Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1896-07-09
THE PLATFORM.
Il Is Ready 10 Be Reported to the
Full Committee
TIE MONEY QUESTION PARAMOUNT.
The Free and Unlimited Coinage Of GoiA
and silver 1t the Kxtio Of sixteen to
One Dsmandsd--A Tariff for
Revenue Only.

Revenue Only.
| CHICAGO, July s-Following Is thu
platform as agreed to by the sub-com
mittee to be submitted 10 the general
committee to-day. 1t is Thought thai
few, II any, notifications will be
made. The minority will present q
report taking ground against the free
coinage Of silver:
We, the democrats Of the United States. 10
nationsl convention assembled, do reaflrm our
allegiance to those great essential principles
Of justice and liberty upon which our institu-
lions are founded, and which the democratic
party has maintained from Jeffersons time 70
our own-fresdom OF speech freedom OK the
press freedom Of conscience the preservation
Of personal rights, the equality OF all ciiizenr
before the law. and tn faithful observance Of
constitutional limitations.
Recognizing that the money question Is par
amount to all others OF this time, we invite
attention to the fact that the federal coustitu.
tion names silver ind gold together us the
money metals Of the United States, and that
the first co Image law passed b. congress under
the constitution made the silver dollar the
unit OF value, and admitted gold to free COIN
age ut ratio measured by the silver dollar
unit
We declare that the act OF 1877, demonetiz-
ing silver without the knowledge or approval
OF the American people, has resulted In the
appreciation 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 enrichment Of the money lending class at
home and abroad paralysis OF industry and
impoverlshment Of the people,
We are unnlterablv opposed to the single
gold standard which has locked fast the pros
perity Of an industrious people In the paraly-
sis OF hard times. Gold mon0metallism Is o
British policy, founded upon British greed for
gain and power, and Its general adoption has
brought other nations into financial servitude
to London. It's not only un-American, but
anti-Amerlcan, and 1t can be fastened upon
the United States only BY the sitting Of that
indomitable spirit and love Of liberty which
proclaimed our political independence In l77e
and won 1t In the war Of the revolution
We demand the immediate restoration Of
the free and unlimited coinage OF gold and
silver OF the present legal ratio Of sixteen to
one without waiting for the old or consent Of
any other nation We demand that the stand
ard silver dollar shall be full legal tender,
equally with gold, for all debts, public and
private, aad we favor such legislation Is will
prevent the decentralization OF any kind Of
egal tender money by private contract.
We are opposed to the policy and practice Of
'urrendering to the holders OF obligations Of
he United states the option reserved by law
10 the government OF redeeming such obligs-
ions in either silver coin or gold coin.
We are opposed to the issuing Of interest,"
bearing bonds OF the United States In times Of
,eace, and condemn the traflicng with banking
Iyndcates which. In exchange for bonds and at
IN enormous profit to themselves, supply the
ederal treasury with gold to maintain the
,olioy of gold monometallism.
Congress alone has the mower to coin and
ssue money, and President Jackson declared
hat this power could not be delegated to COR
,orations or individuals, We therefore de-
nand that the power to issue notes be taken
rom the banks, and that all paper money
hall be issued directly by the treasury depart
1ent
We hold that tariff duties should be levied
olely for the purposes Of revenue, and that
axation should be limited by the needs Of the
overnment, honestly and economically adj
mustered We denounce as disturbing to
uslness the republican threat TO restore the
law which has b,en twice con-
emned by the people in national elections,
ui,i nha tai nm nrt hp 10 ia NJ
'ction to home industry, proved prolific
FEEDER Of trusts and monopoies. enriched the
w at the expense Of the many restricted
AIDE and deprived the producers of thu great
merican staples Of az cess TO their natural
arkets.
Until the money question Is settled we are
opposed to any agitation for further chpngos
our tariff laws except such as are ne essary
make up the deficit IA revenue clus,d by
lie adverse decision OF the supreme court on
10 income tax
There would have been no deficit in fele7nl
venue during the list Two years but for the
lnulment by the supreme court Of the income
* law, placed upou the statute books bya
,mocratc congress, The obstruction 10 an
come tax, which thu supreme court discov-
ed in the constitution, after it had lain hid
N for hundred yelrs, must be removed, to
ia end that ac'umu atcd wealth may be made
Dear iJs Just $ III. U Vt tlv burdens VI the gov
nment. We therefore favor an amendment
the federal conslit lli1n that will permit tho
w Of an income tax
We hold that the efficient way OF protecting
nerican labor is to prevent the importation
foreign pauper labor to compete with it IN
9 home maraet, and that the value OF the
me market to our American farmers and
tisans Is greatly reduced By vicious none
" system. which depresses the prices Of
Dir products below the cost Of production,
thus deprives them Of the means Of salts
ng their needs.
We demo nee the profigate waste OF the
'ney wrung from the people by oppressive
iation and the lavish appropriations Of re-
1T republican congresses, which have kept
ies high, while the laborer that pays them
and products of the people to
, depressed In price till they no longer repay
, cost Of production. We demand return
that simplicity and economy which best
Its democratic government and reduction
the number Of useless offices. the salaries o,
ich drain the substance OF the people.
In the justice Of our cause and the
'essity OF it, success ut the polls, we sub
the foregoing declaration Of principles
purposes to the considerate Judgment Of
American people. We invite the support
oil citizens who approve them, and who de,
q to have them made afprtivn througk