The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-07-24
THE PLATFROM.

Ihe paramount Issue at this time in
uho United STATES is indisputably the
money question. 1t is between the
British gold standard, gold bonds and
BANK currency on one side, and bi-
metallic standard, no bonds, govern
ment currency (and American policy on
bhe other. On this issue we declare our
selves 90 be in favor of a distinctive
American financial system. We are IN
alterably opposed to the single gold
standard and demand the immediate re-
turn to the constitutional standard of
gold and silver, by the restoration by this
government, Independently of any for
eign power of unrestricted coinage of
both gold and silver into standard money
at a ratio Of 16 to / and upon terms of sx-
act equality as they existed prior to 1873,
silver coin to be Of full legal tender,
equally with gold, for all debts and dues,
public or private. We demand such legis-
lation as viii prevent for future destruo-
oion OF legal tender quality of any kind
OF money by private contract.
we hold the power to control and regu-
late paper currency Is inseparable from
power to ooin money and hence that all
urrency intended to oiroulate as money
SHOULD be issued and its volume CON-
trollsd by the gen eral government only,
ana should be legal tender.
we are unalteIably opposed to the issue
py the United States of interest bearing
bonds in time of peace; we denounce as q
nlunder worse than crime, the present
| treasury policy oonGurred in by the Re
publican House Of planRing tho country
into 6ahE hV rT1n6rada Of millions in tha
vain attempt to maintain the old
standard by borIo owing gold; we demand
the payment of all coin obligations of the
United States as provided by existing
| laws In either gold or silver coin, at the
option of the government and not at the
tion OF silver In 1873, enormously in
creased the demand for gold, enhancing
Its purchasing power and lowering all
prices measured by that standard. Since
that unjust and indefensible act, prices
of American products have fallen upon
an average OF nearly 80 per cent carrying
with them proportionately the money
value of all other forms Of property.
Suoh q fall of prices has destroyed the
profits of legitimate industry, injuring
the producer for the benefit of the nom
producer, Increasing the burden of the
debtor, swelling the gains of the creditor
paralyzing the produtive energies of the
American people and RELOCATING to idle
ness vas5 NUN ber of willing workers !;
sending the shadows of despair into the
home of the honest toiler, and filing the
land with tramps and paupers, building
up colossal fortunes at the money centres.
In the effort to maintain the gold
standard the country has within the last
two years, in time Of profound peace
and plenty, boen loaded down with $3.50, :
600, GOO additional interest bearing debt
isrr, do. 1nf, nj ofo 10 all
syndicate of native and foreign bankers
to realize new. profit of millions on a
Il stands confessed that the gold
standard can be only upheld by SO de-
pleting our currency as to force the
prices of our products blow the European
and even below the Asiatic level, TO en-
9 ole us to sell i'll foreign markets. thus
aggrayating the very evils of which our
people so bitterly complain, degrading
American labor and striking at the
foundations of our civilization itself. i
The advocates of the gold standard per-
siatently claim that the real cause of our
distress Is over production. THAT we
have produced so much it made US poor,
which implies that the true remedy is to
close the factory, abandon the farm and
throw multitude of people out of en-
ployment A. doctrine that leaves us
unneEved and disheartensd and absolute
ly without hope for future. We affirm to
be unquestioned there can be no such
economic paradox as over-production,
and at tho same time tens Of thousands
of our fellow citizens remaining half
clothed and half fed, who are piteously
clamoring for the common necessities of
life.
Over and above all other questions of
policy, we are In favor of restoring to the
people OF the United States the time
honored money of the constitution gold
and silver, not one but both-the money
of Washington, Hamilton. Jefferson.
Monroe, jackson and Lincoln, to the end
that the American people may received
| honest pay for honest product, that the
American debtor may pay his just obli-
cations in an honest standard and not In
dishonest and unsound standard, ap-
preolated hundred per cent in purchas-
ing power and no appreciation in debt
paying power and to the end, that the
silver standard countries may be deprived
of unjust advantage they now enjoy, In
the difference In exchange between gold
and silver, advantage which tariff legis-
lation cannot overcome.
We therefore confidently appeal to the
people of the United States to hold in
abeyance all other questions however i'm
portant and even momentoua. that they
may appear to sunder il need be, all for
mer party ties and affiliations and unite
in one supreme effort to free themselves
and children from the domination of the
money power, power more destructive
than any which has ever been fastened
upon civilized men of any race or in any
age, and upon the consummation of our
desires and efforts; we evoke the aid of
all patriotic American citizens and the
gracious favor of Divine Providence.
Inasmuoh as the patriotic majority of
the Chicago convention embodied in the
financial plank of it's platform the prin-
ciples enunciated in the platform OF
American, bi-metallio party. promulgated
at Washington, D. c., January 90, 1896.
and herein reiterated which is not only
the paramount. but the only real issue
In the impending campaign, therefore
| recognizing their nominees embody these
patriotic principles, we recommend that
| this convention nominate VIM. j. Bryan
of Nebraska for President and Arthur
Sewall of Maine for Vice President.
RAN THE WHOLE SHOW.