The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-07-15
Obs Messengrr.
JUDGE PARKER's TELEGRAM.

plank on the financial question from
the democratic platform by the COM
mittee on resolutions, thus causing the
platform to be perfectly silent on this
issue, The Messenger said editorialiy
on Sunday:
A the matter now stands, Judge
Parker is at liberty, should he see fit
to do so, to announce in his letter OF
acceptance of the nomination his views
on the question. The platform nav
ing ignored the question, and there be-
ing no party declaration on the SUD-
ject, he has the right to declare his
views, n we are sure they Will be In
accord with the sentiments of a large
majority of the party. Such an an
nouncement by him will be almost
equivalent to a declaration in the par
ty platform
This was written before We had any
knowledge of the telegram sent by
Judge Parker to Mr.. Sheehan, of the
New York delegation, regarding his
views on the money question. We felt
sure that he would avail himself Of the
first opportunity to inform his party
and the public generally of his position
On this question, and we thought this
would be through his letter of accept
ance. Tha he sought ar earlier OPP
p%ortunity is Of great credit to him. 1t
was in keeping with his character that
he should, after what had occurred IN
the meeting Of the committee on plat
form, have notified the convention OF
his views on this point. He did not
wish to put himself in a position where
it could be said OF him that he had oC-
cupied a false attitude and had con-
cealed from the party his views on this
question which had caused so great
division in it. We think he was per-
fectly right in making the declaration
when and how he did. 1t was just 10
himself and fair to the party which
had chosen him as it's standard bearer.
There was nothing in the telegram
to justify the wild excitement and great
CONSERVATION which prevailed among
the delegates for a while after the ru-
mors got abroad that he had sent such
q message, and there would have been
none OF it but for the exaggerated aC-
counts as to it's contents which spread
over the convention hall. We repub-
lish the dispatch which was:
Hon w. F. Sheehan, Hotel Jefferson,
St. Louis:
II regard the gold standard as firmly
and irrevocably established, and shall
act accordingly if the action of the con-
vention of today shall be ratified by
the people. AS the platform is silent
on the subject, my view should be made
known TO the convention, n if it is
proved to be unsatisfactory to the ma
jority, l request you to decline the nom-
ination for me at once so a candidate
may be nominated before adjournment.
"A. B. PARKER"
What could be more manly and
straightforward?
The reply which the convention made
to this showed that the delegates, at
ter they had recovered from their ex-
element, took this view of the judges
statement and did not consider it at all
out of place.. 1t showed that they still
had confidence in him and were willing
TO accept his views on the money ques-
ton. The reply was:
The platform adopted by this con-
vention is silent on the question of the
monetary standard, because it is not
regarded by us as a possible issue III
this campaign, and only campaign is
sues were mentioned in the platform.
Therefore there is nothing in the views
expressed by you in the telegram just
received which would preclude a man
entertaining them from accepting a
nomination on said platform"
Mr.. Bryan here for the third tim
tried TO stay the tide of sentiment in
favor of Judge Parker and failed
again. His proposed amendment to tins
reply was entirely out of place, coming
from a man who as a member Of the
platform committee had agreed TO leavi
out of that instrument all reference to
the money question His proposed
amendment wOuld have made that
question an important issue and would
have compelled Judge Parker either Il
decline the nomination, ans
questions in Il ann at variance with
the views he had expressed in his tele-
gram TO Mr.. Sheehan or go into the
campaign under conditions strongly
Indicating that his views on the money
question differed from those of the dele
gates who nominated him. Mr.. Bry-
ans proposed amendment was:
But as you will, if elected, be call
ed upon 10 act upon certain phases Oi
the money question. we would like 10
know whether you favor reducing the
volume OF silver dollars; whether YOU
favor al asset currency n branch
national banks whether you prefer ma
-tiOnal bank currency to United States
notes.
Had the convention sent this amend
ed reply to Judge Parker there would
have been no more nance OF his eler-
ton. had he been willing to accept the
nomination under the circumstances
which we greatly doubt-than was OF
e~lecting Horace Greedy in 1872.
We do not think the subcommittee
plank should have heen stricken out O.