Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-09-11
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM

DEMOCRATIC PI ATFORM.
We tie democrats of the United states In
national convention assembled. 30 reaftirm
our allegiance 10 those gre. Z essential prin-
4 eiples OF Justice nrd In ctty uron which our
institutions are fou1drd and which the demo
cratic piFty has d,Ocatcd from Jererson's
time TO our own-frecdom os speech freedom
OF the pre- -. freedom OF conscience the
preservation OF personal rights. the equality
OF all citizens before the s1~ aud the faithful
observance OF constitutional Limitations
Turing all those years tho democratic marty
hns resisted the tendenov OF selfish fnterests
TO the Capitalization OF government Il power
and steadiasuy IN iintained the Integrity OF
inc Gu scheme OF government established b.
the founders OF this repub &c OF repubics
! O'4der IT'S guidance and teachings the rront
principal OF local self-.overnraent HIS found
Its best expression In the maint~n.n nee OF the
rights OF the states and In it's assertion OF the
necessity OF conhniu2 the general governments
TO the exercises OF the powers granted by the
constitution OF the Quilted States
The constitution OF the United States
guarantee to every citizen the right of civil
and religious liberty The democratic party
has always been the exponent of political lib
erty and religious freedom. and IL renews its
oohsations nj resffirms its devotion 20 these
fundamental principles OF the constitution
Recognizing that the money quest ion is par-
amount TO all others At this time. We invite
attention To the fact that the federal consti-
tuition names silver and gold together as the
the nrst coinage law passed by congress under
the constitution made the silver dollar tho
monetary unit OF value and admitted gold to
Tree coinage az q ratio measured by the silver
dollar unit
We declare thstthe act OF 1879 demonetizing
silver without the knowledge or approval OF
the American people has resulted 50 the ap-
probation OF gold and corresponding fall in
tne prices OF commodities produced by tho
/ people, heavy Increase in the burdcn of tax
alton and OF all debts public and private: tho
enrichment OF the money-lending class at
nome and aoroad postration OF industry, and
Impeachment OF the people
We are unalterably opposed to the single
gold standard which has locked fast the pros-
perity OF an industrial people ia the paraly sis
OF hard times. Gold monometallism In N
BRITISH policy and its adoption has brought
other nations Into financial scrvitudo 10 Lon
DON IL Is not only un-Amcr.cnn but nnti-
American lad IL osn be fastened on the United
States only oy tho sizzling Of that indomhable
spirit and love OF liberty which proclaimed
our polteal indo providence in 1875 AID won IN
In the war of the revolution
We demand the free and unlimited coinage
OF both silver and gold NJ tho present legal ratio
OF To- TO l. without waiting for the aid or consent
OF any other nation We demand that tho
standard silver dollar shall be q full legal ten
der. equally with gold for all debts public ana
private and we favor such legislation IS will
prevent the demouetz~ tion OF any kind OF le-
gal tender money by private contract
We are opposed to tho policy and practice
OF surrendering 70 the holders OF the obliga-
;ions OF the United States the opt ion reserved
oy law 10 the government of redecming such
obligations In either silver coin or gold coin
We arc opposed TO the issuing OF interest
bearing bonds OF tho United StRtes in time OF
peace. and condemn the tranickin. with bank
ing syndicutes which. "a exchange for bonds
ana AZ m enormous profit TO themselves. sup
ply the federal treasury with gold TO maintain
the policy OF gold monometalIism
Congress alone has the power TO coin nnd
Issue money. ana President Jackson declared
TINT this power could not be delegated to cor
porations individuals.
We therefore denouncc the Issuance OF
notes Intended to circulate as money bv ma
ttonal binks as in dcrogaton OF the coustitu-
tion and we demand that ill paper which is
made legal tender for public and private
debts or which is receivable for dues to the
United States, shall be issued by the govern
ment Of the United States and shall be rc-
deemable in coin
We hold that tarir duties should be levied
for purposes OF revenue. should also be adj
the country. and MOI discriminate between
class or section, ond that tax .tion
should be limited by the needs OF the govera-
ment honestly and economically administered
We denounce disturbing TO business tho
republican threat 20 restore the Mckinley
Law which has been twice condemned by tho
people In the national elections and
which. en~cted under the false plen of
protection TO home industry. proved n prolific
breeder OF trusts and monopolies enriched
the few at the expense of the many, restricted
trade and deprived tho producers OF the great
American Staples OF access TO their natural
markets Until the money question "A
settled We are opposed to any agita-
tion Tor further hsngCS I'm our tarin
laws, except such as arc necessary to meet
the deficit in revenue caused by the adverse
decision Of the supreme court on the Income
TAX mere would be no deficit Ia tue revenue
Out torthc nnuulmcat bv the supreme court
OF law passed oy democratic congress in
strict pursuance OF the uniform decisions of
tnnt court Tor nearly one hundred yenrs, that
court having In that decision sus-
ta,ncd constitutional objections 10 Its en-
actmcnt which has been previously over
ruled by the aOlcst judges who had ever SAT
on that bench We declare that IL Is the duty
OF congress 10 use all the constitutional power
Which remains after that decision or which
may come from its reversal by the court as 10
may here be constituted so that the bur
oehs ottaXation may be equally and impar-
italy laid To the end that wealth NAV bear It's
oue proportion Of the expenses of government
We hold that the most efficient way OF pro-
tecting American labor is TO prevent the i'm
Fortaton OF foreign paupcr labor To compete
with Tin the home mark l. and with the value
OF the home market to our American farmers
ana artisans Is greatly reduced by n vicious
monetary system which dcpresScs the prices
OF their products below the cost OF production
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 ere In favor OF the arbitration OF differ
enccs between employers engaged In interstate
commerce and their employees. and recon-
mcnd such legislation as is necessary TO carry
out this principle
The absorption OF wealth by the few the
consolidation OF our leading railroad systems,
and the formation OF trusts and POOLS require
n strictcr control by the federal government
OF those arteries Of commerce. We demand
the enlargement OF the Interstate commerce
commission. and such restrictions and guar
antees In the control OF railways es will pro-
tcct the people from robbery and oppression
We denouncc the pro1igate waste OF the
money vrnng from the people by oppressive
taxation and the lavish appropriations OF re-
cent republican Congresses. which hove kept
taxes high. while the labor that pays them is
unemployed and the product OF the peoples
toll ore depressed TIL tIcy no longer re poy tho
cost Of production We dcmand-a return TO
that simplicity and economy which befts
democratic government and o reduction in
the number OF useless officers. the salaries OF
which drain the substance of the people