Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-08-14

OF the Chicago convention embodied
In the financial plank OF its platform
the principles enunciated in the plat
form of the American, bimetalliG
party, promulgated at Washington
ID. c., January -, 1896, and herein
reiterated, which is not only the para.
mount, but the only real issue in the
pending campaign, therefore, recogniz-
ing that their nominees embody these
patriotic principles, we recommend
that this convention nominate Will
liam J. Bryan of Nebraska for Presi,
dent and Arthur Sewell OF Maine for
Vice President.
Second, that over and above all
other questions of policy, we are in
favor OF restoring to the people of the
United States the time-honored money
of the constitution-gold and silver;
not one, but both-the money OF
Washington and Hamilton, and JEFF
ferson and Monroe, and Jackson and
Lincoln-to the end that the Ameri-
can people may receive honest pay
for an honest product; that the
American debtor may pay his ust
| obligations in an honest standard, and
not in a standard that has appreciated
100 per cent. above all the great
staples of our country; and to the
end, further, that silver standard
countries may be deprived OF the I'M
just advantage they enjoy in the dif-
ference in exchange between gold and
silver-an advantage which tariff legis-
lation can not overcome. We there
fore confidently appeal to the people
OF the United States to leave in abey-
ance for the moment all other ques-
tios, however important and even mo-
mentous they may appear, to sunder
if need be all former party ties and af.
filiations and unite in one supreme
effort to free themselves and their
children from the domination Of the
money power-a power more destruc-
tive than any which has ever been
fastened upon the civilized men of any
age. And upon the consummation of
our desires and efforts We invoke the
gracious favor OF divine providence.
Following is the Popuiist platform
adopted by the st. Louis Convention:
The peoples party, assembled in ma
tional convention, reatfirms its
allegiance to the principles declared
by the founders of the republic, and
also to the fundamental principles of
just government as enunciated in the
platform of the party in 1892. We
recognize that through the connivance
of the present and preceding ad-
ministrations the county has reached
crisis in its national life as predicted
in our declaration four years ago, and
that prompt and patriotic action is the
| supreme duty of the hour. We realize
that while we have political independ-
ence, our financial and industrial inde-
pendence is yet to be obtained, by re-
storing to our country the constitu-
tional control and exercise of the func-
tions necessary to the peoples govern
ment, which functions have been base.
ly surrendered by our public servants
to corporate monopolies. The influence
OF European money changers has been
more potent in shaping legislation
than the voice Of the American peo-
pie. Executive power and patronage
have been used to corrupt our legisla-
iators and defeat the will of the peo-
pie, and plutocracy has thereby been
enthroned upon the ruins of Democ-
racy. To restore the government in
tended by the fathers, and for the
welfare and prosperity of this and fu-
ture generations, we demand the estab-
lishment of an economic and financial |
system which shall make us masters
OF our own affairs and independent OF
European control, by the adoption OF
the following declaration of princi.
Piles:
First - We demand q national
money, safe and sound, issued by the
general government only, without the
Intervention of banks of issue, to be a
full legal tender for all debts, public
and private; just, equitable and eff
cient means of distribution direct to
the people, aud through the lawful
disbursements of the government.
Second-We demand the free and
unrestricted coinage of silver and gold
at the present legal ratio of 16 to /
without waiting for the consent of for
eign nations.
Third-We demand that the volume
of circulating medium be increased to
an amount sufficient to meet the de-
mands of business and the population
Of this country, and to restore the just
level of prices, of labor and OF produc-
tion.
FOurth-We denounce the sale of
bonds and the increase OF the public
intersst-bearing debt made by the
present administration as unnecessary
and without authority of law, and we
demand that no more bonds be issued |
except by specific act of Congress.
Fifth-We demand such legislation |
as will prevent the demonetization OF
the lawful money of the United States
by private contract.
Sixth-We demand that the govern
mani in paymanf Of its ohlicatiOuS