The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-09-09

nounce protection and its ally, free
coinage of silver as schemes for the
personal profit of few at the ex.
pense of the masses and as the two
parties which stand for these schemes
as hostile to the people of the repub.
lie. whose food and shelter, comfort
and prosperity are attacked by higher
taxes aud deprecated money. In
fine. we affirm the historic Demo.
cratic doctrine Of tariff for revenue
only.
We demand that henceforth modern
and liberal policies towards American
shipping shall take the place Of our i'm
i.a,ion of 'he restricted statutes Of the
18th century, which have been aban-
dooed by every mariutime power but
the Uuit-d States, and which TO the
nations humiliation have driven Ameri
can capital and enterprise to the use OF
alien flags and alien crews, have made
the Stars and Stripes an almost un-
known emblem in foreign ports and
have virtually extinguisbed the race Of
American seamen We oppose the
pre.ense that discriminating duties will
promote shipping: that scheme is an 10
vi.a.,on to commercial warefare upon
the United States. un- American ship
ping, while greatly increasing ocean
freights on our agricultural aud manu-
factured products. The experience Of
n.aukird has shown that by reason of
their natural qualities. goldi is the peces
sary money of the large affairs of COM
merce sud business. while silver is co.,
veuientIy adapted to mitor transaction
and the most beneficial use Of both to-
ge.her can be secured only by the adop
ton of the former as standard of mon
etary measure. aud the maintenance
of silver at parity With gold by it's
limited coinage under suitable safe
guards Of Law. Thus the largest enjoy
meut Of both metals ia gained with a
value universally accepted throughout
the world. which constitutes the only
practical bimetalic currency assuring
the most stable and especially the beat
aod safest money for all who earn their
livelihood By labor or the product Of
husbaudry They cauuot suffer when
paid ip the best money known to man /,
but are peculiar and almos' defense.
less victims of reduced and ductua-
ting currency which offers continued
profits to the money changer at their
cost. Realizing these truths. demon
strated by long public Inconvenience
aud loss, the Democratic party in the
interest of the masses and of equal JUS
,ice to all. practically established by the
legislation of 1884 and 1858. the gold
standard of monetary measurement,
likewise entirely divorced the govern
ment from banking and currency is
sues. To this long established Demo
cratic policy we adhere and insist upon
the maintenance of the gold standard
aud Of tbe parity Herewith of every
dollar iseued by the government and
are firmly opposed to the free and un
limited coinage Of silve- aud to the COM
pul.ory purchase Of silver bullion. But
we denounce alec the further maintee-
auce of the present. the costly patch
work system of national paper currency
as constant source Of injury aud peril
We assert the necessity of such To-
telligeut currency reform as will COZ
6oe the government to its Legitimate
fuoctioDs completely separating from
the banking business and to all sections
of our country uniform. safe and last
ing bank currency under governmental
supervision, measured in volume by
the needs Of business. The fidelity.
patriotism and courage with which
President Cleveland has fulfilled his
great public trust, the high character
of bis administration, it's wis
dom aud energy in the maintenance OF
civil order aud the enforcement of the
laws, its equal regard for the rights OF
every class and every section. its 6rm
and digni6ed cooduct of foreign affairs,
aud it's sturdy persisteuce in upboldiug
the credit and honor of the nation, are
fully recognized by the Democratic
party and will secure to him place in
history besides the father of the repub-
lie.
We also commend the administration
for the great progress made in the re-
form of the public service and We en-
dorse its effort to extend the merit sys-
ten stii further. We demand that no
backward step be takea, bat that the
reform be supported aud advanced until
toe uudemocratic spoiIs system of ap-
pointment shall be eradicated. We de.
maod stric, economy 10 the appropria-
tioos aud in the administration of the
government. We favor arbitration for