The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-06-09
A Platform Of slush.

The lntelllgencer marvels at one com
siutent thing the Democratic state con-
yention was guilty of, and 1t is to be
commended above the New York con-
vention which endorsed Bryan, but
ignored the Chicago platform. Nc
Graw's convention swallowed every
thing. 1t not only demanded the nomi-
nation OF Bryan, but insisted on the re-
affirmation of the Chicago platform. We
know exactly where these Democratic
Boxers" of West Virginia stand and
this is something worth knowing.
The Parkersburg State Journal, after
having had the patience to read the
5000 word platform, or stump speech,
as It is more properly characterized,
makes the following cheerful reflections
on that wonderful coneoctleH:
II IL the worst lot Of rubbish ever adopt
I'd by a convention. II Is not 4 succession
Of cienr-cut declarations of principles, but
d stump speech, culled from the fantastic
utternnces OF the sidG-show orators OF the
Democracy. OF all the stllted rot evGr
presented to the people OF West Virginia.
this Is the dreariest whoOp Of the pilc.
Most OF II Is harmless to anybody. not eX-
ceptlng the fellow who pulled the trlg-
ger. II Il were not for one thing in II
II would not be worthy of notice II is
the same old cry against imperialism,
trusts, and rings, being satire on itself.
n deeper thrust at the party OF hypocrisy
and loud prctensions, OF bonSts and WIND,
the Democratic party, than any other
There is not a principle avowed In the
whole dreary waste of words but what
would be sacrificed in the hope OF sue
cess, not declaration but what would
be declared to mean the opposite OF what
1t Is. II II suited the party for amy pur-
pose whatever 10 so declare This means
those who would run the party n II should
win. Any one who has the patience to
travel tho wilderness OF words, Will see
all this as he goes along.
The sting bf tho thing, the part that
hurts the Democracy OF the stnte, that
sweeps away all prospect OF success, IN
the first clause In the frss sentence IN
what Is numbered as the second resolu-
tion, although that which precedeS rs the
mere verblage OF a lond-soundlng prenm-
BILE. I'VE reaiiirn the exposition OF the
principles contained in the Chicago plat
form OF 1896" IL the nail In the colin Of
the state Democracy that goes deepest
this year. This Is driven side by side with
an endorsement OF Bryan, but that does
not matter. The expression is awkward
for scholars. poets aud other able gentle
men, to have prepared and II might have
been better TO swallow anew the prlncl-
pies rather than n mere exposition Of
important The single. fact, that how
ever wierd and mysterious the language
may be, the free silver fnllRcy Is brought
To the front. when II was intended by the
wise men OF the Democracy to be relegat-
cd to the rear, is the one that hurts,
Thesgreat bulk Of the Democracy Of the
state, as represented In this big conven-
ton, Is for free and unlimited coinage OF
silver. But those who do not endorse the
fallncy are numerous, influential and de-
termined. Mere force Of numbers would
have overwhelmingly Won, and the gold
people knew 1t. and kept still and vowed
VOWS of revenge.
In this last part OF the affair Is the mem
ace to the wild-haircd members OF the
stood In advance that the New York DEM
ocrntic idea would win In West Virginia.
Bryan was 10 be gulped down for the sake
OF harmony. as the Idol worshlppers Of
he had agreed to tone down him
self for the sake of support, but
the re-lfirmation OF the Chicago
platform. was not in the bond. rho Wild
only what was conceded 10 them, but all
the rest OF the bargain counter.
The State Journal intimates that the
sound money members Of the party are
very much disguised. and predicts more
knitting than was done in 1895. This
may or may not be true. but 1t is unde-
niably true that the Gold Democrats
will have a ticket In the field In opposi-
ton to Bryan and his potpourrl of Pop
ullsts. When the proposition was made
to dis5and the Sound Money League not
long ago, It was voted down. and In
stead of dlsbanding. measures were
taken to strengthen the organization.
The Democrats who opposed Bryan in
1896 on the money question cannot sup
port him this year without stultifylng
themselves. As business men and pa
trlots they cannot afford to do It.