The advocate., 1896-09-09


limited issues OF paper money by the
government;they abandon for Republican
allies the Democratic cause Of tariff re-
form to court the favor OF proteCtionists
to their fiscal hsresy. In view Of these
and other grave departures from Demo-
cratic principles, we cannot support the
candidate Of that convention, nor be
bound by its acts. The Democratic
party has survived many defeats, but
could not survive q victory won in be-
hGlR OF the doctrine and policy pro-
claimed in its name at Chicago. The
conditions, however, which make pos
sible such utterRnces for national con-
vention are the direct result Of class
legislation by the Republican party. IL
still prUclaims as it has for years the
power and duty Of government to raise
and maintain prices by law, and it pro-
poses no remedy for existing evils
except oppressive aud unjust taxation.
The national Democracy here convened
therefore reneWs it's declaration Of q
faith in Democratic principles, especially
as applicable to the conditions Of the
times.
"Taxation tariff, excise or direct, is
rightfully imposed only for public pur-
poses and not for private gain. It's
amount is Justly measured by public
expenditures, which should be limited
by sCrupulous economy. The sum
derived by the Treasury from tariff and
excise leVies Is affected by the state Of
trade and Of consumption. The amount
required by the Treasury is determined
by the appropriations made by Congress.
The demand Of the Republican party
for an increase in the tariff tax has Its
pretext In the deficiency Of revenue
which has its causes in the stagnation Of
trade and reduced consumption, due
entirely to the loss Of confidence that
has followed the Populist threat Of free
coinage and depreciation Of our money
and the Republican practice Of extraVa-
CANT appropriations beyond the needs Of
good government.
"We arraign and condemn the POpu.
listic conventions of Chicago and st.
Louis for their cooperation with the
Republican party, increasing these
conditions, which are pleaded in justi-
fcation Of a heavy increase in the
burdens Of the people and a further
resort to protection. We therefore
denounce protection and its ally, free
coinage OF silver, as schemes for the
personal profit Of few OF the expense
OF the many, and oppose the two parties
which stand for these schemes as hostile
to the people Of the republic, whose food
and shelter, comfort and property are
attacked by higher taxes and deprecated
money. In fine, we reaftirm the historic
Democratic doctrine Of tariff for revenue
only.
awe demand that henceforth modern
and liberal policies toward American
shipping shall take the place OF our
imitation of the restricted statutes Of
the eighteenth century, which were
abandoned by every maritime power but
the United States, and which to the
nations humiliation, have driven Ameri-
can capital and enterprise TO the use OF
alien hags and alien crews; have made
the stars and stripes an almost unknown
emblem in foreign countries, and have
virtually extiDguished the race OF
American seRmen. We oppose the
pretense that discriminating duties will
promote shipping and that scheme which
is an invitation TO commercial warfare
upon the United States. un-American in
the light OF our great commercial treaties,
offering no gain whatever to American
shipping, while greatly increasing ocean
freights on our agricultural and manu-
factured products.
"The experience Of mankind has shown
that, by reason OF their natural qualities,
gold is the necessary money OF the large
affairs Of commerce and business, while
silver is conveniently adapted to minor
transactions, and the most beneficial use
OF both together can be insured only by