The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-11-01
PLATFORM OF PRINCIPLES.
The. r esolutions Adopted by the BIN etal-
lie Conference.

mlttee on resolution, OF which Gov. b.
R. Tillman, of this State, was chairman,
as submitted to and adopted by the late
Bimetallle Conference at st. Louis, Mo-:
We. your committee, respectfully re.
port the following resolutions for your
consideration:
Whereas, The producing, manufacture
ing, mercantile financial, transportation
and other business interests of the
United States are paralyzed by a patent
and universally confessed lack of suf1-
clent actual money to meet the rcquir.
ment of legitimate trade; and,
Whereas We believe in giving full and
equal legal. l.tender power to every dollar
bearing the stamp OF the Government
which alone gives money value; and,
Whereas, The gold and silver pro.
duced In tho mines of United States are
necessary for the requirments Of the
country coin, it ls essential that Congress
take such action relative to the coinage
of the two money metals, as will restore
silver to the position it held IN 1873;
and,
whereas, The present deplorable
condition of the producing and all other
industrial and commercial interests is
the legitimate fruit of "a vicious financial,
system, established by and maintaineh
in the interests OF plutoracy whlc d
threatens our liberties; and
Vine, cas-. United action is necessary
between the parties tn any common in.
terests to secure important and lasting
results; and,
Whereas, By geographical position,
diversity oi God given agricultural, in.
dustfial and other natura capabilities
and resources, the Westteru and South.
Q, q States and Territories OF the United
States are happily fitted for mutual in.
tercourse and dependence, responding
alike to tho same beneacebt or de.rl.
mental influences aud effects, whether
legislative, financial or commercial; it is
the sense of this convention that in view
of these faces of the continued fragrant
disrey ard of the vital interests of the
great producing States by tho dominant
Influenced in national centers, financial
and political, that closer alliance be-
tween, The inhibitants Of the West and
South is imperatively demanded for the
purpose of mutua. protection and ad.
vancenent along all legitimate lines.
We assert that while this is true Of the
Southern and Western States, 1t is also
true, that the manufacturing States Of
the East cannot enjoy prosperity, while
the South and West are depressed and
are not provided with the money with
which to purchase the product of their
fetories; and we declare that all materi-
al matters which effect the general pros
perlty of our country, the several States
are and must of necessary be interdepen-
dent; and,
whereas, The coinage of silver upon
the basis herein demanded has repeated
" been invited and is conceded to be
necessary to the upbuilding OF trade
relation of incalculable magnitude be-
tween the United States and our sister
Republics of North and South America.
1t is therefore
Resolved, That we demand the free
and unlimited coinage of silver at the
established ratio of l6 to /, givin to such
coin equal tender, powers with gold;
Second-That we are unalterably OPP
posed TO the repeal OF the 80 called
Sherman law, except by the passage OF
q law providing for the free and unll-
mited coinage ofsllver at the established
ratio of Is to l..
Third-That our Representatives in
Congress instruct the chief executive to
issue call for an early convention OF all
nations interested in and favorable to
tho free coinage of silver at the ratio OF
16 to for the purpose of establishing
closer commercial and financial relations
with them.
Fourth-That the total amount of
gold now in existence or capable of pro-
ductlon under the stimulus of its in
creased value is totally inadequate to
supply che demands of tho world for
money, and the adoption of the
single gold standard will re-
sull in universal bankruptcy and ruin
and we declare that such action on the
part of our Government would be fla
grant violation of tho Constitution of
the United States, in that it would i'm
pair all existing contract and double the
Obligations of all debtors. and We de-
clare il to be the duty of al, patriotic
citizens to resist in the courts and at
the ballot box, its adoption and enforce
ments, if adopted.
Ffth-That we are opposed to the
further issue of Government bonds. and
declare that the real purpose of the pro-
posed issue of bonds is the perpetuatlon
of the national banking system to which
We are unalterably opposed for the rea-
son that it enables few selfish indiVid-
uals at their pleasure to contract or e1-
pand the volume OF the currency 10 the
great injury of the masses; and we de-
mand financial system which will pre-
vent the congestion Of money in the
financial center of the East.
Stxth-That we urge the speedy inn
provement oy the National Government
of all the great waterways and .partlcu-
larly those which drain the vast agrlcul-
tural region OF The South and West. and
we invite the active cooperation OF the
great mercantile interest In securing the
creation of more direct routes to the
ocean, in order that our products may
reach tho markets of the world at a min
mum cDst.
SevenLh-That we send greetings to
the Representatives and Senators IN
Congress who have stood by their
pledges made before election aud are
contendiug for the rights and interests