The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-07-18
PLArEORM
Full text of the Incarnation OF Princip
us Finally Passed.

areeiancc to these great essential principles
of justice ana liberty upon which our lhstllu-
tionS are founded, and which the democratic
party has maintained from JcfcrSon'S time To
our own-frecdon of speech, freedom of the
press, freedom of conscience. the preservation
of personal rights, the equality of all cltlZenS
before the law, and tho faithful observance OF
constitutional limitations.
The constitution of the United States guar
nntees to every citizen the right OF civil and
religious liberty. The democratic party has
always been the exponent OF political liberty
and religious freedom, ana it rcnews its obli-
cations and reanirms its devotion to these run
damental principles OF the constitution.
During all these years the democratic party
has resisted tho tendency of selfish interests
to the Capitalization Of governmental power
and has steadfaStly maintained the mteg-
rity of the dual scheme OF government ostab-
lished by the founders of this republic OF re-
publics. Under it's guidance and teachings the
great principle of local self-government has
found it's best expression in the maintenance
of the rights of the states and its assertion
that it is necessary to connne the general gov
eminent to the exercise of the powers granted
by the constitution OF the United States.
Recognizing that the money question is par
amount to all others at this time, we invite
attention to the fact that tho federal constitu-
ton names silver and gold together rs the
money metals Of the United States. and that
the first co image law passed by congress under
the constitution made the silver dollar The
unit of value, ana admitted gold TO Tree coin
age Mt n ratio measured by the silver dollar
unit
We declare that the act OF 1873, dcmonetiz-
ing silver without the knowledge or approval
of the Americ IN people, has resulted in the
appreciation OF gold and n corresponding fall
in the prices Of commodities produced by the
people; n 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 paralysis of industry and
49, ~ ~ Fha naAn1n
We are unalterably opposed to the single
gold standard, which has locked fast the pros
perity OF an Industrious people in the paraly-
sis OF hard times. Gold recommendation Is n
British policy, founded upon British greed for
gain and power, and it's general adoption has
brought other nations into financial servitude
to London. IL is not only un-American, but
anti-American, and it can be fastened upon
the United States only by the sitting OF that
indomitable spirit and love OF liberty which
proclaimed our political independence in l776
and won it in the war OF the revolution.
We demand the Immediate restoration OF
the free and unlimited coinage of gold and
silver at the present legal ratio of sixteen to
one, without waiting for the aid or consent of
any other nation. We demand that the stand
ard silver dollar shall be a full legal tender
equally with gold, for all debts, public and
private, aad we favor such legislation as will
prevent the decentralization of any kind of
legal tender money by private contract.
We are opposed to the policy and practice of
surrendering to the holders OF obligations OF
the United States the option reserved by law
to the government OF redeeming such obliga-
lions in either silver coin or gold coin
We are opposed to the issuing OF interest
bearing bonds of the United States in times of
peace, and condemn the traflcing with banking
syndicates which. in exchange for bonds and at
enormous profit to themselves, supply the
federal treasury with gold to maintain the
policy of gold recommendation.
Congress alone has the power to coin and
issue money, and President Jackson declared
that this power could not be delegated to cor
or individuals. We therefore de-
mand that the power to issue notes be taken
from the banks. and that all paper money
shall be issued directly by the treasury depart
ment
We hold that tariff duties should be levied
solely for the purposes Of revenue, and that
taxation should be limited by the needs OF the
government, honestly and economically adj
We d~enounce US disturbing to
business the republican threat TO restore the
Mckinley law. which has been twice con-
demned by the people in national elections,
and which, enacted under the false plea of pro-
lection to home industry, proved n prolific
breeder of trusts and monopolieS, enriched the
few at the expense of the many, restricted
trade and deprived the producers OF the great
American staples OF access TO their natural
Until the money question Is settled, we are
opposed to any agitation for further changes
in our tariff laws except such as are necessary
to make up the deficit In revenue caused by
the adverse decision OF the supreme court on
the income tax.
But for this decision by the supreme court
there would be no deficit in the revenue under
the law passed by n democratic congress in
strict pursuance OF the uniform decisions of
that court for nearly 100 years, that court hav-
ing in that decision sustained constitutional
to its enactment which had previ-
iously been overruled by the ablest judges who
have ever sat on that bench. We declare that
it is the duty of congress to use all the constf-
tutional power which remains after that de-
cision, or which may come from its reversal by
the court as it may hereafter be constituted,
so that the burdens of taxation may equally
and impartially lead to the end that wealth
may bear its due proportion of the expenses
OF the government.
We hold that the efficient way of protecting
American labor Is to prevent the importation
of foreign pauper labor to compete with it IN
the home market, and that the value of the
home market to our American farmers and
artisans is greatly reduced by n vicious none
tary system, which depresses the prices of
their products below the cost of production.
and thus deprives them Of the means of salts
flying their needs.
The absorption of wealth by the few, the
consolidation Of our leading railway systems
and the formation Of trusts and pools, require
a stricter control by the federal government
of those arteries OF IN We demand
the enlargement OF the powers OF the inter-
state commerce commission and such ~restric-
lions and guarantees in the control OF rail-
roads as will protect the people from robbery
and oppression.
We denounce the prohigate waste of the
money wrung from the people by oppressive
taxation, and the lavish appropriations of re-
cent republican congresses, which have kept
taxes high, while the laborer that pays them
is unemployed and products of the people TO it
are depressed in price till they no longer repay
tho ,ngt 81 nr,lratfnp Wa 1annanl n ratnrn
to that simplicity and economy which best
BELTS n democratic government and reduction
in the number of useless offices. the salaries of
which drain the substance of the people.
We denounce arbitrary interference by fed
eral authorities in local affairs as a violation
of the constitution Of the United States and a
crime against free institutions. and we espe-
cially object to government by injunction as "A
new and highly dangerous form of oppression
by which federal judges, in contempt OF the
laws OF the state and the rights of citizens, be-
come at once Legislators, judges and execution
ers, and we approve the bill passed at the last
session Of the United States senate and now
pending in the house, relative to contemptsi in
federal courts, and providing for trials by jury
in certain cases of contempt
No discrimination should be INDUCED in by
the government of the United States in favor
OF any Of its debtors. We approve of the re-
fusal of the Fifty-Third congress to pass the
Pacific railroad funding bill, and denounce the
VI bht plC9Ohb itPubAhShh SOhki = W
enact a similar measure.
Recognizing the Just claims of deserving
union soldiers, We heartily indorse the rule OF
the present commissioner of pensions that no
names shall be arbitrarily dropped from tho
pension roll. and the fact of enlistment and
should be deemed conclusive evidence
against disease and disability before enlist
ment.
We favor the admission of the territories
of New Mexico and Arizona into the union as
states, and we favor the early admission of all
the territories having the necessary popula-
tton and resources to %entitle them to state
hood, and while they remain territories we
hold that the officials appointed to administer
the government of any territory together with
the District OF Columbia and Alaska, should
be bona hde residents of the territory or dis
trict In which their duties are to be performed,
The democratic party believes In home rule
and that all public lands OF the United States
should be appropriated to the establishment
OF free homes for American citizens.
We that the territory of Alaska
be granted u delegato In congress and that tho
general land and timber laws OF the United
States he extended to said territory.
The Monroe doctrine as originally declared
and as interpreted by succeeding presidents is
a permanent part of the foreign policy of the
United States and must at all times be main
tanned.
We extend our sympathy to the people OF
Cuba in their heroic struggle for liberty and
independence
We are opposed to life tenure in the public
service. We favor appointments based upon