Omaha daily bee., 1896-07-09
OUT FOR FREE SILVER
Declaration Of Principles Set Forth by the
Chicago Convention.
DEMOCRATS SPRING SOME SURPRISES
Opposition to the Present National Banking
System Announced.
REPUBLICAN TARIFF POLICY DENOUNCED
Constitutional Amendment for an Income
Tax is Called For.
UBLlCAN TARIFF POLICY DENOUNCED
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM GETS A BODY BLOW
Statement Of bourbon Principles for
the Pending National Campaign
Radically Different from
Former Ones.

CHICAGO, July S.-The platform upon
which the democratic campaign of 1896 will
be fought differs radically in many respects
from the party's declarations in previous
national contests. The demand For the free
coinage of silver at a ratio with gold of 16
to 1 had already been anticipated, and its
effects discounted. Some of the other plaaks
In the platform. however, come as q surprise
to many OF the older leaders OF the party.
TIE demand for the abolition Of the national
bank currency and the civil service plank
are now features in national democratic
platforms. Sympathy for the Cuban revolu-
florists is expressed in very guarded terms.
Governor Altgeld's insistence for a plank
dcnouncing federal interference in strikes
ie modified to a protest against government
ty injunction" The platform in fun is as
follows:
We, the democrats of the United States,
I'm convention assembled, do reatiirm our
allegiance to these great cssehuiat pIin.
ciples of justice and liberty upon whlch our
institutions are founded and which the
democratic party has advocated from Jefer-
sons time to our own-frecdom OF speech,
freedom of press, freedom or CONSCIENCE,
equality of all citizens before the law. and
the faithful observance of constitutional
Recognizing that the money system is
paramount to all others at this time, we
Invite attention to the fact that the federal
constitution names silver and gold together
as the money metals of the United States
and that the first coinage law passed BY
congress under the constitution made the
silver, dollar the monetary unit ana adj
mitted gold to free coinage at a ratio based
upon the silver dollar unit.
We declare that the act of 1913, demoneti2-
ing silver without. the knowledge or APP;
proval of the American people, has resulted
in the appreciation of gold and a CORE
spending fail in the prices of commodities
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 mpoverishment
of the people.
metallism. which has locked fast the
prosperity OF an industrial people IN the
metailism is a British policy and its adop-
ton has brought other nations into financial
american. but anti-Ameriean, and il can
be fastened on the United States only by
the Sliding Of that spirit and love OF liberty
In 1776 and won 1t in the war of the revolt
tion.
age of both gold and silver at the present
legal ratio Of l6 TO / without waiting for
We demand that the standard silver dollar
shall be full LEGAL tender equally with
We favor such legislation as will prevent
for the future the characterization of any
kind of legal tender money by private con-
We are opposed to the policy and practice
of surrendering to the holders of the obliga-
lions of the United States the option re-
served by law to the government OF re-
deeming such obligations in either silver
We are opposed to the Issuing of interest
bearing bonds of the United States in time
banking. syndicates, which, in exchanging
for bonds at an enormous, profit TO them
selves, supply the federal treasury with
gold 10 maintain the policy of the gold
monometalllsm.
Congress alone has tine power TO coin and
clarcd that this power could not be dele
gated to corporations or individuals. We
therefore demand that the power to issue
notes to circulate as money be taken from
the national banks and that all paper
Treasury department and be redeemable in
coin and receivable for all debts, public and
We hold that tariff duties should be
levied for purposes of revenue, such duties
throughout the country and not dlscrimin-
ate between class or section, and that
taxation should be limited by the needs of
the government. honestly and economically
administered We denounce as disturbing
TO business the republican threat to restore
condemned by the people IN national cleo
tions. and which, enacted under the false
plea Of protection TO home industry, proved
n prolific breeder of trusts and monopolies,
enriched the few at the expense OF many,
of the great American staples OF access
10 their natural markets:
Until the money question is settled we
are opposed to any agitation for further
changes In our tariff laws, except such as
a naSen meee saasyd TO Sv mage max od up sne dS dSi!GiS IN
But for this decision by the supreme court
there would be no deficit i'm the revenue
under the law passed by n democratic con-
gross in strict pursuance of the uniform dc
that court having under that decision sus-
tanned constitutional objections to its
SSn y me ohI Mhlch ,u1 e@Sc w been 0yerrnled
sat on that. bench. We declare that It is
stitutiOnal power which remains after that
decision. or which. may come from its re-
yersal by the court as l. may hereafter be
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 most efficient way of
protecting American labor is to prevent the
Importation OF foreign pauper labor TO
that the value of homo market to our .Ameri-
can farmers and artisans is greatly, reduced
presses the prices Of their products below
the COS OF production, and thus deprives
them OF the means of purchasing the prod
ucts of our home manufactures
The absorption of wealth by the few, the
consolidation of our leading railway systems
and the formation OF trusts aud pools re-
quire a strlcter control by the federal gov
demand the enlargement Of the powers of
the Interstate commission and
such restrictions and guarantees in the con
troll OF railroads as viii protect the people
from robbery ana oppression.
TOO MANY OFFICES.
We denounce the pronlsate waste of the
money wrung from the people by oppressive
taxation and the lavish appropriations of
recent republican, congresses, which have
kept the taxes high, while the labor that
pays them is unemployed. ana the products
Of the peoples toll are depressed In price
till they no longer repay the cost OF produc-
ton. We demand a return 70 that sim
plicity and economy which best BELTS Il
the number of useless Offices, the salaries OF
which drain the substance Of the country.
We denounce arbitrary Interference by
federal authorities In local affairs as a viola
tion of the constitution OF the United States
and a crime against free institutions. ana
We especially object to government by in
Junction as a new and highly dangerous
form of oppression by which federal judges
In contempt OF the laws of the state and
rights Of citizens, become at once leglsla-
tors, judges and eNecutioners. and We ap-