The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1896-08-22
ADOPT FREE SILVER.
. 2MQCRATiC NATIONAL PLAT
FORM IN FULL.

uec,aren for the Free and Unlimited Coin
sgs of Silver nc Q Ratio of iG to l-Op-
posed to Interest Hearing Bonds Bc !:
Issued by the Government.
The follow
ing is the platform adopted by the
national Democratic convention:
We, tho DeunOcauts OF the United
States, In national convention assem-
bled. do reafflrm our allegiance to those
great and essential principles OF JUS
tice and liberty upon which our insti-
buttons ere founded and which the
Democratic party has advocated from
Jefferson's time 20 our Cwn-freedom
OF speech, freedom Of the press. free
dom OF conscience. the preservation OK
personal rights. tho equality Of all per-
sons before the law and the faithful OBJ
servance OF constitutional limitations.
During AL these years the Democrat
ic party has res! sted the tendency OF
selfish interests, the Capitalization OF
governmental pNwcr and steadfasty
maintained the Integrity Of the dual
scheme Of government established by
the founders Of this republic OF repub-
,ics. Under It's guidance the great prin-
clple OF local self government: has
.ound its best expression In the main
tenance OF the rights OF the states and
IN dts assertion OF the necessity OF con-
hning the general government to the
exercise Of the powers granted by the
constitution OF the United States.
Recognizing that the money ques-
ton is paramount to all others at this
tiE1e, we invite attention to the fact that
the federal constitution names silver
and gold together as the money metals
Of tho United States. and that the first
coinage law passed by congress under
the constitution made the silver do.-
lar the monetary unit and admitted
gold to tree coinage at 4 ratio based
upon the silver unit.
We declare that the ACT OF 1873, de-
mon citing silver without the knowl-
edge or approval of the American peo-
pie, has resulted in the appreciation OF
god and corresponding fall in the
prices of commodiu ties produced b. the
people.
We are unaherabIy opposed to the
recommendation which has locked fast
the prosperity of industrious people
in the paralysis OF hard times. Cold
uono-lnetallism Ia . British policy, and
its adoption has brought other nations
into financial servitllde to London. 1t
y not only un-American, but anti
American, and it can be fastened on the
United States only by the sitting OF
that spirit of love OF liberty which pro-
claimed our political independence IN
1776. and won it in the war Of the reyo-
tuition.
We demand the free and unlimited
coinage Of both gold and sllve! at the
nresent legal ratio of 16 to ], without
waiting for the aid OF consent OF any
other nation. We demand that the
standard silver dollar shaGl be a full
legal tender equally with gold, for al
depts, public and private, and we favor
such legislation az will prevent for the
future the characterization OF any kline
OF legal tender money by private co1
tract.
We are opposed to the policy an(
practice of surrc.lderlng to the holders
OF the obligations OF the United State
the option reserved by law to the gov
ernment OF reeemtng such obligation
in either silver coin or gold coin.
We are opposed to the issuing Of in
terest- bearing bonds OF the unite'
States in time Of peace. and condem'
the traficking with banking syndicate
which, in exchange for bonds and a
an enormous profit to themselves, sup
ply the Feeral treasury with gold t
maintain the policy Of gold monometaI
lism.
Congress alone has the power t
coin and issue money, and Preslden
Jackson declared that this power cou.
not be delegated to corporations or in
dividuals. We, therefore, demand tina
the mower to issue notes to circulate a
money be taken from the nations
hanks, and that all paper money sha
be issued directly by the treasury &c
ma rtment and be redeemable in co:
and receivable for all debts, public an
private.
We hold that the tariff duties shout
he levied for purposes OF revenue, sue
duties to be so adjusted as to operat
equally throughout the country and NJ
discriminate between class or sectlo
and that taxation should be limited /
tine needs of the government, honest
and economically administered. We d.
nounce as disturbing to business II
Republican threat to restore the M