Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-10-09
DEMoCRAT1c pIATFoRM.


time TO our owp--frecdom Of speech. freedom
OF the prcsS freetfom OF conscience. ebc
preservation ~ personal rights. the cquaifty
OF all citizens before the Law aud the faithfu,
observance OF constitutional limitations.
During ali these years the democratic party
has resisted tbs tendency OF selfish interests
TO the centraiiz ttiou of government u pow oc
and stendfastiy maintained the f1tcgrit; of
sho dual scheme of government established by
the founders OF this republic OF rcpubiics
Under IT'S guidance and teachings the great
principal OF local sclf-government has found
Its best expression In the maintenance OF the
rights o, the states and In its assertion OF the
necessity OF combining the general government
10 the exercises of tho powers granted by tbs
constitution of the United States
The constitution OF the United Ssnfees
guarantees to every citizen the right OF OWL
and religious liberty. The democratic party
has always been the exponent of political lib
erty and religious freedom. and it renews its
obligations md reanlrms its devotion to these
fundamental principles OF the constitution
Recognizing that the money question is par
amount to all others Mt this time. we invite
attention 10 the fact that tho federal constis
tuition names silver and gold together as the
money metals of the United States, and thus
tho first coinage law pa-sci by congress under
tho constitution made tho silver dollar the
monetary unit OF value and admitted gold 10
free coinage a. n ratio measured by the silver
dollar unit
We declare that tho oct OF 1879 demonetiziu M
silver without the knowledge or approval OF
the American people has resulted In the ap-
probation OF gold and corresponding full In
the prices OF commodities produced by tho
peoples heavy increase in the burden OF tnx<
alton and OF all debts public and private: the
enrichment OF the monev-lending class at
home and abroad: postration OF Industry and
| impovershment of the people.
We arc unaltcrably opposed to the single
| cold standard which bis locked FIST the prosS
perity OF nm industrial people in tho paraiy sis
OF hard times. Gold Recommendation is n
| British policy and its adoption has brought
! other nations Into financial servitudc to Lon
don 1t Is not only un-Americnn but anti
American and It cnn be fastened on the United
| States only By the stining of that indomitable
spirit and love OF liberty which proclaimed
our political independence in 1870 and won it
| In the war OF the revolution
| We demand the free and unlimited coinage
OF both silver and gold At the present legal ratio
OF to !. without waiting for the aid or consent
OF any other nation We demand that Abe
standard silver dollar shall be full legal ten<
| der. equally with gold for all debts. public and
I private. and we favor such lcGisla. ion 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 surrendering to the holders OF tho obliga-
lions OF tho United States the option reserved
| by law to the governn ent OF redceming such
obligations in either silver coin or gold coin
We nro opposed to the issuing Of interest
bearing bonds of the United States in time of
peace. and condemn the trnfficking with bank
7
and NJ an enormous profit TO themselves. sup
ply the federal treasury with gold to maintain
the policy OF gold monomctsllisnl
| Congress ulono has the power 20 coin and
Issue money. and President Jackson declared
that this power could not be delegated to cor
poratlons or individuals
We therefore denounce the issuance of
notes Intended to circulate MS money by ma
tional banks as in derogntion OF the constitt d.
tion and We demand that all paper wiich Is
made legal tender for publc and private
debts or which is receivable for dues to the
United States shall DO issued by the goveru-
ment of the United States md shall brs re-
dccmnble in coin.
We hold that tarin duties should be levied
for purposes OF revenue should also be adj
1usted so MS to operate equally throughout
the country, and not discriminate between
class or section, md that taxation
should be limited by the needs of the govern-
ment honestly and economically administered.
We denounce as disturbing to business tho
republican threat to restore the Mckinley
law which has been twice condemned by the
people In the national elections and
which. enacted under the false plea of
protection to home industry, proved prolific
breeder OF trusts and monopoiics. enriched
the few Mt the expense OF the many. restricted
trade and deprived the producers OF the great
American staples OF access 10 their natural
markets. Until the money question Il
settled We aro opposed to any ngita-
tion for further changes In our tariff
laws. except such Us arc necessary to meet
the deficit In revenue caused by the ndvcrso
decision OF the supreme court on the Income
tax There would be no deficit In the revenue
but for tho annulmcnt By the supreme court
OF law passed by democratic congress In
strict pursuance OF the uniform decisions OF
tnat court Tor nearly one hundred years. that
court having In that decision sus-
talheu constitutional objections to It's en-
actinont which has been previously over
ruled by the nbicst judges who had ever SAT
do lor d L.
OF congress 10 use all the constitutional power
winch remains after thut decision. or which
may como from Its reversal by the court as 10
may hereafter be constituted. SO that the bur-
uena OF taxation may be equally and itnpar-
tally laid TO the end that wealth may bear its
oue proportion of the expenses OF government
"c hold that tho most efficient way OF pro-
tecting American labor is TO prevent the Inn
portntion OF foreign paupor labor to compete
Win IL In the homo market. and with the value
OF the home market to our American farmers
anu artisans Is greativ reduced by q vicious
monetary system which dcpresscs tho prices
OF their products below the cost of production
ana thus derrtvcs them OF the means of pur-
CHASING tho products OF our homo manufac-
tories ana Ms labor crentcs tho wealth OF the
country. We demand the passage of such laws.
MS may be necessary to protect st In oil its
rights
We are In favor OF the arbitration OF diner
enccs between employer engaged In Interstate
commerce AMI their employees and recom-
mend such legislation as Is necessary to carry
out this principle
The absorption OF wealth by the few. the
consolidation OF our leading railroad systems,
ana the formation OF trusts nd pools. REQUIRE
strictcr control by th. federal governments
OF those arteries OF commerce. We demand
the enlargement of the Interstate commerce
commission. and such restrictions and guar
antees Ia the control OF railways as will pro-
tect the people from robbery and oppressions
We dcnounce the proHigate waste OF the
money wrung rom tho people by oppressive
taxation and the lavish appropriations OF re-
cent republican congresses. which have kept
taxes high. while tho labor that pays them is
unemployed and the product OF the peoples
toll are depressed till they no longer repay The
cost OF production. We demand o return to
that simplicity and economy which behts
democratic government and a reduc tion In
thc ndmber OF useless oficcrs. the salaries OF
which drain tho substance OF the people
We dcnouncc the arbitrary. interference by
federal authorities in local Affairs rs n viola-
zion OF tho constitution OF the United States
and crime against free institutions. and we
especially object to government by Injunction
Is q new andahfghly danperous form ~ an