The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-01
MISSION OF DEMOCRACY.
Judge Mcconnell Of Illinois Outlines Plat
form for 1900.
OPPOSITION TO TRUSTS AND M0NOpOLlES
vieorous war on the Gold Standard
which II Itcsponsibic for the Ex-
istence of tho Combines.

Chicago. December 3i.--Ex-Judge 8. p.
Mcconnell, ore OF the Illinois delegates ~
large to tho National democratic conyen-
tion in 1896, delivered an address before
the Monticello club. which caused good
deal Of talk among local democrats, par
ticularly in view Of the fact tina. he has
been tho close political associate OF ex-
Governor John p. Altgeld. The speaker be-
gan by quoting these declarations Of the
club:
I'VE oppose all trusts and monopolies In
order that wealth may not gain undue ad-
vantage and that competition shall be free
and unrestraiIcd among the people
1--WE oppose the single gold standard and
| favor the restoration Of bimetallism, re-
gardless Of the action or desire Of any
other nation"
He said In part:
These two declarations, in my judy
meud, are expressive OF the great mission
OF the democratic party. am inclined,
however, to believe that the first includes
the second, and that the war against mo-
nopoies and trusts means war against the
single gold standard, if the contess is to
| be waged intelMgently and effectually.
am certain, too, that the first declaration
requires and means hostility to protective
taldff laws. In fact, under the encourag,
metlt ana aid of these laws, the first trusts
and combinations encroaching upon free
competition came into existence. Even after
all that has been said against combina-
tlons trusts and monopoliss, l am far from
couW need that the body of the peop.e
adequately appreciate the great peril 10
their worldly welfare spring .ng from theae
vast aggregations of capital, which are
gradually absorbing and controlling the in
dustrial activities of the country. Thous-
ainds who voted for Mckinley in 1895 are
ready TO join Us In campaign to be waged
against trusts, combinations and monop-
olies. They only need evidence that we
will fight effectively. There is but one
plank in the platform of 1886 which pre-
vents these thousands being openly and
aggressively with us. They don't believe
in the demonstration of silver at the ratio
of 16 to | of gold. They regard 1t as even
less defensble now than two years ago..
The question for us to consider is whether
we are showing an appreciation of the rel
alive Importance of issues when we seem
to be willing TO run the peril OF repeatins
the experience of 1896 rather than to
modify our proposition regarding the ratio
bstween silver and gold. To my mIrd the
something Of superstition, and have come
to believe that the best friends of bifnetal-
lism are not those who refuse to have
it except upon this condition. should be-
gin to be skeptical of their values as OPP
ponents of monopoly II they persist that
II must be fought only in connection with
these radical demands for the restoration
of silver to the value 1t had moro than
quarter of century ago. With aggressive
declarations in the platform of 1900 against
trusts and monopolies and against their
grsat allies and supports-the gold stand
ard and the protective tariff without In
sistirg on a particular value for silver in
a Plan for its demonstration, or partial
schedule for revenue tariff, ard with the
same great Leader (Bryan) for its candi-
date. the democratic party will be assured
OF success and the people. through its VIC
tory, will be assured OF the blessings Of |
healthy competition. freedom In trade and
honest money"