Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1896-10-19
A MODEL PLATFORM.

Convention,
The following is the full and com.
plete platform as adopted by the
National Democratic convention:
We, the Democrats of the United
States In national convention assemb.
LED, do reatlirm our allegiance to those
great essential principles of Justice
ana liberty upon which our institll.
tlons are founded, and which the
Democratic party has advocated from
Jefferson's time TO our own-freedom
of speech, freedom of the press. free
dom of conscience, the preservation of
personal rights the equality of all
citizens before the law, and the faith
full observance of constitutional limi-
tations.
During all these years the Demo-
cratic party has resisted the tendency
OF selfish interests to the centraliZ-
alton OF governmental power. and
Steadfastly maintained the integrity
of the dual scheme of government
established by the found ,rs of this
republic of republics. Under its
guidance and teachings the great
principle of local Self-government has
found its best expression in the main
| tenance Of the rights Of the states
and in its assertion of the necessity
OF conining the general government
to the exercise of powers granted by
! the constitution of the United States.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
The constitution of the United
States guarantees to every citizen the
rights of civil and religious liberty.
The democratic party has always been
the exponent of political liberty and
religious freedom and il renews its
obligations and reatirms its devotion
to these fundamental principles of
the constitution.
FINANCE.
Recognizing that the money ques-
tion is paramount to all Others at this
| time, we invite attention to the fact
that the constitution names silver
and gold together as the money metals
| of the United States, and that the
first coinage law passed by congress
under the constitution made the sill
yer dollar the money unit, and ad-
mitted gold to free coinage at a ratio
based upon the silver dollar unit.
We declare that the act Of 1873 de-
monetzing silver without the knowl-
edge or approval of the American peo-
pie has resulted in the appreciation
of gold, and corresponding fall in
the price 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, the prostration of industry,
and impOveriShment of the people.
We are unalterably opposed to mon
Ometallisnl, which has locked fast the
prosperity of an industrial people in
paralysis of hard times, Gold mono |
metallism is a British policy, and its
adoption has brought other nations |
into financial servitude to London. |
1t is not only un-American, but anti
American, and it can be fastened on |
the United States only by the sitting
of that spirit and love of liberty |
which proclaimed our political indie
pendence in 1776 and won in the war
of the revolution. G.
FREE COINAGE.
We demand the free and unlimited
coinage of both silver and gold at the
present legal ratio Of 16 to /, without
other nation. We demand that the
standard silver dollar shall be full
legal tender, equally with gold, for all
debts, public and private, and we
favor such legislation as will prevent
for the future the demOnetizatiOn Of
any kind Of legal tender money by
private contract.
BONDS.
We are opposed to the policy and
practice of Surrendering to the hold
ers of the obligations, Of the United
States. the option reserved by law t0
The government OF redeeming such OBJ
legations in either silver coin or gold
coin.
We are opposed to the Issuing OF in
bonds of the United
States in time OF peace, and condemn
he trafficking with banking syndi-
,ates which, in exchange for bonds
md at an enormous profit 10 them :
selves, supply the federal treasury
With gold To maintain the policy OF
,Old recommendation.
ISSUE OF MONEY.
Congress alone has the power TO '
DIN and issue money, and Prerident !
Jackson declared that this power
Ould not be delegated 10 corporations
n individuals. We therefore de-
ounce the Issuance Of notes intended 1
o circulate as money by national /
anks as in derOgatiOn Of the cnnsti- I
utinn. and we demand that all paper
.hich is made legal tender for /,
ubllc and private debts or which is
aceigable for duties 10 the United
tatcs shall be be ISSUED by the gov
rnment Of the United States and /
han be Tedeemable in coin. '
TARIFF.
We hold that tariff duties should he 7
,vied for purpose Of revenue, such du :.
Is 10 be so adjusted as 10 operate
Iually thUughout the country and 3
B discriminate between class or sec,