cracy In which The Times believes and
for which it will ever contend. The
party that represents those principles
will ever have our support. Nor can we
support a party which repudiates those
IT may. As Mr.. Carlisle has so well said:
THE Chicago convention may have
been right in purchasing the support Of
protecnonists by refusing 10 declare for
| tariff for revenue only and in attacking
| the Supreme Court and the administra-
ton of President Cleveland for enforcing
the laws of the United States; but II So
f, the character OF our government is al
together different from the old Demo-
cratic theory, and you and l must I'M
| learn the lessons taught us by the found
ers Of our faith. For my own part
/ prefer TO stand by the record and teach
ings of the old Democracy during the
| hundred years Of its conservative. patri-
otto service to the republic rather than
to venture upon unknown ground. In
strange company. with no landmarks to
guide me-"
That's the doctrine and so say we all.