The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1896-07-23

tention to the fact that the federal constitution
names silver and gold together as the money
metals of the United States, and that the first
coinage law passed by congress under the con-
Stitution made the silver dollar the monetary
at at ratio based upon silver unit.
We are opposed to the policy and practice OF
to the holders of the obligations
of the United States the option reserved by law
to the government of redeeming such obliga-
tiOns in either silver coin or gold coin.
We declare that the act Of 1873 demonetzing
silver without the knowledge or approval OF the
American people has resulted in the apprecia-
tion of gold and corresponding falling in the
prices of commodities produced by the people.
AGAINST THE GOLD STANDARD.
We are unalterably opposed to the single gold
standard, which has locked fast the prosperity
of an Industrious people in the paralysis OF
hard times, Gold recommendation is British
greed for gain and power, and its general
adoption has brought other nations into
financial servitude to London 1t is not only
but anti-American, and can be
upon the United States only by the
sitting OF that spirit and love of liberty which
proclaimed our political independence In 1776
and won 1t in the war OF the revolution.
FREE SILVER DEMANDED.
We demand the free and unlimited coinage OF
both gold and silver at the present legal ratio
of 10 to without waiting for the aid or consent
of any other nation. We demand that the
standard silver dollar shall be legal tender
equally with gold for all debts, public and pri-
vate, and we favor such legislation as will pre-
vent for the future the decentralization of any
kind OF legal tender money by private contract
OPPOSE BOND ISSUES.
We are opposed to the issuing OF interest
bearing bonds of the United States in times OF
peace, and condemn the trafficking with bank
ing syndicates which, In exchange for bonds
and at an enormous profit to themselves, supply
the federal treasury with gold to maintain the
policy OF gold recommendation.
Congress alone has power to coin and issue
money and President Jackson declared that
this power could not be delegated TO corpora
lions or individuals. We, therefore, denOunce
the issuance of notes as money for national
banks in derogatlon Of the constitution and we
demand that all paper which is made legal
tender for public and private debts or which is
receivable for dues to the United States shall
be issued by the government of the United
States and shall be redeemable in coin.
THE TARIFF.
We hold that tariff duties should be levied for
purposes OF revenue, such duties to be so adj
juSted as to operate equally throughout the
country and not to discriminate between class
or section, and that taxation should be limited
by the needs OF the government honestly and
economically administered.
We denOunce as disturbing to business the
republican threat to restore the Mckinley law,
which has been twice condemned by the people
In national elections and which, enacted under
the false plea Of protection TO home industry,
proved o prolific breeder of trusts and
of the many restricted trade and deprived the
producers OF the great American staples of ac-
cess to their natural markets.
Until the money question Is settled we are
opposed to any agitation for further changes in
our tariff laws, except such as are necessary to
meet deficit In revenue caused by the adverse
decision of the supreme court ON the income tax.
But for this decision by the supreme court
there would be no deficit in the revenues under
the law passed by o democratic congress In
strict pursuance of the uniform decisions OF
that court for nearly one hundred years, that
court having In that decision sustained con-
stitutiOnal objections to its enactment which
had previously been overruled by the ablest
judges who have sat on the bench.
We declare that 1t is the duty of congress 70
use all the constitutional power which remains
after that decision or which may come from its
reversal by the courta 1t may hereafter be con-
structed, so that the burdens OF taxation may
be equally and impartially laid, to the end that
wealth may bear its due proportion OF the ex-
pense of the government.
OPPOSE IMPORTATION OF pAUPER LABOR.
We hold that the most efficient way to pro-
tect American labor Is to prevent the importa-
ton of foreign pauper labor to compete with II
in the home market; and the value OF the home
market to our American farmer and artisan Is
greatly reduced byaVicious monetary system
which depresses the price OF their products be-
low the cost OF production, and thus deprives
them Of the means of purchasing the products
OF our home manufactures. 5s
The absorption OF wealth by the few, the
consolidation OF our leading railroad systems
and formation Of trusts and pools require
stricter control by the federal government o.
enlargement OF the powers Of the interstat,
commerce commission and such zreStriction
and guarantees in the control OF, railroads oil
viii protect the people, fromarobbery and op
a. REruDr1cAs CONGRESSES.
We denounce the profigate expenditure 0
money wrung from the people by excessive tax
alton and lavish appropriations of recent re
publican congresses, while the labor tina
pays them Is unemployed and the products O
the peoples toll are depressed in price they n
longer pay the cost OF production.
We demand return to that simplicity an
and reduction in the number of useless of
fees, the salaries OF which drain the substanc
of the people tf
FEDERAL INTERFERRNCE.
We denounee the arbitrary interference b
federal in local affairs as violation OF the con
stitution Of the United States and q Grim
against the free institutions and we especial
object TO the government by injunction, as
new and highly dangerous form OF Oppressio
which nf
laws OF the states and rights Of the citizens be
come at once legislators, judges and execu
tiOners; and we approve the bill passed at tn
last session of the United States senate an
now pending In the house relative to contemr
in federal courts and providing for trials
jury In certain cases OF contempt.
No discrimination should be observed by tn
government OF the United States in favor (
any of its debtors.
We approve of the refusal Of the Fifty-thir
congress to pass Pacific railroad funding bill
and denonnce the effort of the present republ
can congress to enact similar measure
UNION SOLDIERS.
Recognizing the just claims OF deservir
union soldiers, we heartily ind0rse the rule
the present commissioner OF pensions. that I
| names shall be arbitrarily dropped from IL
| pension roll, and the fact OF enlistment III
service should be deemed conclusive evidens
against disease or disability before enlistment
| ADMISSION OF STATES.
/ We favor the admission OF the territories
New Mexico and Arizona into the union
states, and we favor the early admission OF 0
| the territories having necessary populate
| and resources to entitle them to statehoo
| and while they remain territories we hold tn
the officers appointed to administer the GO
ernment OF any territory, together with u
District OF Columbia and Alaska. should
bona iide residents OF the territory or distric
in which their duties are 20 be performed. II
democratic party believes In home rule oil
that ell public lands OF the United States shs
be appropriated TO the establishment OF IF
homes for American citizens.
We recommend that the territory OF Alas