i9&Vty1
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2
Commoner.
tho manufacturers; but a movement of the uni
versal human mind." The object of this move
ment, according to llio Chronicle, la "to savo
waste, and It has been so successful in this that
ono Is amazed to think that tho world should ,
liavo boon bo long in discovering it" Then, 'n
concluding this eloquent defense of tho trust sys
tem, it inalslu Mat tho democratic party "cannot
array itscil against business enterprise and pro
giess and omli ic."
Tho Now York World, tho Brooklyn Eagle and
tho Chicago Chronicle are tho loading organs of
tho reorganizing clement. Tho editors of theso
papors and tho politicians who train with them
becomo very indignant when anjono suggests a
platform in lino with democratic tradition; and
yet thoy havo no hesitancy in presenting as a
democratic platrorm tho policies that havo chiefly
characterized tho republican platform.
For a long tlmo these papers and their fol
lowers protonded to favor harmony. Long ago
that mask was dropped. They denied that thoy
wore bont upon reorganization. They havo been
driven from that disclaimer. It is true that thoy
even now deny that thoy are representing tho
trust magnates and tho men who win gold under
the policy of imperialism; but their denials aro
of little value in tho face of the 1'act that with
small change, their editorials could be printed
in republican newspapers that aro owned or con
trolled by theso selfish interests.
Is it possible for intelligent and candid demo
crats to remain in doubt as to the purpose of tho
reorganizes?
JJJ
The Massachusetts Platform
In last week's issue of Tho Commoner, tho.
Now York platform was discussed and tho gen
eralities, uncertainties and ovasions of that plat
form woro pointod out.
Next comes the Massachusetts platform and
this, too( was adopted by a convention which of
fered to tho democracy a candidate for president.
Of tho two platforms, tho Massachusetts platform
was the moro candid, because it did not attempt
to say anything on tho issues before tho people.
Tho New York platform was cunningly devised
and intended to decoivo; but the bay state con
vention practically said to the democrats of the
country: "It is none of your business what our '
candidate thinks or what ho will do."
Tho Massachusetts democrats ' declare that
they havo tho ideal candidate for tho presidential
nomination and they ask tho country to accept
their assuranco that ho is all right in every par
ticular. To prevent any disappointment before
the convention, the Massachusetts democrats take
tho precaution to draw th.e veil over his views,
a futile precaution, for in his Now York speech,
proposing Mr. Cleveland's renomlnatlon, Mr. 01
ney, tho Massachusetts candidate, gave to the
country a clear understanding aB to tho kind of
president he himself would make.
Thoro is only ono political doctrine to which
tho Massachusetts platform distinctly refers, and
that is no longer an issuo. It commends Mr. 01
ney's position on tho Venezuelan controversy with
England. As this has been indorsed by all politi
cal parties, it can no more be made a campaign
issue than could tho nation's position in tho war
of 1812.
Tho New York convention'' presented no isauo
at all; tho Massachusetts convention suggests an
issue that was settled ten years ago; tho next it-
organizer convention might content itself witn
passing a resolution commending the discovery of
America. What an animated campaign we sha'l
havo if tho Wall street element writes the demo
cratic platform! And to think that all this cow
ardice is displayed at a time when tho republican
party ? unable to defortd its position on a single '
question; at a time when a bold, honest and con
sistent fight for gonuine democracy would pro
vide abundant hope for success.
JJJ
The Gresham Law.
The Gresham law, as it is called, was not a
legislative enactment, but merely tho statement
of a prlnciplo by an Englishman by the name of
Gresham when ho was at tho head of tho treasury
department. It was to the effect that the cheaper
coin would drive out the moro expensive coin,
tho reason being that tho moro expensive coin
would bo exported or molted for uso in the arts
while the cheaper coin would bo circulated among
tho people. This had reference to clipped coins,
or coins that had been worn by uso. To apply it
to bimetallism tho ratio must bo taken into con
sideration. If ,the legal ratio in this country was
less than tho legal ratio in Europe tho under-valued
coin would either remain here at a prpmiura
or would be exported, but as most of the coined
silver of the. world circulates at a ratio moro
favorable to silver than ours, blmetalllsts contend
that silver would not drive gold out.
JJJ
Who Knows? '
Referring to Judge Parker, the Brooklyn
Eagle says: "His ability and liis availability aro
recognized. The kind of platform which he wouid
prefer and on which he would insist is well
enough known. The kind he would not tolerate
and on which ho would not stand, under any cir
cumstances, is also known. The sort of man who
should be nominated with him is clearly under
stood. Almost any northern as well as many a
southern state abounds with examples of the
right sort of democrat to name for vice president
with Parker for president"
Tho "kind of platform which Judge Parker
would prefer, and on which he would insist"
may bo "well enough known" to August Belmont,
to Grover Cleveland, to David B. Hill and to the
editor of the Brooklyn Eagle; but what has
Judge Parker ever said to permit democrats gen
erally to form an idea of the kind of platform
he would prefer?
Aside from tho New York platform, recently
presented to the public, the only way we have of
judging of the kind of platform Judge Parker
would prefer is by observing the zeal with which
men who are closely allied with Wall street labor
for Judge Parker's nomination.
The reorganizer newspapers tell us that Judge
Parker's national platform would not be written
exactly as the New York platform was written.
That heing true, what method have we for dis
covering Judge Parker's position on political ques
tions other than by an inspection of the elements
that aro most energetic in pushing his candidacy?
Grover Cleveland seems to luiow where Mr.
Parker stands and Cleveland is satisfied. The edi
tor of the Brooklyn Eagle seems to know where
Mr. Parker stands and tho editor of the Brook
lyn Eagle is satisfied. David B. Hill and Joseph
Pulitzer seem to know where Mr. Parker stands
and Hill and Pulitzer seem to be satisfied. So
far as democrats generally are concerned, thty
must be satisfied with the assurance from theso
men that Judge Parker is "eminently satisfac
tory." It is very probable, however, that democrats
generally will decline to nominate for the presi
dency a man concerning whose public views tho
people are in ignorance..
JJJ
Parker's Vote.
The Chicago Chronicle, in defending Judge
Parker, says: "If it be admitted that Judge P
ker voted for Bryan, which is not at all certain,"
etc. What reason has the Chronicle to exprers
doubt as to Judge Parker's vote in 189G? To bo
sure, the letter relied' on for proof says that Judge
Farker voted the national ticket of tho demo
cratic party and the Palmer-Buckner crowd claim
that their ticket was the real democratic ticket;
but as the Parker letter was written to "Bryan
democrats," it is hardly possible that Judge Par
ker could have meant that he voted the Palmer
Buckner ticket. To accuse him of that would be
to accuse him of misrepresentation. If the Chron
icle has any proof it ought to produce it or with
draw its suggestion. If anyone has any doubt on
the subject, ho 'ought to write to Judge Parker and
get his answer.
JJJ
Now for the Hill Bill.
i,
It was proposed in the senate in an amend
ment to the sundry civil bill to authorize the seo-
foiary ,f, Q treafllr5' Purchase silver bullion
for subsidiary coinage. The advocates of the
Hill currency bill, among other provisions of
which is one authorizing the secretary 0f tna
treasury to recoin the standard silver dollars into
&ssri,a to the senate am
publicans did not desire to engage in a ail vS
discuSSion during the closing hfurs of cSngf'
Perhaps a better idea of the cause at th L
amendment's defeat may be obtained rom the
following paragraph which annear i ? ,
Washington dispatches: ?One Xt o tlfP
ure to legislate, treasury officials sav Vni ,fah"
scarcity of subsidiary silver coins bSSe toe J
ent year ends." uwure cue pres-
When congress shall assemble for thn r,nnQ-
ber session, we may exnect t , , Docein-
the Hill currency bill wnflshkoS advocats of
the ground that the IwaH?citv ff mnt 0D
. coins requires the passlge ofThe? bin border'
VOLUME, NUMBER if,
that the metal in the silver dollars mav bn 11Cm
for tho smaller coins. v r y Ue U5l
A more simple way Jo provide the renied
would seem to be to purchase sufficient silver h, i
lion with which to issue small coins; but tho T
publican -way is to destroy more .than 500,000 onj
silver dollars on the pretense that the bullion in
those dollars is needed for subsidiary coinaco wt
In reality to .aid in the accomplishment of w-ii
street's effort to replace "the dollar of the inr
dies" withthe dollar of the bankers.
JJJ.
Why and Wherefore Belmont?
The New York World has taken offense be
cause of Mr. Bryan's criticism of the New YoiW
platform; and yet in its issue-of April 20 Urn
World not only condemned the New York piaN
form, but went into personalities concerning iho
influences "behind Mr. Parker's ' New York boom
Among other things, tho World said:
"The selection of the lour delegates-at-large
was another mistake. The names are
disappointing. They will command .neither
respect at home nor Influence at St. Louis
Mr. Hill is a 'narrow-gauge" politician with a
long series of olunders and failures to hi3
discredit. Ex-Senator Murphy, a protection
ist and one of the perfidious manglers of the v
Wilson tariff reform bill, is n 'has been." .
.Mr. Ridgway is known politically as simply
an unimportant member of the Brooklyn lo
cal machine. As for Mr. Ehret, he is a 'suc
cessful brewer,' without education, destitute
of political knowledge, experience or standing,
a mere money-bag.
"To add to the incongruities between the
platform and the men selected to represent it,
the name of James T. Woodward, the astute
president of the Hanover Bank and a
prominent member of the Morgan gold syndi
cate that bedevilled President Cleveland's ad
ministrationa combination which the World
had the pleasure of smashing appears as the
first presidential elector-at-large! Why and
wherefore Woodward?"
The WTorld adds: "The worst thing about
truth is that it must be often told to our friends
'for their good." Then why does' the World su
strenuously object when democrats who believe in
democratic principles as they were enunciated in
the platforms of 1896 and 1900 protest against
what they believe to be an attempt to republican
ize the democratic party?
While the World has discovered that James T.
Woodward, "the astute president of the Hanover.
Bank and a prominent member of the Morgan gold
syndicate that bedevilled President CJeveland'9
administration," is conspicuous among Mr Parr
ker's representatives, how does it ha open that the
World has overlooked the more conspicuous Aug
ust Belmont?
If the World is so devoted to truth that it
must even go into personalities, why does it not
observe the very important part August Belmont
is playing -in connection with the Paiker boons,
and why does it not ask "Why and wherelore
Belmont?"
JJJ
"Recruits and Recruits."
The Chicago Tribune says that Mr. Bryan ob
jects to the democratic party obtaining recruils
and that "if the democratic party does not get re
mt?1!' lt wiU bG beaten again." The Tribune adds:i
it the democratic party re-enunciates the saiiio
principles and makes a fight on the same issues
again, only a minority of the American votcia
will enroll themselves in its ranks."
Instead of objecting to'' the democratic party,
obtaining recruits, Mr Bryan wants the party La
grow larger and larger. He does 'not believe that
this can be accomplished by delivering the party
into the merciless keeping of the Wall street
nuanciers and the trust magnates. Ho believ.s
that the party can win the only success woiltt
having by deserving it. In his opinion, when
ever the party turns its hack upon the people, re
SS ii democratic principles and surrenders to
wan street, it will not only go down to ignomini
ous defeat at the polls, but will forfeit the conii
aence and respect of intelligent men.
if there is any force in the statement that tUa
1 1 must not re-enunciate the principles upon
which it made tho fight in 1896 and 'in 1900, tno
argument must be applied to every one of the im
portant issues .presented in those campaigns. W
this argument is sound as to the party's position
on the money question, then it Is sound as to tna
party s position on the tariff question, .the trust
qi,csn. and tho' question of imperialism.
Tho democratic party has repeatedly met ae
ieat on the tariff question .and yet demociatii
KJ
