The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-09-09
INDIANAPOLIS PLATFORM.
Political Principles Laid Down By the
National Convention.

The Democratic party Is pledged to equal
and exact justice TO all men, of every creed
and condition; to the largest freedom of the
indiyidnnl consistent with good government;
TO the preservation of the Federal govern
inent in its constitutional vigor, and TO the
support of the States In all their Just rights;
TO economy In the public expenditures; TO
the maintenance OF the public faith and
sound money; and it Is opposed to patcrnal-
ism and all class legislation.
The declarations of the Chicago conven-
tion attack individual freedom, the right Of
private contract, the Independence of the
Judiciary and the authority Of the president
10 enforce Federal laws. They advocate
reckless attempt 20 increase the price of sill
Yer by legislation 10 the debasemcnt of our
monetary standard. and threaten unlimited
issues OF paper money by the government.
They abandon for Republican allies the
Democratic cause of tariff reform, to court
the favor Of protectionists to their fiscal
hercsy.
In view Of these and other grave depar-
lures from Democratic principles. we cannot
support the candidates of that convention,
nor be bound by its acts. The Democratic
party has survived many defeats, but could
not survive n victory won I'm behalf of the
doctrine and policy proclaimed in its name
at Chicago.
BLAME PLACED.
The conditions, however, which make pos
siblc such uttcrances from n national con-
ycntion are the direct result of class lcgisla-
uon 10y the Republican party. IL still pro-
claims, as IL has for years, the power and
duty Of government to raise and maintain
prices by law; and 1t proposes no remedy for
existing evils except oppressive and unjust
taxation.
The National Democracy here reconvcned,
therefore, renews its declaration Of faith in
Democratic principles, especially as applica-
bic 10 the conditions OF the times.
Taxation tariff, excise or directs right
fully imposed only for public purposes and
not for private gain. Its amount is Justly
measured by public expenditures, which
should hc limited by scrupulous economy.
The sum derived by the Treasury from tariff
and excise leyies is affected by the state OF
trade and volume of consumption. The
amount required by the Treasury Is deter
mined by the appropriations mude by Con-
grcss. The demand of the Republican party
for an increase in tariff tax has its preteNt in
the deficiency of revenue which has its
causes in the staguation of trade and reduced
consumption. due entirely to the loas OF con-
ildence that has followed the populist threat
Of free coinage and depreciation of our
money and the Republican practice Of extra
vagant appropriations beyond the needs of
good government.
We arraign aud condemn the Populistic
conventions Of Chicago and 81. Louis for
their cooperation with the Republican party
I 10
ed in Justification of heavy increase of bur
dens of the people and further resort to
protection.
PROTECTION AND SILVER CoNDENNEp.
We, therefore, denounce protection and
its ally, free coinage of silver as schemes for
the personal profit of n few at the expense OF
/ the many, and oppose the two parties which
stand for these schemes as hostile TO the peo-
| pie OF the Republic whose food and shelter
2
taxes and deprecated money, In fine, we
reaillrm the historic Democratic doctrine of
tariff for revenue only.
We demand that henceforth modern and
| liberal policies toward American shipping
shall take the place of our imitation Of
the restricted statutes of the 18th century,
which were abandoned by every maritime
| power but the United 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 unknown emblem In
/ In foreign ports, and have virtually extin-
| guished the race or American seamen. We
| oppose the pretense that discriminating du-
| ties will promote shipping. That scheme is
| an invitation to commercial warfare upon
! the United States, un-American in the light
! of our great commercial treaties, offering no
gain whatever to American shipping, while
greatly increasing ocean frsights on our ag-
| ricutural and manufactured products.
| The experience of mankind has shown that
| by reason of their natural qualities, gold IL
the necessary money, of the large affairs Of
commerce and business. while silver is con-
yeniently adapted to minor transactions.
PARITY MUST be MAINTAINED.
The most beneficial use of both together
| can be insured only by the adoption of the
former as a standard of monetary measure,
and the maintenance of silver at n parity
with gold by its limited coinage under sucn
| safeguards of law. Thus the largest pos
sibe employment of both metals is gained.
| with value universally accepted through
| cut the world, which constitutes the only
| practical currency assuring the most stable
standard, and especially the best and safest
| money for all who earn livlihood by labor
| or the product of husbandry. They cannot
suffer when paid in the best money known
to man, but are the peculiar and most de-
fenseless victims of debased and fiucuating
| currency, which offers continued profits to
the,money chang ger at their cost.
Realizing these truths demonstrated by
| long public Inconvenience and loss, the
Democratic party, in the interests OF the
masses and OF equal justice to all, pratical-
| ly established by the legislation OF 1884 and
1853 the gold standard OF monetary measure
| ment, and likewise entirely divorced the
| Government from banking and currency Is
| sues. To this long-established Democracy
| policy we adhere, and insist upon the main.
| tenance Of the gold standard, and of the
parity Herewith Of every dollar issued by
the Government. and are firmly opposed to
the free and unlimited coinage OF silver
and to the compulsory purchase of silver
| bullion.
| THE CURRENCY MUST BE REFORMED
But we denounce also the further main
tenance Of the present costly patchwork OF
| national paper currency rs constant source
of injury and peril. We assert the necessity
| OF such Intelligent currency reform as will
| conllne the Government to its legitimate
| functions. completely separated from the
| banking business, and afford to all sections
| OF our country uniform, safe and elastic
| bank currency under governmental super
vision, measured in volumn by the needs of
| business.
The fidelity, patriotism and courage
| with which President Cleveland has
fulfilled his great public trust, the high
character of his administration, its wis
| dom and energy In the maintenance
| Of civil order and the enforcement OF
the laws, its equal regard for the rights OF
| every class and every section, its firm and
| dignihed conduct OF foreign affairs and its
sturdy persistence In upholding the credit
| and honor of the nation, are fully recognize
ed by the Democratic party and will secure