Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-09-15
INDIANAPOLIS PLATFORM.

! the principles upon which depend thu
. honor and welfare of the American peo-
pie; in order that democrats throughout
] the union may unite their patriotic efforts
! 20 avert disaster from their country and
| ruin from their party.
! The democratic party is pledged to equal
and exact justice TO all men of every creed
and condition; 10 the largest freedom of
the individual consistent with good gov
eminent; to the preservation of the feder-
al government in it's constitutional vigor
and to the support of the states In all
/ their Just rights; to economy in the pub
lie expenditures: to the maintenance of
the public faith and sound money; and il
is opposed to paternalism and all class
! legislation.
The declaratio of the Chicago conyen-
ton attack individual freedom. the right
of private contract, the independence of
the judiciary and the authority Of the
president to enforce federal laws They
advocate a reckless attempt to increase
the price of silver by legislation to the
! deba sement of our monetary standard and
threaten unlimited issues of paper money
[, by the government. They abandon for re-
publican allies the democratic cause OF
tariff reform to court the favor OF protec-
tionists TO their fiscal heresy.
In view of these and other grave de-
partures from democratic principles, we
cannot support the candidates OF that con-
Vention nor he bound by it's acts. The dem
ocratic party has survived many defeats
but could not survive victory won in be-
half of the doctrine and policy proclaimed
in its name at Chicago.
The conditions. however, which make
possible such utterances from a national
convention are the direct result OF class
legislation by the republican party. 1t
still proclaims as ii has for years, the
power and duty of government to raise
and maintain prices by law, and it propos-
cs no remedy for existing evils except
oppressive and unjust taxation.
The national democracy here reconvened
therefore renews its declaration of faith
! in democratic principles especially as APP
phcable TO the conditions of the times.
Taxation, tariff excise or direct. is right
fully imposed only for public purposes.
and not for private gain. It's amount Is
Justly measured by public expenditures.
which should be limited by scrupulous
economy. The sum derived by the treasu-
ny from tax and excise levies is affected
by the state of trade and volume of con-
sumption. The amount required by the
tions made by congress. The demand OF
the republican party for an increase in
tariff taxation has its pretext In the def
cheney of revenue, which has It's causes
consumption, due entirely to the loss OF
confidence that has followed the populiat
Of our money and the republican practice
OF eXtravagant appropriations beyond the
needs of good government.
We therefore denounce protection aid its
conventions of Chicago and ST. Louis for
their cooperation with the republican par
~ in creating these conditions which are
pleaded in justification of heavy in
crease of thc burdens of the people by q
further resort to protection
We therefore denC ice protection and it's
ally. free coinage 4 silver. as schemes
for the personal profit of few at tho
expense of the masses, and oppose the two
parties which stand for these schemes as
hostile to the people of the republic whose
food and shelter. comfort and prosperity
are attacked by higher taxes and depreci-
ated money. In fine, we reaffirm the his
tory of the democratic doctrine Of tariff
for revenue only.
We demand that henceforth modern and
liberal policies towards American shipping
hal fax min IF ty.Sts
restricted statutes OF the eighteenth GEN.
fury, which were long ago abandoned by
every maritime power but the United
States, and which, to the nations humili.
alton. have driven American capital and
enterprise to the use of alien flags and
alien crews, have made the, stars and
stripes an almost unknown emblem in for
eign ports and have virtually eXtinguished
the race of American seamen. We oppose
the pretense that discrimination in du-
ties will promote shipping: thtat scheme
is an invitation to commercial warfare up
on the United States, un-American in the
light of our great commercial treaties. Of
ferng no gain whatever to American ship
ping, while greatly increasing ocean
freights on our agricultural and manufac-
tured products.
The experience of mankind has shown
that by reason of their natural qualities,
gold is the necessary money OF the large
affairs of commerce and business, while
silver is conveniently adapted to minor
transactions, and the most beneficial use
of both together can be ensured only by
Il
monetary measure, and the maintenance
of silver at parity with gold by its limit
ed coinage under suitable safeguards OF
law Thus the largest possible enjoy ment
of both metals is gained with value uni
versally accepted throughout the world.
which constitutes the only practical bimet-
allie currency, assuring the most stable
standard and especially the best and SAT-
est money for all who earn their liveli-
Ihey cannot suffer when PAID IN the pesb
money known TO man, but are the peculiar
and most defenseless victims OF debased
and fluctuating currency, which offers con-
tinual profits to the money cnanger at
their cost.
Realizing these truths. demonstrated by
long public Inconvenience and loss, tho
democratic party, in the interests Of the
masses and of equal justice toaall, practice
ally established the legislation OF 1884 ana
1853, the gold standard of monetary meas
urement and likewise entirely divorced the
government from banking and currency is
sues. To this long established democratic
policy we adhere and insist upon the main
tenance of the gold standard, and of the
parity Herewith of every dollar issued by
the government, and are firmly opposed 10
the free and unlimited coinage OF silver
and to the compulsory purchase of silver
bullion. But we denounce also the further
maintenance of the present costly patch
work system of national paper currency,
as a constant source of injury and peril.
We assert the necessity of such intelli-
gent currency reform as will confne the
government to Its legitimate functions
completely separated from the banking
business. and afford to all sections of our
country uniform, safe and elastic bank
currency under governmental supervision,
measured in volume by the needs of bust
ness.
The fidelity patriotism and courage with
which President Cleveland has fulfilled his
great public trust, the high character of
his administration. its wisdom and energy
in the maintenance of civil order and the
enforcement of the laws, Its equal regard
for the rights of every class and every
section. it's firm and dignifed conduct OF
foreign affairs. and it's sturdy persistence
in upholdin2 the credit and honor of the
nation, are fully recognized by the demo-
cratic party, and will secure to him a
place In history beside the fathers of the
republic.
We also commend the administration for
the great progress made in the reform OF
the public service, and we endorse its eff
forts TO extend the merit system still fur
Their We demand that no backward step
be taken, but that the reform be support
ed and advanced until the undemocratic
spoils system OF appointments shall be
eradicated,
We demand strict economy IN the appro.
priatlons and In the administration OF the
government.
We favor arbitration for the settlement
of international disputes.
We favor a liberal policy Of pensions to
deserving soldiers and sailors of the United
States.
The supreme court of the United States
was wisely established by the trainers of
our constitution az one of the three co-Or-
dnate 10. inches of the government. It's in
dependence and authority to interpret the