The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1902-03-14

publican platform was stronger than
that, ard yet Mr. Knox is the
attorney general. Mr.. Cleveland was
much more emphatic in his condemna
ton of trusts and yet he did nothing
to disturb them. There is not trust
in the country that would refuse to
contribute literally to the democratic
campaign fund if the party would
adopt Mr.. Hills anti trust plank and
then allow the trusts to select the
candidate.
But the money plank of Mr. Hills
proposed platform is the most unique
one 1--WE believe in hard money -
How alluring such platform would
look to ali artful dodger. A man
could stand on that platform and adj
vocate gold, silver, nickel or copper
and after election declare that 'hard
money simply meant money that was
hard to get. While Mr.. Hills money
plank may mean anything or nothing
so far as metallic money is concerned,
he wants it understood that he is ''un-
alterably opposed to irredeemable paper
money. As the republican party
d )es not advocate irredeemable paper
money" it is evident that Mr.. Hill
is not striking at the republicans.
He is simply trying to get even with
the populists who supported the demo
cratic ticket when he sulked and
skulked. He can forgive the gold
democrats who voted the republican
ticket and swallowed high tariff, i'm
eprialism and the trusts IN order 10
keep the New York financiers in con-
troll of the federal treasury but he is
not willing to forgive the populists
who were patriotic enough to come to
the rescue of the democratic party in
its hour of need. Mr.. Hill adds that
if-IF-anything further is necessary
on the money question "a simple de-
claration in favor of the general prin-
ciple of binetallism would answer
the purpose. This simple declaration
would enable a dishonest man to adj
vocate bimetallism before election day
and then, after the election, place a
republican construction on the word
and support legislation
intended to fasten the gold standard
upon the country. Mr.. Hill has no
word of condemnation for the asset
or the branch bank" He
has nothing to say against banks of
issue or against the plan to make the
silver dollar redeemable in gold He
plays the part of the accomplice he
tries to chloroform the sleeping democ-
racy while republican financiers re-
move all the valuables from the house
The simple declaration which he
proposes must be construed in the
light of the record made by the man
who makes the proposition. Mr.. Hills
subserviency to the fnan-
,iers, his unhesitating obedience to
lis pretended interest in bimetallism
is hypocritical.
When President Cleveland asked to
ave bonds made payable in gold Mr.
Hill, then senator, went him one
,etter and introduced resolution Civ
ng the bondholder the option NOT AT
HAT TIME, BUT WHEN THE
BOND BECAME DUE. A bond pay
BILE in gold might become cheapened
" the increased production of gold,
nut Mr.. Hills resolution threw all the
isk on the government and relieved
he bondholder of any possible chance
depreciation. He acted for the
and acted ON the theory Of
he man who had some trouble with
is mother in law and who, when she
led and he was asked whether she
nould be buried or cremated. replied:
Do both take no chances.
Mr.. Hill is the leader of those who
'ould make the democratic platform
, nearly like the republican platform
lat democratic victory. even If
1ssible, would mean nothing to the
eople at large.
II this change is to be made it can
ot be made at a high priced banquet
it must be made by the voters of
lie party. and now that the voters are
rewarned ii behooves them to watch
eir organization and put none but
% faithful on guard. The rank and
e cannot be corrupted or terrified.
ID they must be relied upon to keep
a marty trtta IN tha r,aopfa' intareata