Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1896-09-10
A MODEL PLATFORM
Adopted by the Democrats
in National Convention.
MONEY QUESTION PARAMOUNT
Opposes Gold MonometaIIism
Favors Free Coinage of Silver,

J, NdJlOndl DemOCfdIlC convention:
We, the Democrats Of the Unite
STATES IN national convention assent
e led, do reatfirm our allegiance TO tho
great essential principles of juStiC
and liberty upon which our institI
[ tions are founded, and which til
Democratic party has advocated froI
Jefferson's time to our Own-freedor
/ of speech, freedom of the press, free
dom of conscience, the preservation G
personal rights, the equality of al
citizens before the law, and the faith
full observance of constitutional limi
tations.
During all these years the Demo
cratic party has resisted the tendenc
of selfish interests to the centraliz
alton of governmental power, ant
steadfastly maintained the integrit,
OF the dual scheme of government
established by the founders of thi
republic of republics. Under it
guidance and teachings the grea
principle of local self-goyernment ha,
found its best expression in the main
tenance of the rights of the state'
and in its assertion of the necessity
of confining the general government
to the exercise of powers granted by
/
| RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
The constitution of the United
States guarantees to every citizen the
rights of civil and religious liberty.
The democratic party has always been
the exponent of political liberty and
religious freedom and it renewS its
obligations and reafirms its devotion
to these fundamental principles of
the constitution.
FINANCE.
Recognizing that the money ques-
tiOn is paramount to all Others at this
time, we invite attention to the fact
that the constitution names silver
and gold together as the money meta S
OF the United States, and that the
first coinage law passed by congress
under the constitution made the sill
yer dollar the money unit, and adj
mitted gold to free coinage at a ratio
based upon the silver dollar unit.
We declare that the act of 1873 de-
mOnetizing silver without the knowl-
edge or approval of the American peo-
pie has resulted in the appreciation
of gold, and a corresponding fall in
the price Of commodities produced by
the. people; heavy increase in the
burden Of taxation and of all debts,
public and private; the enrichment of
the money lending class at home and
abroad, the prostration of industry,
and impoverishment of the people.
We are unalterably opposed to mon
ometallism, which has locked fast the
prosperity Of an industrial people in
paralysis of hard times, Gold mono
metallism is British policy, and its
adoption has brought other nations
into financial servitude to London,
1t is not only un-American, but anti
American, and it can be fastened on
the United States only by the sitting |
of that spirit and love of liberty |
which proclaimed our political inde- |
pendence in 1776 and won in the war |
Of the revolution.
FREE COINAGE.
We demand the free and unlimited |
coinage of both silver and gold at the !
present legal ratio of 16 to /, without
for the aid or consent of any
other nation. We demand that the
standard silver dollar shall be full
legal tender, equally with gold, for all
debts, public and private, and we
favor such legislation as will prevent1
for the future the decentralization of
any kind of legal tender money by
pTlNdIe COuJrdCU.
BONDS.
We are opposed to the policy and
OF surrendering to the hold
.rs OF the obligations, of the United
states, the option reserved by law to
he government OF redeeming such OBJ
lgations in either silver coin or gold
.oin.
We are opposed to the issuing of in
f-h Of ha \ |
states in time OF peace, and condemn
he traiiicking with banking syndi-
ates which, in exchange for bonds
nd at an enormous profit to them ,
elves, supply the federal treasury ,
With gold TO maintain the policy of
old monOmetallism.
ISSUE OF MONEY.
Congress alone has the power to I
DIN and issue money, and Prerident
ackson declared that this power 3
ould not be delegated to corporations {
r individuals. We therefore de- e
ounce the issuance Of notes intended
o circulate as money by national
anks as in derogation of the conSti- d
ution, and we demand that all paper i
'hich is made legal tender for t
ublic and private debts or which is S
rNclNdDlc lOT uulleS TO Jne United [
tates shall be be issued by the gov
OF the United States and
hall be redeemable in coin. n
TARIFF Q
We hold that tariff duties should be
'vied for purpose of revenue, such du-
es 10 be so adjusted as To operate D
lually throughout the country and n
OF discriminate between class or sec a
on, and that taxation should be hi
mited by the needs of the govern e,
ent honestly and economically ad- al
IN
We denounce as disturbing TO busi- es
,Ss the Republican threat TO restore ol
he Mckinley law, which has twice n
zen condemned by the people in ma W
onal elections, and which, enacted N
lder the false plea OF protection 10 NJ
'me industry, proved prolific e
eeder of trusts aud monopolIes, en-
ched the few by the expense of the
any, restricted trade, and deprived Il
e producers OF the great American al
lpleS OF access To their natural mar pl
rs. 81
INCOME TAX. Ia
Until the money question is settled N