The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-07-15
The National Democratic Platform.

S6nOlSus uu I6akuTdl Jul ailo6'onCoso
the essential principles of justice and lib
erey upon which our Institutions are
founded, and which the Democratic party
has advocated from Jetferson's tune tn
our own-freedom of speech, freedom OF
the press, freedom of conscience, the pre-
servation of personal rights, the equality
of all citizens before the law, and the
faithful observance Of the constitutional
limitations. During all these years the
Democratic party has resisted the ten
dency ofselfsh interests to the central!za-
ton of government power, and ~steadfast.
~ maintained the integrity of the dual
scheme of Government established by the
founders Of this republic Of republics.
Ueder its guidance and teachings the
great principle of local self: government
has found its best expression In the
maintenance of rights of the States and
its assertion Of the necessity OF conhnlng
the general government to the exercised OF
the powers granted by the constitution OF
the United States. The constitution OF
the United States guarantees to every
citizen the rights Of civil aud religious
liberty. The Democratic party has al
ways been the exponent OF political lib
erty and religious freedom, and 1t renew
its obligations aud reafirms its devotion
to these fundamental principles of the
constitution.
MONEY QUEsTIoN-Recognizing that
the money question Is paramount to all
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 un-
der the Constitution made the silver dol
lar the monetary unit and admitted gold
to free coinage at a ratio based upon the
silver dollar unit.
we declare that the Act of 1878, demon
etizing silver without the knowledge or
approval Of the American people, has re-
suited in the appreciation of gold and a
commodities produced by the people; q
heavy increase in the burden of taxation
and Of all debts, public aud private; the
enrichment of the money-lending class
ut home and abroad, the prostration of
industry and impoverishment of the peo-
pie.
AGAINST GOLD STANDARD-We are un-
alterabiy opposed TO monometellism,
which has locked fast the prosperity OF
an industrial people in the paralysis Of
hard times. Gold monometallism is a
British policy, and its adoption has
brought other nations into financial ser
vitude to- London. 1t Is not only 10
American but anti-American, and it can
be fastened on the United States only by
the sitting of that spirit and love of lib
erty which proclaimed our political indie
pendeuce in l776 and VOL it in the wal of
the revolution.
FREE COINAGE DEMANDED-We de.
mand the free and unlimited coinage of
both silver and gold at the present legal
ratio of l6 TO ], without waiting for the
aid or consent Of any other nation. We
demand that the standard silver dollar
shall be a full legal tonder, equally with
gold, for all debts, public and private, and
we favor such legislation as will prevent
for the future the characterization of any
kind of legal tender money by privat.
contract.
We ars opposed to the policy and prac
tice of surrenderipg to the holders OF the
obligations of the United States the op
ton reserved by the law to the govern
ment OF redeeming such obligations In Ell
Their silver coin or gold coin.
AGAINST BOND ISSUES We are oppos-
ed to the issuing of interest bearing
bonds OF the United States in time OF
peace and condemn the traficking with
banking s%yDdicates which, in exchange
for bonds and at an enormous profit to
themselves, supply the Federal treasury
with gold to maintain the policy of gold
monometallism.
Congress alone has the power to coin
and issue money, and President Jackson
declared that this power could not be-
delegated to corporations aud individuals.
We therefore denounce the issuance of
notes intended to circulate as money by
national banks as in derogatiOn of the
Constitutions; and we demand that all pa
per which is made a legal tender for pub.
Tic and private debts, or which Is receiva
BILE for dues to the United States shall be
issued by the government OF the United
States and shall be redeemable in coin.
A REVENUE TARIFF-We hold tina,
tariff duties should b. levied for purposes
of revenue, such duties to be 30 adj listed
as to operate equally throughout the
country aud not discriminate between
class or section, and that taxation should
be limited by the needs OF the govern
ment, honestly aud economically admin
istered. We denounce as disturbing to
business the Republican threat to restore
the Mckinley law, which has twice been
condemned by the people in national
elections, and which, enacted under the
false plea Of protection to home indus
tries, proved q prolific breeder of trusts
and monopolies, enriched the few at the
expense of the many, restricted trade and
deprived the producers OF the great Amer
lean staples of access to 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
are necessary to meet the deficit in reve.
nue. caused BY the adverse decision Of the
C,-~n-1 (In,,rk nm TIM Srnnrpnf TOW Pn,
for this decision bv the Supreme Court,
there would be no deficit in the Q VI
under the law passed by a Democratic
Congress in strict pursuance of uniform
decisions Of that Court for nearly 10O
years, that Court in that decision having
sustained constitutional objections to it's
enactment which had previously been
overruled by the ablest judges who bave
ever .at on that bench. We dec are that
it is the duty of Congress to use all the
constitutional power which remains after
that decision or which may come from it's
reversal by the court as it may hereafter
be constituted, 30 that the burdens Of tax
alton may be equally aud impartially
laid, to the end that wealth may bear its
due proportion ofthe expenses OF the gov.
eminent.
KEEP OUT PAUPERs-We hold that the
most efficient way Of protecting Ameri-
can 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 q vicious monetary system which de-
pressses the prices Of their products be.
low The cost of production and thus de-
prives them of the means Of purchasing
the products of our home manufactures,
and as labor creates the wealth of the
country, we demand the passage Of such
laws as may be necessary to protect it in
all it's rights.
We ara in favor of arbitration OF differ.