The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-08-20
ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS.
stiu Under the Deiusion Tint Brynn-
ism Is the Only True
Doctrine.

Messrs. Altgeld, Harrison, and
number of other free silver democrats
of less prominence, held state con-
vention at Springfield the other day
and adopted platform, so that the
rank and file of the party may know
what they are to believe for the next
two years. According to the platform
loyalty to the party during that peri
cd will consist in adherence to the doc
trine that congress ought to change
the money standard, so that the dol
lar may have purchasing power of
only about A cents instead of 100 cents,
and that by retroactive legislation con-
gress should compel those to whom 100
cent dollars are owing to take 44-cent
dollars as equivalent
This is the doctrine preached by
Bryan two years ago, and the Illinois
democrats are notified that they must
be faithful to it or be denounced as
traitors. But while those democrats
will be expected to obey the orders of
the convention and hurrah for free
coinage, the platform fails to set forth
any reason why they should indorse
policy which, If put into effect, would
injure every one of them. If they are
wage-workers the purchasing power of
their wages would be reduced. If they
are savings bank depositors those de-
posts would be sealed down nearly GO
per cent. If they are old soldiers their
pensions would be cut down that
much.
Honest platform writers would tell
the plain, supplemented, ignorant
democrats that and then proceed to
explain to them why they and their
fellow citizens who do not belong to
the democratic party, ought to be sub
jected to such grievous loss. But as
frankness and honesty are not the dis
tinguishing traits of the men who
drafted the platform adopted at this
convention, no effort was made to en-
| tighten the democratic masses as to
| the disastrous consequences of free
coinage and to argue with them and
show why in spite of those conse-
| quences they should vote for demo-
cratic candidates. Nor will one of
those candidates or one of the party
stumpers or papers reveal to the
voters the true inwardness" of free
coinage, and give some reason why,
Notwithstanding its immortality and
destructiveness, it is entitled to pop
ular support. It is not remarkable
that the free-silver democrats should
have recognized Bryan as the leading
exponent of this heresy and pro-
claimed him as their leader in the cam
paign of 1900.
The platform denounccs govern
ment by injunction" Illinois dem
ocratic conventions will keep on de-
nouncing the righteous decision of
long as Altgeld runs conventions in
this state. The action of the supreme
court, participated in by better demo
Gratis than Altgeld ever was or will be,
has been Endorsed by the people OF
! Illinois. Debs, the martyr" of 1894
has become an innocuous creature, tc
| the great relief of the public, and YET
Altgeld, through his convention, keeps
on grooming about government by
injunction" and thrusting dead issue
upon the voters.
The platform further denounces the
state civil service law and recommends
that the question of it's repeal be sub
mitted to a vote of the people at the
next general election. This was tic
have been expected from convention
made up of spoilsmen. AS in the mat
ter of free coinage, it would have beer
dealing more honestly with the dem
ocratic voters If the platform-makers
! had told them why the law should be
; repealed and explained that it wa.
: necessary in order to enable the spoil'
politicians to divide up the office.
among their retainers and that this
was the only reason. But if ever the
question of its repeal should be made
: an issue the majority for retaining
the law would be the biggest ever
polled in Illinois.-Chicago Tribune.