The Progress., 1896-08-20
ADOPT FREE SILVER.
ENG CRATIC NATIONAL PLAT
FORM IN FULL.
Declares for the Free and Unlimited Coin
age OF Silver at a Ratio OF l6 tc 1-Dp-
posed to Interest Bearing Bonds BE
lssnct by Ike Government

Ne, inc democrats or the lAlleu
States, in national convention assem-
bled, do reatllrm our allegiance to those
great and essential principles Of JUS
tce and liberty upon which our insti-
buttons are founded and which the
Democratic party has advocated from
Jefferson's tine to our own-freedom
! OF speech, freedom of the press, free
dem Of conscience, the preservation OF
! personal rights, the equality Of all per
sons before the law and the faithful OBJ
servanCe Of constitutional limitations.
During all thess years the Democrat
ic party has res Sted the tendency OF
selfish interests, the Capitalization OF
governmental power and steadfast,y
maintained the Integrity Of the dual
scheme Of government established by
the founders OF this republic OF repub-
lies. Under It's guidance the great prin-
ciple OF local self-goveTment has
found its best expression In the main
tenance Of the rights Of the states and
in its assertion OF the necessity Of con-
fining the general government to the
exercise OF the powers granted by the
| constitution Of the United States.
Recognizing that the money ques-
ton is paramount to all Others ct this
NEle, 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 do
lar the monetary unit and admitted
gold to free coinage at a ratio based
upon the silver unit.
We declare that the act OF 1873, de-
monetizing silver without the knowl
edge or approval of the American peo-
pie, has resulted in the appreciation of
god and q corresponding fall in the
prices of commodities produced by the
people.
We are unalterab.y opposed to tAe
recommendation which has locked fast
the prosperity OF industrious people
in the paralysis Of hard times. Gold
recommendation is British policy, and
Its adoption has brought other nations
into financial servitlde to London. 1t
Is not only un-American, but anti
American, and it can be fastened on the
United States only by the sitting OF
that spirit of love Of liberty which pro-
claimed our political independence in
1875. and Won it in the war Of the rcvo-
hutton.
We demand the free and unlimited
coinage Of both gold and silver at the
present legal ratio Of 16 to !. without
waiting for the aid or consent OF any
other nation. We demand that the
standard silver dollar shall be a full
,eg8. tender equally Win god, for al
depts, public and private, and we favor
such legislation as will prevent for the
future the decentralization Of any kind
of legal tender money by private con-
tract
We are opposed to the policy and
practice of surrendering to the holders
Of the Obligations Of the United States
the option reserved by law to the gov
eminent Of reeeming such obligations
in either silver co.l or gold cCin.
Wo are opposed to the issuing Of in
terest- bearing bonds CT the United
! States in time of peace, and condemn
the ,rafIicking with banking syndi2ates
which, in exchange for bonds ard at
an enormous profit to themselves sup
ply the F'eeral treasury with gold TO
maintain the policy Of gold monometal-
| lism.
Congress alone has the power to
coin and issue money, and President
Jackson declared that this power could
mot be delegated to corporations or in
diuidu2ls We, therefore, demand that
the power to issue notes to circulate as
money be taken from the national
hanks, and that all paper money shall
ha issued directly by the treasury de-
nsrsmeat and be rodaemobie in ccin
and receivable for al de.5,s, public and
private.
Wethold that The tariff duties should
he ,eytet, Tor purposes OF revenue, such
duties to be so adjusted as to operate
neutrality-suspicious. the country and not
/ diecrimnate between class OF section,
ood that taxation should be limited by
the needs Of the government, honestly
and economically administered. We &C.
nounce as disturbing to business the
Republican threat to restore the Me-
Kinley law, which has been twice con-
demned by the people in national Gee
tons and which, enacted under The
false plea o. protection to home indus
try. proved q prolific breeder OF u ATS
and moaopCaes, enriched the few at
the expense OF the many, restricted
trade and deprived the producer OF the
great American staples OF access to
their natural markets.
Until the money question 10 settled