The Daily Texarkanian., 1896-10-16
THE PLATFORM
Adopted by the National Democratic
Convention, at Chicago, July, 1896.

We. the Democrats of the United
States, in national convention assembled,
do reat1irm our allegiance to those great
essential principles of Justice and liberty
upon which our institutions are founded,
and which the Democratic party has ad-
vOcated from JeiferSon'S time to our own
freedom of speech freedom of press,
freedom of conscience, the preservation
of personal rights, the equality Of all citi-
zens before the law. and the faithful OBJ
servation of constitutional limitations.
During all these years the Democratic
party has resisted the tendencies of selfish
interests to the centrilization of govern
mental power, and steadfastly maintain
ed the integrity of the dual scheme of
of government established by the found
ers of this republic Of republics Under
its guidance and teachings the great prin-
ciple of local government has found
its best expression in the maintenance Of
the rights OF the States and its assertion
of the necessity Of confning the general
government to the exercise OF the powers
granted by the constitution of the United
States.
Recognizing that the money question is
paramount to all Others at this time, we
invite attention to the fact that the Fed
together as the money metals Of the Unit
ed States, and that the first coinage law
passed by Congress under the constitution
made the silver dollar the unit of value
and admitted gold to free coinage at q
ratio measured by the free silver dollar
unit.
We declare that the act OF 1873 demone
tlzing silver without the knowledge or
Al 81 4 A nj 40 pn-
suited in the appreciation Of gold and u
moditles produced by the people; heavy
increase IN the burden Of taxation and of
all debts, public and private; the enrich
ment of the money lending class AT
home and abroad; prostration of industry
and lmpovershment OF the people,
We are unalterably opposed to mono
metallism, which has locked fast the
prosperity of an industrious people In the
paralysis Of hard times. Gold monomot-
alllsm is British policy, and It's adop-
tion has brought other nations into imam
clal servItudc TO London. II Is not only
un-American, but anti American, and II
can he fastened on the United States only
by the sitting Of that indomitable spirit
and love of liberty which proclaimed our
political independence in l776, and won II
In the war Of the revolution.
We demand the free and unlimited
coinage of both gold and silver at the
present legal ratio Of l6 70 ], without
waiting for the consent or aid Of any 9th
er nation, We demand that the standard
silver dollar shall bet full legal tender
equally with gold, for all debts, public
and private, and we favor such Iegsl la-
tl0n as will prevent for the future thcde-
monetlzatIon Of any Kind OF legal tender
money by private contract,
We are opposed TO the pol icy and prac'
tice OF surrenderlng TO the holders OF The
obligations of the United States the opln.
lon reserved by law TO the Government OF
redeeming such obligations IN eltlof sll'
yer coin or gold coin
Wenrp opposed Co the issuing OF inter
est. bearing bonds OF the United states IN
tlmn of peace aud condemn tho tfaliclng
withdrawing syndIcates whichin exchange
for bonds and at an enormous profit to
themselves, supply the Federal Treasury
with gold TO maintain the policy OF gold
monometallism.
Congress alone has the power TO coin
aud issue money, and President Jackson
declared that this power could not be del'
oQatod TO corporations OF INDIVIDUALS, we
therefore domDnd that the power TO issue
notes 10 circulate ny money Oe taken from
the national banks and that oil pipor
money shall bo issued directly by the
Treasury Department, be redoemnblo ~
coin and received for all debts, public und
private,
led for purposes Of revenue such duties
10 be SO adjusted ~ TO operate equally
throughout the country and not dlscrlni.
nate between class or section, ANA That