The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-07-17
THE DEMOCRATIC PLarEOxM
AS Adopted by the National Convcn
tion I'm Session at Chicago.

VIC, Sho Dehoctats Oh tho United States, In
national convention assembled, do reafIlrm
our allegiance to those great essential prlnci-
pies OF justice and liberty upon which our
institutions are founded, and which tho
Democratic party has advocated from Jefrer-
sons time to our own; freedom of speech,
freedom OF the press, freedom OF conscience
equality OF all citizens before the law. and the
faithful observance of constitutional limita-
tions
During all these years tho Democratic
party mas resisted the tendency Of selfish in
terestS to the Capitalization OF Covprnmcr.
power and steadfastly maintains the inteyri-
~ OF the dual scheme OF government estab-
lished by the founders Of this republic or re-
pubiics. Under its guidance md teachings
the great principle OF local self-government
has found IFS best expression in the mainten-
ance Of the rights of the States and in its as
sertion OF tho necessity OF combining the
general government to tho exercise OF tho
powers granted by the constitution of tho
United States.
The constitution OF the United States
guarantees to every citizen tie rights Of civil
and religious liberty. The Democratic party
has always been the exponent Of political
nberty and religious freedom, and it renews
its obligations and reafllrms its devotion to
these fundamental principles OF the constitu-
ton.
Recognizing that tho money question is
paramount to all others at this timo, we in
vite attention to the fact that tho Federal
constitution names silver and gold together
as the money metals OF tho United States,
and that the first coinage laws passed by
Congress under the constitution made the
silver dollar the monetary unit and admitted
gold to free coinage at q ratio based upon
the silver dollar unit.
We declare that the net of 1873 dcmonetiz-
ing silver without the knowledge or approval
OF the American people. has resulted in the
appreciation OF gold ana n corresponding
fall In the prices OF commodities produced by
the people; n heavy increase in the burden OF
taxation and OF all debts. public and private;
the enrichment Of the money lending class at
homo and abroad; the prostration Of indus
try and the impoverishment of tho people.
We are una!terably opposed to mono met
allism, which has locked fast the prosperity
of an Industrial people in the paralysis OF
hard times. Gold mono-metallism is a
British policy and its adoption has brought
other nations into financial sevitude to Lon
don. 1t is not only un-American but anti
American and 1t can be fastened on the
United States only by sitting that spirit and
love OF liberty which proclaimed our politi-
cal independence in 177G and won it in tho
war OF the Revolution.
We demand the free and unlimited coinage
of both silver and gold at the present legal
ratio OF l6to without waiting for the aid Or
consent OF any other nation. We demand
that the standard silver dollar shall be full
public and private. and we favor such legis-
lation as will prevent for the future the de-
moEo..laiion o, any OF legal tender
monev bv private contract.
We are opposed to the policy and practice
Of surrendering to the holders Of the Vbliga-
tions OF the United States the option reserved
by law to the government OF redeeming suci
obligations in either silver coin or gold coin
We are opposed to the issuing Of interest
bearing bonds OF the United States in time
~ nd TN l,{p x,,,kl
banking syDdicates which, in exchange for
bonds and Mt an enormous profit to them
selves, supply the Federal Treasury with
gold to maintain tho policy OF gold mono
meta'lism.
Congress alono has the power to coin and
issue money and President Jackson declared
that their power could not be delegated to
corporations or individuals. We therefore
denounce the issuance OF notes intended to
circulate as money by national banks as in
derogation OF the constitution, and we de-
mand that oil paper which is made legnl
tender for public and private debts or which
is receivable for dues to the United States
shall be issued by tho government Of the Uni
ted States and shall be redeemable In coin.
We holI that tariff duties should be levied
for the purpose of revenue, such duties to be
80 adjusted as to operate equally throughout
the country and not discriminate between
class or section. and that taxation should be
limited by the needs Of tho government,
hou.s silly and economically administered
We denounce IA disturbing to busine,s the
Republican threat to restore the Mckinley
law, which has twice been condemned by the,
people in national elections and which, en-
acted under the false plea Of protection to
home industries, proved prolific breeder Of
trusts and monopoles. enriched the few at
the expense OF the many, restricted trade and
deprived the producers Of tho great Ameri-
can staples OF access to their natural markets
Until the money question is settled we arc
opposed to any agitation for further changes
tn our tariff laws except such as are necessary
TO meet the deficit in revenue caused by tho
adverse decision Of the Supreme Court on
the income tax But for this decision bv the
Supreme Court there would he no deficit in
the revenue uudnr the law passed by Il Dom
ocrat Congress in strict pursuance OF the
uniform decisions Of that court for nearly
one hundred years that court having in that
decision sustained constitutional objections
TO its enactment which had previously been
ovcrrulcd by the ablest Judges who hnvo
ever sat on the bench. We declare that it is
the duty OF Congress to use ail the constitu
tionnl power which remains after that de-
cisiOn or which may come .rom its reversal
by the courts Is it may hereafter bc constI-
tuted so tba: The burdens OF taxation may
be equally and impartially laid to tho end
that wealth may bear its duo proportion Of
the expenses Of the government.
We hold that the most efficient wcv OF Bro
tecting American laeor ia to prevent the i'm
portation OF foreign pauper labor TO compete
with it in the home narEet and that the valuo
OF the home market TO our American farmers
and artisans is greatly reduced by vicious
monetary system which depresscs the prices
OF their products below the cost Of produc-
ton. and thus deprvcs them of tho means of
purchasing the products of our home II AM
factIrcrs, and as labor creates the wealth of
the country, we demand tho passage of such
laws ns may be necessary to protect it in ali
its rights.
We are in favor Of the arbitration OF differ
enccs between employers engaged in inter
State commerce and thciremployes and rec
ommend such legislation as is necessary 10
carry oct this principle.
The absorption OF wealth hy the few. the
consolidation of our leading railroad systems
and the formation Of trusts and pools require
stricter control by the Ecdcrnl pnycrnIrnnt