The record-union., 1896-07-09
THE PLATFORM.
Statement of Principles Which Will
be Presented to the Convention.

CONVENTION HALL, July S.-When
the report of the Committee on Resolu-
tions is made to the convention a mi
nority report will also be presented in
dorsing the policy of the Cleveland Ad-
ministration. The report will be short,
and relative entirely to the financial
plank. 1t will favor the present stand
ard, and indorse the calling together of
an international monetary conference
To this Senator Tillman of South Car
olina will offer an amendment, and
address the convention upon it. Sena-
tor Tillman's amendment is in these
words:
I'VE denounce the Administration Of
President Cleveland as un-Democratic
and ironical. and as departure from
those principles which are cherished by
all liberty-loving Americans. The veto
power has been used to thwart the will
Of the people, as expressed by their rep
resentatiyes in Congress. The appoint
i've power has been used to subsidze the
press, to debauch Congress and to over
awe and control citizens in the free ex-
ercise of their constitutional rights as
voters. A Democratic ,fespotism is thus
sought to be established on the ruins Of
the republic. We repudiate the con-
struction placed on the financial plank
Of the last Democratic National Con-
vention by President Cleveland and Sec
retary Carlisle as contrary to the plain
meaning of English words, and as being
an act of bad faith deserving the Sc
verest censure The issue of bonds in
time of peace with which to buy gold
to redeem coin obligations payable in
silver or gold, at the option of the Gov
ernment. and the use of the proceeds to
defray the ordinary expenses of the
Government, are both unlawful and
usurpations of authority deserving i'm
parchment"
The following is the platform as fl
| nally agreed upon by the majority of the
Committee on Resolutions to be pre-
sented to the conventions:
We the Democrats of the United
States, in convention assembled, do re-
affirm our allegiance to the great es-
s,ntial principles of justice and liberty,
| upon which our institutions are founded
and which the Democratic party has ad-
vocated from Jeffersons time to our
J own-the freedom of speech, freedom of
| the press. freedom of conscience, the
equality of all citizens before the law,
and the faithful observance of constitu-
! tional limitations.
During all these years the Democratic
party has resisted the tendency of self
| ish interests to the Capitalization of
| Governmental power and steadfastly
| maintained the integrity of the dual
| scheme of Government established by
| the founders of this republic of repub-
| lies. Under its guidance and teachings
| the great principle of local self govern
ment has found its best expression in
| the maintenance of the rights of the
| States and in its assertion of the
necessity of confining the Government
! to the exercise of powers granted by the
| Constitution 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
| 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