Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-09-18
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
we. the de:roe:ats OF The Uni,ed states IN
national convention Assem- bed DO reanirm
our aiievianee TO thO>- stv. essential prin.
cipies o: Justice aLd lile.ty uron Which our
INSTITUTIONS arc fou lded aad which the demo-
cratic piYiy has dNccstei from JererSon's
| time 10 our o~n-frredom OF speech. freedom
OF the press freedom OF conscience. the
preservation OF personal rights. the equality
OF all citizens b-rOre the las and the faithfai
observance OF constitutional limitations
luring all these years the democratic party
has resisted the tendency o. sclGsA interests
&C the Capitalization o: governmental powsr
and stcadfastly maintained the Integrity e.
the Gu u scheme OF government established b.
the founders OF this republic OF repub.ics
Under It's guidance and teachings the great
principal OF local self government has found
its best expression IN the maint, nance OF the
rights OF the states aud in It's assertion OF the
necessity of confutn2 the general governments
TO the exercises OF the powers granted by the
constitution OF the United States
The constitution OF tho United States
guarantee 20 every citizen the right of civil
and religious liberty. Tho democratic party
has always been the exponent Of political fib-
erty and religious freedom. and IL renews ia
oblts nd rc5 firms its devotion 10 these
fundamental principles OF the constitution
Recognizing that toe money Question IS par
amount TO all others this time. we invite
attention To the fact that the federal consti.
tuition names silver and gold together as the
the hrst coinage law passed by congress under
the constitution made the silver dollar tho
monetary unit OF value and admitted gold to
free coinage ~ ratio measured by the silver
dof,ar unit
We declare that tho act of 1873 demonetizinx
silver without the KNOWLEDGE or approval OF
the American people has resulted In the APP
probation OF gold and n corresponding fall tn
the prices OF commodities produced by the
people: heavy increase in the burden OF tax
alton and OF all debts puolc and private. the
enrichment of the moneT-londinx class ut
home and abroad: postration OF industry. and
impoycrishmcnt OF the PEOPLE
We arc unnlternb bly, opposed 20 the single
gold standard which HIS locked fast the pros-
perity of an Industrial people in the paralysis
OF hard times. Gold monomctallism IL n
British policy and its adoption has brought
other nations into financial servftu,ie to Lon
don IT Is not only un-Americnn but anti
American and II can be fastened on the JJuitad
States only oy tho stfiDS OF that indomitzble
spirit and love OF liberty which proclaimed
our political independence in 1870 and won IL
In the war OF the revolution
We demand the free and unlimited coinage
OF both silver and gold at the present legal ratio
OF Is TO l. without waiting for the aid or consent
of any other nation VIC demand that the
standard silver dollar shall be a full legal ten
der. equally with gold FOR all debts public md
/ private. and we favor such legislation will
| prevent the demonetiz. tion OF any Kind OF le-
gal tender money by private contract.
We are opposed TO the policy and practice
OF surrendcring to the holders OF the oblign-
lions OF the United states the option reserved
| by law TO the government Of redeemtnR such
! obligations In either silver coin or gold coin
We are opposed TO the issuing of interest
bearing bonds of the United states in time OF
peace and condemn the tracielxins with bark
ing syndicates which. IN exchange for bonds
and NJ an enormous profit TO themselves sup
ply the federal treasury with gold TO maintain
| the policy Of gold recommendation
Congress alone has the power TO coin ard
/ t..
that this power could not be delegated 10 cor
poratons or individuals
We therefore denounce the issuance Of
notes intended to circulate as money ~ na-
tional banks as I'm dcrogutioR OF the constitu-
tion and we demand that all piper which is
made n legal tender for public ana private
debts or which is receivable for dues to the
United States. shall be issued by the govern
mcnt OF the United States and shall be re-
decmahlc in coin
We hold that tariff duties should be levied
for purposes OF revenue. should also be ad-
tusted so rs 20 opsrats equally throughout
the country, and not discriminate between
class or section. and that tax.tion
should be limited by tho needs OF the govern-
ment honestly and economically administered
We denounce rs disturbing TO business the
republican threat TO restore tne Mckinley
law which has been twice condemned by tho
people in the national elections and
which. enacted under the false plea OF
protection 20 home industry, proved prolific
the few ut the expense of the many. restrtc ted
trade and deprived the producers OF the great
American staples OF access 20 their natural
markets Until the money question II
settled are opposed to any agita-
ZION Tor further changes ia our tariff
laws. except such urc necessary TO meet
the deficit in revenue caused by the adverse
decision OF the supreme court on the Income
tax There would be no deficit in TIC revenue
put Tor The annulmcat by the supreme court
al n In ms .sa1 h.
strict pursuance OF the uniform decisions OF
that court for nearly one hundred years that
court having in that decision sus-
t1tncd constitutional objections 70 It's en-
acincnt which has been previously over
ruled by the ablest judges who had ever sat
on that bench. We declare that IL Is the duty
OF congress TO use all the constitutional power
which remains after that decision. or which
may como from its reversal by the court as IL
may hereafter be constituted. 80 that the bur
dcns OF taxation may be equally and impar-
italy laid 10 the end that wealth may bear it's
dnc proportion OF the expenses of government
We hold that the most efficient way OF pro-
tecting American labor is TO prevent the i'm
portaiion OF foreign paupcr labor TO compete
win it In The home market. and with the valno
OF the home market TO our American farmers
aud artisans is greatly reduced by a vicious
/ monetary system which dcprcsscs tho prices
OF their products below the cost of produc tion
and thus deprives thcm OF the means of pur-
chasing the products OF our homo manufac-
tories. and as labor creates the wealth of the
country, we demand the passage OF such laws
as may be necessary to protect IL In all its
rights
We are In favor OF the arbitration of differ
ences between employers engaged In Interstate
commerce and their employees, and recon-
mend such legislation as is necessary TO carry
out This principle
The absorption OF wealth by the few tho
consolidation OF our leading railroad systems,
and the formation OF trusts and pools. require
strictcr control by the federal governments
or those arteries of commerce. We demand
/ the enlargement OF the Interstate commerce
commission. and such restrictions and guaP-
antees in the control of railways as will pro-
tect the people from robbery and oppression.
We denounce the prohigAtc waste OF the
money wr1aS rom the people by oppressive
taxation and the lavish appropriations OF re-
pent republican congresses. which huve kept
taxes high. while the labor that pays them Is
unemployed and tho product. OF tSc rsople>s
toll arc depressed It'll trey longer " BAY the
cost Of production We demand return to
that simplicity, and economy which befits
democratic government and q reduction In
the number OF useless ofieers. the salaries of