Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-08-31

Taking as text an extract from a
New York Tribune editorial, in which
il is stated that the Democracy OF
Delaware "went furthest in recant-
ing its sound money opinions in 1885,"
the Morning News endorses this mis-
representation of the real facts of the
situation by saying;
II is a matter Of record that the first
convention held by the Democrats in
this State in 1886 passed as part of
its platform feeble endorsement OF
the existing standard of value, taking
good care to eliminate the word gold,
that was placed in the original draft of
the resolutions by Mr., George Gray.
Still there was an effort to speak out.
At the second State convention held by
the Democrats that year, no reference
whatever was made to the money ques.
ton, out of Difference, it was said at
the time, to the feelingsH Of Mr.. John
F. Salisbury and others. But the
second convention nominated Mr.. l..
Irving Handyas the Democratic eandi-
date for Congress, and everybody knew
that Mr.. Handy was the staunch advo-
cate OF free silver and national repudi-
alton.
Iul5 Is NOV u tbTEtCb obhbcinOhb VI VIII
attitude of the Democratic party of
Delaware towards the money question,
as publicly declared by its representa-
tiyes in State convention, and tho
Morning News is culpable in so misrep-
resenting the situation, as its own files,
If looked into, will furnish it with tho
truth.
Here is the situation At the first
State convention of Delaware Demo
Gratis in 1896, at which delegates to the
Chicago convention we're chosen, held
on Tuesday, juno 10th, platform was
adopted containing the following plain
declaration:
'The Democracy of Delaware, in
convention assembled, declare again
their allegiance to the cardinal doc
trines of their political faith, and that,
therefore, we are in favor of maintain.
ing the present monetary standard, and
ARE OPPOSED TO THE FREE
COINAGE OF SILVER AT ANY
RATIO. OR TO THE COMPULSORY
PURCHASE OF SILVER BULLION
BY THE GOVERNMENT"
This is not ''feeble endorsement. )
Even admitting that the word gold
had been, in the secrecy of oommitte
elaboration, stricken from this resolu
tion and the word monetary" substi
tuted, how could it affect the sound
ness or the unequiyocal declaration o
the resolution? Could anything NOR
emphatic or positive be demanded tina
that conventions plainly expressed OF
position "to the free coinage of silye
at any ratio7" No political conyen
tion in the country held during th
year 1896 made q better or strongt
declaration of its financial conviction
than did the Democratic convention {
Delaware. Certainly, the numeror
Republican conventions held in DELI
ware in that memorable campaie
failed to equal It, As to the woi
"gold,n even William Mckinley wi
mortally afraid to permit it to pass h
lips until long after his nomination
when his election was practically a
sured.
At the second convention OF the De
aware Democrats in 1896, says Il
Morning News, "no reference whatev
was made to the money question.
Wrong again. That convention, he
on Tuesday, August 18th, adopted
platform devoted almost entirely
local issues, the first plank of whit
was as follows;
"The Democratic party of Delawar
in State convention assembled, declar
again its allegiance to the cardir
principles of the Democratic fait
which have SO long been illustrated
THE PAST PARTY PLATFORM
and through many years of SUGGEST
practice in the government OF {
State.''
Not word here in favor of free s
yer coinage. On the contrary the
pressive declaration of the platform
June 10th, against the free coinage
silver at any ratio" is one of the "p
party platforms to which allegiaJ
is declared.
Nor did the platform of the Der
'N, cratic State convention of 1898 nIt
the slightest semblage of an endor
ment of free silver coinage Later,
the Democratic city primaries in v
mington, this year, the candidate
the handful of Silver Democrats, Y
posed for the Democratic nominal
for mayor, was literally showed un
by the avalanche of Sound Mo
Democratic votes.
It is not possible, thus fer, TO tru
fully charge the Democratic party
Delaware with having made any Off
declaration 10 favor of the free and
limited &C age of silver at the rati,
16 to l. On the contrary, its last Off
utterance upon the subject was
declaration in opposition ito the
coinage of silver at any ratio" II
candidates for public Office, nomina
and elected upon Sound Mo
Democratic platform, chose to repud
the solemn declaration Of their pa
that is their disgrace, not the par
humiliation.
Wilmington people should war
welcome the visitors to the electr
convention next week. Tho best
tn axtand this Welnomn ia tn mako