The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1896-09-17


of trade aud reduced consumption, due
entirely to loss Of confidence that mas
followed the Populist threat OF free
coinage and the depreciation OF our
money and the Republican practice OF
extravaganza appropriations beyond tne
needs of good government.
1--WE arraign and condemn the Pop
ulistic conventions of Chicago and st.
Louis for their cooperation with the
Republican party for increasing thess
conditions, which are applied In Justl-
fication of the heavy increase OF the
burdens of the people and further resols
to protection. We therefore denounce
protection and its ally, the free coinage
of silver, as schemes for the personal
profit of the few at the expense OF the
many, and oppose the two parties
which stand for these schemes as nos
tile to the people of the republic, whose
food and shelter, comfort and property
are attacked by higher taxes and depre-
ciated money.
"In fine, we reaffirm the democratic
doctrine of q tariff for revenue only;
we demand that henceforth modern and
liberal policies toward American ship
ping shall take the place of our imita-
ton of restrictive statutes OF the 18TH
century, which were abandoned by
every maritime power but the United
States, and which. to the nations
humiliation, have driven American
capital and enterprise to the use OF
alien flags and alien crews; have made
the stars and stripes an almost IN
known emblem in foreign countries,
and have virtually extinguished the
race of American seamen.
1--WE denounce the pretense that dis
elimination duties will promote ship
ping, and we declare that scheme 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 agricultural and
manufactured products:
1.-The experience Of mankind has
shown that, by 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 the adoption of the former az
the standard of monetary measure and
the maintenance of silver at parity
with gold by its unlimited coinage IN
der such safeguards of law. Thus is
the largest possible enjoyment of both
metals gained, with the value uri-
versally accepted throughout the world,
which constitutes the only practical
currency, assuring the most stable
standard, and especially the best and
safest money for all who earn liveli
hood by labor or the products of hus-
bandry. They cannot suffer when paid
in the best money known to man, but
are peculiar and most defenseless vic
Tins of debased and fluctuating cur
rency, which offers continued profits tc
the money changer, at their cost
Realizing these truths, demonstrate
ed by long public inconvenience and
loss, the Democratic party, in the in
terest of the masses and equal justice
to all, practically established by the
legislation of 1884 and 1853 the gold
standard of monetary measurement,
and likewise entirely divorced the gov.
eminent from banking and currency is.
sues
ITO this long esta blished democratic
policy we adhere, and insist upon the
maintenance of the gold standard and
of the parity Herewith of every dollar
issued by the government, and are
firmly opposed to the free and unlimit-
ed coinage of silver and to the compul-
sorry purchase of silver bullion.
"But we denounce also further, the
maintenance of the present costly
patch. work system of national paper
currency as constant source of injury
and peril. We assert the necessity Of
such an intelligent currency system as
will confne the government to it's
legitimate functions, completely sep
arated from the banking business, and
afford to all sections of our country a
uniform, safe and elastic bank cur
rency under government supervision,
measured in volume by the needs of
business.
1.-THE patriotism, fidelity and courage
with which President Cleveland has
fulfilled his great public trust, the
vigorous character of his administra-
ton, its wisdom and energy in the
maintenance of civil order and the en-
forcement of the laws. its equal regard
for the rights of every class and every
section, its firm and dignified conduct
of the foreign affairs, and its sturdy
persistence in upholding the credit and
honor of the nation, is fully recognized
by the Democl attic party, and will Sc
cure him place in history beside the
Father of the Republic. We also COM
mend the administration for the great
progress made in reform of the public
service, and we indorse its efforts to ex.
tend the merit system still further; we
demand that no backward step be
taken, but that the reform be support
ed and advanced until the undemo-
cratic sytem of appointment shall be
eradicated. We demand strict economy
in appropriations and in the admins
tration of government. We favor arhi-
tration for the settlement of information.
al disputes We favor liberal policy
of pensions to deserving soldiers and
sailors of the United States.
1.-THE supreme court of the United
States was wisely established by the
trainers of our constitution as one of
the three coordinate branches of gov
eminent. and its independence and au-
thority to interpret law without fear or
favor must be maintained. We con-
denim all efforts tn defap,o tho tr;h,oo1