The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-17
DEN0UNCES THE BRYANITES
SIXTEEN To-oNE THEORY DE-
CLARED FALLACIoUS.
Followers Of Jeffersonian Traditions
Asked to Work for the Defeat
of the Chicago Platform
Candidates.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

tional Democratic Committee issued tho
following address to-day;
To the National Democrats OF the Unit
ed States Your N ationaI 66eemmocrafic
party, congratulates the country on the
emphatic and merited condemnation at
the polls by the people in 1890 OF tile , us
honorable and dangerous doctrines pro- pro-
mulgated by the Chicago platform; Inc
moral influence exerted by the 1ndlanap,,
| oils convention has amply compehSate1o
for the efforts made in behalf or unal,
loyed Democratic principles, as heId aL9
taught by Jefferson, jackson, 11loen anu
Cleveland. And to-day this PLATFORM 1,h,c -
alone a Democrat can rest ms poHllcdi
faith. We, therefore, take this oPpor-
tunity to reaffirm with accumulated force
the principles of our party as enumerated
at Indianapolis in 1896.
We believe that the theory of so-calied
protection, which, in its last analysis, m
wolves the spoliation of the many for the
benefit of the few, is dishonest, ana that
1t directly and inevitably breeds trusts,
monopolies and those special privileges
by which the cunning and unScrupulouS
prey on their unsuSpecting and credulouS
fellow citizens. The protective tax IS not
structs that free and natural interchange
of commodities which would increasingly
tend to lessen the cost of the necessltles
and comforts of life TO our wage-earning
classes. 1t has destroyed our merchant
navy. 1t has practically driven our nag
from the seas, and has forced US INTO the
humiliating necessity of paying vast and
constant tribute TO other nations for
ocean carriage. We oppose the extension
of this insular system to any colonies
that we have acquired or hereafter may
acquire, and favor, as we always have
favored. the widest freedom of trade. 1t
is folly to think of securing foreign mar
kets unless we are willing to trade with
foreign countries Especially do we de-
nounce the Chicago platform for its virtual
abandonment of this great and time-hon-
ored principle.
The doctrine of free silver is an extern
sion Of the protective principle. Free COIN
age is the protection of few silver mine
owners at the expense of our laboring
classes. This policy, were it adopted,
would rob the workers of half their earn
ingS, and, by unsettling values, would
bring about a paralysis of trade and com
merce and reduce us financially to the
level of barbarous and uncivilized nations;
We are unreservedly for the single gold
standard, and oppose international bimet-
aliSm so called, as both impracttcable and
undesirable. We believe that the theory
of one standard and the selection of gold
as that standard, has been struck off in
the mint of human experience; as the re
suit of a slowly developed and benefcent
evolution in civilization.
More than ever do we believe that the
continued existence of our National or
ganization is desirable for the well-being
that represents the principles for which
we are proud to stand. Our work Is not
completed. We are not only against Tree
silver but we are for sound money.
The same causes that induced the In
dianapolis convention of 1896 still exist.
The financial relief expected of the pres
ent administration has not been given.
The recent utterances of no less than SIX
teen members of the Democratic National
the denomination of Mr.. Bryan, show
concluSiVely that efforts VIII be MADE 20
fight the campaign of 1900 on the free sh
yer issue and under the old leader. AS
long as the principles of the indianapolis
platform remain diSregarded by the old
parties, our duty to our country, TO our
IL dom md "a
should continue our fight against free
silver and keep up our efforts to secure
for this nation such financial legislation
as shall make US commercially the strong
est nation in the world.
We protest against the pollution OF the
Democratic party by alliance with those
financial declarations Whlcn are at wal
with its old and true creed.
With the situation as 1t exists in some
Of the various states bN we nave no Demo
Gratis of each State must solve their local
problems in such way as may seem 70
them most likely 10 insure the trlumphs3
of the principles for which the national
organization stands, and to the mainte-
nance of which 1t is solemnly pledged
wards, except those that flow from the
consciousness of duty done. Our prln-
ciples, the gold standard. monetary re-
form tariff for revenue only, civil serV-
ice reform, rigid economy in the ADMIN
istration of the Government, the mainte-
nance of law and order, freedom of con.
rights must triumph II our representa-
tive Federal republic is to be perpetuated:
In behalf of these. principles we appeal
to the sober, settled Judgment of the
! American people. We should be prepared
now and at all times to defend them
against assault from any quarter.
| 1t is our earnest hope that our fellow
! Democrats in every nook and corner of
| our land may realize their error in follow
! ing the vagaries of the Chicago platform,
and may unite with us in the advocacy
! and PRONUNCIATION of those sound and
! fundamental political principles which
| will lead to a qualification of them by the
votes Of the people. insuring truly Dem
! ocratic victory.
The National Committee of the National
! Democratic party, by George Foster Pea
| body, Chairman.