The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-09
THE PLATFORM
OF DEMOCRACY
THE ISSUE OF BONDS is CONDEMNED
Free Coinage OF G0'd and Silver c; the
Ratio of 10 10 | Is Demanded.
Declaration in Favor Of Jeffersoniau
Simplicity and u Tariff for Revenue
Only Are Made..OppOsed to Third
Term..PensiOnsf for Soldiers.

considering the platform which was
finally adopted by vote OF 33 to 10 and
ordered to be reported to the conven-
ton Senator Hill moved to add u para
graph commencing the intelligence, in
tegrity and faithtuiness of the admins
tration of President Cleveland but 1t
was laid on the table 20 to Is. The
proposition to declare in favor of the
restoration Of differential tonnage du-
ties in favor of merchant vessels was
submitted to the committee and lost.
The following is the platform as
finally agreed upon by the committee
on resolutions to be submitted to the
convention when the report Is called
for this evening:
We, the Democrats of the United States
I'm national convention assembled do re.
affirm our allegiance to those great anu
essential principles of justice and liberty
upon which our institutions are FOUNDED
and which the Democratic party has adVo-
Gated from Jefrerson's time TO our own
freedom of speech, freedom OF the press
freedom of conscience. the preservation
of personal rights. the equality of all cili-
zens before the law, and the faithful OBJ
seryance- of constitutional limitations
During all these years the Democratic
party has resented the tendency OF sell
ernmental power, and steadfastly main.
tained the integrity of the dual scheme of
government established by the founders
Of this republic of republics. Under Its
guidance and teachings the great Jrlnci-
pie of local self-government has found IT'S
best expression in the maintenance OF tile
rights OF the state and In its assertion OF
the necessity OF combining the general gov
ernment 10 the exercise of powers grant
ed BY the organization Of the United
States.
Recognizing that the money question is
paramount to all others at this time, We
invite attention to the fact that the fed-
federal constitution names gold and
United States, and that the first coin
age law passed by congress under
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.
RESULTS OF ACT OF 1873
We declare that the act of 1873 demonet-
izing silver without the knowledge or ap-
prO,al of the American people has re-
suited In the appreciation of gold and
corresponding fall In the price OF cOmmod-
hies produced by the people. heavy In.
crease In the burden of taxation and OF all
debts, public and private, the enrichment
of the money lending class at home and
abroad. the prostration of industry and
We are unalterably opposed to mono
metalllsm which has locked fast the pros
perity of an industrial people In the paraly-
sis 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 un-
American, but anti-American and it can
be fastened on the United States only by
the sitting Of tnat spirit and love OF lib
erty which prOclaim imed our political inde-
nspdappA n 1-7h "a nd IN ha az
rhe revolution.
We demand the free coinage of both gold
and silver at the legal ratio of l6 to with
out waiting for the aid or consent of any
other nation. We demand that the stand
ard silver dollar shall be full legal ten-
DER equally with gold, for all debts, pub
lie and private. and we favor such legS-
lation as Will prevent for the future the
demonstration Of any kind of legal tender
money by private contract. We are op-
posed to the policy anc practice of surren-
derins 10 the holders of the obligations of
the United States the option reserved by
law to the government of redeeming such
obligations. i'll either silver coin or gold
coin.
OPPOSED TO BOND SALES.
We are opposed to the issuing of interest
bearing bonds of the United States in time
of peace. and condemn the traf,iicking
with banking synlicates which. in ex-
change for bonds and at an enormous
profit to themselves, supply the federal
treasury With gold to maintain the policy
Of gold monCnetallism.
Congress alone has the power to coin
and issue money and President Jackson
declared that this power could not be dele
gated TO corporations or individuals. We
therefore demand that the power to issue
notes 10 circulate as money be taken from
the national banks, and that all paper
money shall be issued directly BIZ the
treasury department, shall be redeemable
in coin and receivabie for all debts, public
and private.
We mold that the tariff duties should be
levied for purposes OF revenue, such du-
ties to be so adjusted as to operate equal
ly Throughout the country and not dis
cIiln!nate between class or section and
that the taxation should be limited by the
needs of the government honestly ana
econmically administered. We lenornce
as disturbing to business the Republican
threat TO restore the McKinl,y law whicl
has twice been condemned by the people
In national elections and which enacted
under Ii false plea of protection 10 home
Industry, proved Il. prolific brcele: OF
trusts and monopolies. enriched the few
at the EXPENSE OF the many, restricted
trade and deprived the producers of the
great American staples Of access to their
natural markets.
TARIFF FOR REVENUE.
Cntil the money question is settled we
changes in our tariff luws excep, such as
are necessary to meet the deficit in reve-
nqie caused by the adverse decision of the
Supreme court. There would be no deficit
In the revenue under the law passed by IL
Democratic congress in strict pursuance
of the uniform decisions of that court
for nearly lv years, that court having In
that decision sustained constitutional OBJ
jections To its enactment which had pre-
viously been overruled by the ablest
tlIhIsaS at th.,f la,,
We declare that it Is the duty of congress
to use all the constitutional power which
remains after that decision or which may
come from its reversal by the court as it
may hereafter be constituted. so that the
burdens of taxation may be equally and
impartially laid, to the end that wealth
may bear Its due proportion of the ex-
pense of the government. We hold that
the most efficient way of protecting Amer
lean labor is to prevent the importation of
foreign pauper labor to compete with II
In the home market and that the value
Of the home market to our American far
mers and artisans Is greatly reduced by
vicious monetary system which depress-
es the prices of their products below the
cost of production. and thus deprives them
Of the means of purchasing the products
of our home manufacturers.
The absorption of wealth by the few
the consolidation of our leading railroad
systems and the formation of trusts and
pools require a strcter control by the fed
eral government of those arteries Of COM
merce. We demand the enlargement of
the powers of the Interstate commerce
commission and such restrictions and
guarantees In the control of railroads as
will protect the people from robbery and
oppression. We denOunce the prOfligate
waste of money wrung from the people by
oppressive taxation and the lavish appli-
cations Of recent Republican congresses.
which have kept taxes high while the Ia
Dor that pays them Is UNEMPLOYED and the