The Forrest City times., 1896-07-17

oeciaratlon Of Principles of the
Democratic Party
Presented by the Committee on Reso,,-
hons Tor Adoption by the National
Convention at Its Session
In Chicago.


pies and platform presented bv tho
committee on resolutions in the dem.
ocratlc national convention at its ses-
sion in Chicago:
I he Platform.
we, the democrats OF the United States in
national convention assembled do rea ffiru orr
atioslahce TO those great essential principles
ol justice and liberty upon which our institu
lions are founded. and which the democra,ic
party mas advocated from Jefrerson's time IN
our own-freedom Of speech, freedom of the
press, freedom Of conscience the preservation
Oh personal rights. the equality of all citizens
oeiore the law. and the faithful observance OF
constitutional limitations
During all these years the democra,ic nar,r
mas resisted the tendency of selfish interests To
the Capitalization Of governmental power. and
sseaotastly maintained the integrity OF the
uuai scheme OF government established nv the
FOUNDERS OF this rep lblc of republics Under
us guidance and teachings the great principle
Oh iocal self government has found it's best ex-
preston In the maintenance OF the rights of
the states and In its assertion of the necessity
Vi cohnhlng the general government to the ex-
ercise OF the powers granted by the constitu-
tion OF the United States
Civil and Religious Liberty.
Inc constitution OF the United States guaran-
ices 70 every citizen the rights of civil and re-
iglous liberty. The democratic party has al
ways been the exponent of political liberty and
renglous freedom and it renews its obligations
and re-affirms its devotion to these funda-
mental principles OF the constitution.
The Money Question.
Recognizing that the money question is
paramount to all others at this time we invite
attention to the fact that the federal constitu-
tion names silver and gold together as the
money metals of the United States, and that
the hrst coinage law passed by congress under
the constitution made the silver dollar the
monetary unit of value and admitted gold to
Tree coinage at ratio based upon the silver
dollar unit.
we declare that the act OF 1873. demonetiZing
silver without the knowledge or approval of the
american people has resulted in the apprecia-
uon OF gold and corresponding fall In the
prices OF commodities produced by the people:
heavy increase In the burden OF taxation and
OF all debts, public and private: the enrich
ment of the money-lending class at home and
abroad; the prostration OF industry and i'm
poverishment OF the people
We are unalterably opposed to mono
metalism, which has locked fast the pros
perity of an industrial people in the paralysis
OF mar times Gold monometallism is Brit
ish policy. and its adoption has brought other
nations into financial servitude to London. 1t
Is not only un-American, but anti-American
and 1t can be fastened on the United States
only by the sitting OF that spirit and love OF
liberty which proclaimed our political inde-
pendence in l776, and won it In the war of
the revolution.
Free and Unlimited Coinage.
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
We demand that the standard silver dollar
vii
for all debts, public and private and we favor
such legislation as will prevent for the future
the characterization OF any kind of legal-ten-
der money by private contract,
We are opposed to the policy and practice of
surrendertng to the holders OF the obligations
OF the United States, the option reserved by
law to the government OF redeeming such obli-
cations in either silver coin or gold coin.
Bond Issues and Circulating Medium.
We are opposed to the issuing of interest,"
bearing bonds Of the United States in time of
peace, and condemn the trafficklng with bank
ing syndieates which, in exchange for bonds
and at an enormous profit to themselves. sup
ply the federal treasury with gold TO maintain
the policy OF gold monometallism.
Congress alone has the power to coin and is
sue money, and President Jackson declared
that this power could not be delegated to cor
porations or individuals. We therefore de-
nounce the issuance OF notes intended to circu-
late as money by national banks as in deroga-
tion Of the constitution, aud we demand that
all paper which is made legal tender for pub
lie and private debts, or which Is receivable
tor dues to the United States, shall be issued
by the government OF the United States, and
shall be redeemable in COIN
Tariff for Revenue.
We hold that tariff duties should be levied
for purposes of revenue, such duties to be so
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 the government honestly and
economically administered.
We denounce as disturbing to business the re-
publican threat to restore the Mckinley law
which has been twice condemned by the peo-
pie in national elections and which, enacted
under the false plea OF protection to home in
dustry, proved prolific breeder OF trusts and
monopolieS enriched the few at the expense
of the many, restricted trade and deprived tie
producers of the great American staples OF ac-
cess TO their natural markets. Until the money
question is settled we are opposed to any agi-
talon for further changes in our tariff laws,
except such as are necessary TO meet the de-
felt in revenue caused by the adverse decision
OF the supreme court the income tax. But
for this decision by the supreme court there
would BE no deficit in the revenue under the law
passed by democratic congress in strict pur-
suance OF the UNIFORM ueclsions vi tnat Coulb
for nearly one hundred years, that court haY-
ing In that decision sustained constitutional
objections to Its enactment which had pre-
yiously been overruled by the abeSt judges
who have ever sat on that bench We declare
that it is the duty of congress to use all the
constitutional power which remains after that
decision or which may come from its reversal
by the court as it may hereafter be con-
stituted. so that the burdens of taxation may
be equally and impartially laid, TO the end that
wealth may bear its due proportion of the ex-
psnses OF the government
Protection of American Labor.
We hold that the most efficient way OF pro-
tecting American labor is to prevent the inn
portation of foreign pauper labor to compete