The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-09-29
THE rwo NOMINATIONS.

which met In this city yesterday re-
affirmed the st. Louis platform, laying
especial emphasis upon the currency and
tariff planks. That means that it de-
clared In favor of gold standard and a
tariff for protection. Il also rendered to
President Mckinley the support Of the
people Of this district in his efforts to
restore order in the Philippines, leaving
the futu-e Of those islands to be settled
by Congress according to Our national
pledges and the principles of our free In.
situations"
The Democratic District convention,
which met the same day, reafjrmed the
Chicago platform. That means that it
declared in favor Of the free and unlim-
tied coinage Of silver at l6 to /. With re-
gard to the Philippines islands it ex.
pressed regret that the power OF this ma
zion was being used to crush an incipient
republic, and denounced what 1t called
1.-THE apparent purpose OF the government
o further the designs of private specu-
stors at the expense of the tax payers,
and to bring about alliances whereby this
nation may become involved In endless
war with foreign nations" The conyen-
tion also viewed with alarm" the in
crease OF trusts "under the fostering care
of the Republican parry"
Hers are spitomes of the declarations
oi the two parties. Which shall the In.
slligsnt voters of the First District ac-
OsOt and ratify?
one offers an honest and stable curren.
cy standard, the one upon which the
country is now standing. and under which
Its credit is second to that of no country
in the world; the other a standard that
been has repudiatsd by all the enlightened
nations of the earth, one that would
plunge the nation into an abyss
of uncertainty and doubt, for
even If we should admit that free sill
yer would eventually prove the blessing
that its advocates predict. there must be
long period of uncertainty and doubt
following the abandonment OF our pres
emit standard, in which our present DR. os-
perity would be checked, and stagnation of
industry and business take the place of
present activity. No wise man prefers
uncertain TO certain things when the GER
will throw away our present prosperity
to indulge in a chase after rainbows,
But the Democrats win say that free
silver is not really an issue, that the en-
dorsement of 1t Is mere Formally. Mr..
Bryan, however, whom this convention
endorsed for Democratic candidate for
the Presidency, declares that it is the
mcst important issue before the public
and that 1t will never be settled until IL
Is settled rlght--that Is, according to the
Chicago platform. A convention that
endorses man who holds to this opin.
lon cannot claim that silver is a dead is
sue. 1t may be dormant for the time be-
ing in this state, but at any time SO long
as Bryan and Altssld are In charge of
the Democratic party it Is liable to leap
into life and threaten. the prosperity
and honor of the nation. Only when
the Democratic party has repudiated It's
present. leaders and renowned the
hsresies of the Chicago platform will 1t
be safe to say that silver Is dead issue.
But suppose we eliminats the reaiIirma-
lions of the national declarations and turn
to the new matter in the platforms. The
Republicans declare in favor OF the res
toration of order in the Philippines, and
the settlement Of the status of the ISL
ands according to our national pledges
and the principles Of our free institu-
tioDs." The only national pledges that
we have made that have any bearing
here would seem to be those that
preceded the Spanish war whlch we're
that our war was to be one for the sake of
freedom and independence To settle The
status of the Philippines along the lines
Of our national pledges would. therefore,
seem to imply the settlement of
them along the lines OF freedom and indie
psndence, and this idea would seem to be
reinforced by the words principles of
our free institutions" As for restoring
order we suppose nil admit now, how
ever strongly they may believe that the
present situation has been due in some
measure or in large measure to blum
dering, that this must be done. Now
what does the Democratic platform prom.
Use will be the policy of that party regard
ing these islandsf One can search 1t in
vain for any intelligent hint even of
what the Democrats would do II the
matter were turned ovsr to them for SET
Element. The candidate. however, told