The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-07-10

the reading Of the financial plank and that
relating to bond issues received decided
approval. The platform as presented was
AZ follows:
The Platform.
1--WE, the democrats of the United States,
in national convention assembled, do re-
affirm our allegiance to those great es-
sential principles of justice and liberty
upon which our institutions are founded
and which the democratic party has advo-
Gated from Jeffersons time to our own
freedom of speech, freedom OF the press.
freedom of conscience, the preservation of
personal rights. the equality Of all citizens
before the law, and the faithful OBJ
servance of constitutional limitations.
Financial Plank.
Recognizing that the money question
Is paramount to all others at this time,
we, invite attention 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
made the silver dollar the unit of value and
admitted gold to free coinage at the ratio
measured by the silver dollar unit
1--WE declare that the act Of 1873 demone-
tizlnE silver without the knowledge or
approval of the American people has re-
suited in the appreciation OF gold and a
corresponding fall In the prices prices OF com.
increase in the burden of taxation and of
all debts, public and private; the enrich
ment of the money lending class at home
impoverishment of the people.
1--WE are unalterably opposed to the sin
gle gold standard, which has locked fast
the prosperity of an industrial people M
the paralysis of hard times.
Gold monometallism Is a 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
spirit and love of liberty which proclaimed
our political independence in 1776 and won
it in the war of the revolution.
1--WE demand the free and unlimited COIN
age of both gold and silver at the present
legal ratio of sixteen to one without waiting
for the aid or consent of any other nation
shall be full legal tender, equally with
gold for all debts, public and private, and
we favor such legislation as will prevent
the decentralization of any kind of legal
tender money by private contract:
1--WE are opposed to the policy and prac-
tice of surrendering to the holders of the
reserved by law to the government of re-
deeming such obligations in either silver
coin or gold coin.
1--WE are opposed to the issuing of inter
est-bearing bonds of the United States ir
time of peace, and condemn the traffickine
with banking syndicates, which, in ex-
change. for. bonds and at an enormous
profit to themselves, supply the federal
treasury with gold to maintain the policy
Of gold recommendation.
and issue money, and President Jackson
declared that this power could not be dele
gated to corporations or individuals. We
notes to circulate money be taken from
| the national banks, and that all paper
money shall be issued directly by the treas
| ury department.
Tariff and Taxation.
1--WE hold that tariff duties should be
| levied for purposes of revenue, and thai
taxation should be limited by the needs OF
the government honestly and economic
ally administered: We denounce as dis
| to restore the Mckinley law, which has
been twice condemned by the people II
der the false plea 90" of protection to home
industry, proved a prolific breeder OF
| trusts and monopolies, enriched the few
trade e and deprived the prodncer sS Of thu
| great American staples OF access to theil
natural markets. Until the money ques
| tation for further changes In our tariff
| laws except such as are necessary to max,
the deficit IN revenue nue. caused by the ad
| the income tax. There would be no deficit
| in the revenue but for the annulment BY
democratic congress in strict pursuance O.
| the uniform decisions of that court fol
| nearly 100 years, that court having sus
| actment, which has been overruled by the
| ablest Judges who had ever sat on tha
| bench, We declare that IL Is the duty oil
| congress to use all the constitutional pow
| or which remains after that decision, o,
| which may come from Its reversal by the
| court as II may hereafter be constituted
| 40 that the burdens of taxation may b,
| equally and impartially laid, to the enc
| that wealth may bear its proportion of the
| EXPENSES of the government.
1--WE hold that the most efficient way Of
nrotecting American labor Is to proven
| The Importation OF foreign pauper Tabor I,
| Compete with II in the home market, anC
| that the value of the home market to on
| American farmers and artisans is great,
| reduced by vicious monetary system
| which depresses the prices OF their prod
| ,Icts below the cost of production an,
| thus deprives them of the means of satisfy
| ing their needs.
Republican Congresses.
1--WE denounce the profiigate waste of tn,
money wrung from the people by Oppressive
| taxation and the lavish appropriations o
| recent republican congresses, which hav
| Rent taxes high while the labor that pay
them Is unemployed and the products OF tn,
neoples toll are depressed in price till the,
| no longer repay the cost OF production. W.
| 1emnnd return to that simplicity an,
| economy which best BELTS n democratic
| government and n reduction In the numbe
| OF useless officers, the salaries of which
drain the substance of the people.
Federal Interference.
I'VE denounce the arbitrary interference
by federal authorities in local affairs as