Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-08-03
SILVER PARTY PLATFORM.

Following is the platform adopted
by the National Silver convention at
st. Louis: 7h
The National Silver party in conven-
ton assembled hereby adopts the follow
ing declaration Of principles:
First-The paramount issue at this
time in the United States is indisputably
the money question. 1t is between the
gold standard, gold bonds and bank cur
rency on one side and the bimetallic
standard, no bonds and government cur
rency on the other.
On this ISSUE, we declare ourselves to
be in favor Of a fdistinctiyely American
financial system We are unalterably
opposed to the single gold standard and
demand the immediate return to the con-
stitutional standard of gold and silver, by
the restora tion,i by this government, in
dependently of any foreign power, Of the
unrestricted coinage of gold and silver as
the standard money, at the ratio Of 16 to
/, and upon terms of exact equality, as
they existed prior to 1873; the silver
coin to be full legal4tender, equally with
gold, for all debts and dues, public and
private, and We favor such legislation as
will prevent for the future the demonetl-
zation Of any kind of legal tender money
by private contract.
We hold that the power to control and
regulate a paper currency is inseparable
from the power to, coin money, and hence,
that all currency intended to circulate as
money should be.issued, and its volume
controlled by theQ general government
only, and should be legal tender.
W. 1ro, ,T,,. l>l1y M7npnSod tO tho iS-
sue by the United States Of interest bear
ing bonds in time of peace and we de-
nounce as a blunder worse than crime the
present treasury policy, incarred by a
Republican House, of plunging into debt
by hundreds of millions, ia the vain att
tempt to- maintain the gold standard by
Borrowing gold. and we demand the pay
ment of ali. cDin Obligations of the United
States as provided by existing. laws, Ii
either gold or silver coin, at the option OF
the governments and not at the opSlon OF
the CREDITOR.
Secondhand over and above all other.
questions. of policy, we are in. favor OF re-
storing to heapeople of the United States
the time-honored money of the cons$ntu-
tion-gold and silver, not ONE but; both
the money of Washington and Hamii--
ton, and Jefferson: and Monroe, and jack
son, and Lincoln, to- the end that tile
American people may receive honestI pay
for honest product; that the' American
debtor may ay,hisS just obligations in an
honest standard and mott in az Standard
that has appreciated 1NO per cent! above
all the great' staples off our country, anu
to the end ftarther, that silver" standards
countries may be deprived of the unjust.
advantage they now. erjDy. in the differ
ence in exchange between gold and silver
an advantages, which tariff legislation
cannot overcome
We therefore, confidently appeal to the
people of he.'Tnited States to0 leave in
allegiance for THE moment, all Other ques-
lions. to sundefs if need be, all former
party ties and affiliations and unite in
one supreme effoRt to free themselves and
their children fr@m the domination eff the
money power--arpo power moTe destructive
than any which has ever been" fastened
upon the civilize8 men of any race or in
any age And UPON the contamination of
our desires andF efforts we invoke the
gracious favor oRsDivine Providence.