Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-10-30
DEMocRArIC PLATFoRM

We tnc ocmo0rag OF the Cnttco states Ia
national convention assembled DO rear,rn
our allegiance 10 those great essential prin-
elpleS OF Justice and liberty upon which our
institutions are founded. and which the aemos
cratic party las sdvcoa,sd from Jefferson.
time 10 our own-freedom az speech. frcedora
OF the press. freedom Of conscience the
preservation OF personal rlghtes the equality
OF All citizens before the law aad tho faithful
observance % constitutional iiuttssions
DuriDe ell these Pears she democratic party
has resisted tho tendency or sci ash interest.
20 the censraits alton OF governmental DOW a.
and steadfastly m afntatncd the integrity -
tns owl scheme OF government ostAbitshed by
the founders or this republic Of repuhltcA
Under It's guidance snd teachings tho ereat
principal Of local eelf-govsrnment has found
It's best expression In the maintenance OF the
rights OF the states and Ia its assertion OF thc
nocesstty OF combining the general government
TO the exercises OF the powera granted oy TIA,
constitution OF the Uafted Ssasea
The constitution OF the United States
guarantees To ovcry citizen the right OF oivil
and religious liberty Tho democratic party
has always boon tho exponent OF political lib.
erty and religious freedom. and IL renews las
ootlSattons nd resnlrms lis devotion 20 these
fundamental principles al aha constitutions
Recognizing that tne mcnoy question Is par
amount TO Rll others 1T this time. We invite
attention 20 the feet that the federal consti-
tuition names silver aud cole together o. tho
money metals of the United Ststes and that
the hrst coinage law passed By congress under
the constitution made tina silver dollar the
monetary unit OF value aud admitted gold TO
free coinage ~ ratio measured by the silver
dollar unit
We doplnre tn & the cot Of 1879 demonetixinr
silver without the knowledge or approval Of
the American people has resulted IN the an.
probation OF gold and n CORE pondinx fall In
the prices OF commodities produced hy the
people: n heavy increase in the burden OF tnx,
alton and OF all debts public and private; the
enrichment Of tho ey-lendfnr cinss M
nome and abroad; postration Of industry. and
impoverishment at the people.
We are unalterably opposed TO the sinria
gold standard which has locked fast the pros.
perity of an Industrial people In the paraly sis
OF hard times Gold recommendation IN n
British policy aud its adoption has brought
ofher nations into financial servitude 10 Lon
don Its not only un-American bus anti
American and IL can be fastened on the United
States only bv tho stfing OF that fndomftable
spirit and love OF liberty which proclaimed
our political independence In 1910 and won 4,
in the war OF the revolution
We demand the FREQ and unlimited coinass
OF both silver and gold the present legal ratio
OF 10 tc l. without Whiting for the mid or consent
OF any othor nation We demand that the
standard silver dollar shall be full legal ten~
der, equally With gold for NIL debts. public and
private. and we favor such legislation rs will
prevent the deuonetiz .tion OF any kind OF To-
gal tender money by private contract,
We are opposed 70 the policy and practice
OF surrcndertng to the holders OF the obiiga.
lions OF the United states the option reserved
by Law 10 the governments OF redeeming such
obligations In either silver ooin or gold ooin
We are opposed TO the issuing of Interest,"
bearing bonds OF the United States In slime of
peace. and condemn the trafncking with bank-
ing syndtostos which. In exchange for bonds
and NJ M enormous profit to themselves, sup
ply the federal treasury with gold TO maintain
the policy of gold monometallsm
Congress alone haa the power co coin ana
Issue money. ond President jackson declared
that this power could not be delegated 10 cor
porations or individuals
We therefore denopnce tho issuance of
notes intended to circulate money by ma,
ttonal banks rs In derogaeion OF the constftu.
tiou and we demand that all paper which Is
made n legal tender for public and private
debts or which Is receivable for dues TO the
United Sites. shall be issued by the govern
ment az tho United States and shall be re.
deemable In coin
We hold that tarin duties should be levied
for purposes of revenue, should also be ad-
1uRted SO ~ 10 Cp rats equally throughout
the country. and not discriminate between
class or section. aud that taxation
should be limited by the needs of the govern.
mcnt honestly and economically aduinistcred
We denoVnce ~ disturbing TO business the
republican threat to restore the Mckinley
law which has been twice condemned by tho
people In the national cleo tons and
which. cnactcd under tho false plea of
protection to homo Industry. proved q prolific
breeder of trusts and monopoiies, enriched
the Z: " At the expense OF the many, restrtc ted
trade and deprived tho producers of the great
American staples OF access TO their natural
markets Cntu the money question V
rettl~d VIC opposed TO any aeita-
no" Tor further changes ia our tarin
laws. except such arc necessary 10 meet
the deficit In revenue caused by the adverse
accession OF the .urrcmc court on the ineoIno
tax There would be no deficig In the revenue
"u' Tor inc Annulmo1t by the supreme court
OF Law passed bv q democratic congress ia
"a
that court Tor nearly one hundred years that
court having in that decision sus.
Tined constitutional objections to ita en-.
aetmcnt which has nocn previously OVER
ruled by the ablert Judges who had .vor an,
on mat bench We declare thns IL Is tho duty
OF congress 10 use all the constitutional power
~hich reRains after thak decision or which
may come from RS reversal by the court as 4,
may herc=fteF be cons diluted. 30 that the bur-
nenH Of tnxRtion may Do equally and iupar-
81 'llv laid 10 the end that wealth may boar its
que proportion OF the expenses of government
We hold that the most enncient way OF pro-
LrcthG American labor 10 TO prevent the i'm
portation or foreisn paupor ahor TO compete
WIN IL In the homo market. and with the value
OF the home market 10 our American farmers
ana artisans Is creatIr reduced by 4 vicious
monetary svstem which depressos the prices
OF their products b.low the cost of procuctfon
and thus derrivc~ them OF she means OF pur.
CHASING the PRODUCTS of our home manufao.
tories and as labor creates she wealth OF the
country. Ec demand the passage OF such laws
as may he necessary TO protect It Ia all its
sights
We arc In favor OF the arbitration OF diner.
cnccs between employers engaged In Interstate
commerce and their employees, aud recon-
mend such legislation as Ia zeoessary 90 carry
out this principle
The absorption OF wealth by the few the
consolidation OF our leading railroad systems.
And the formation OF trusts and pools require
o strictcr control by the federal government
OF those arteries Of commerce. We demand
the en- agreement OF the inter- state commerce
commission and such restrictions and guar.
nntecs In she CONTROL of railways as will pro-
tect tnc people from robbery and oppression
We denounco the prodigAte waste OF tho
mopeS ~rVnS ssom the people by oppressive
taxation and the lavish appropriations OF re-
cent republican congresses. which have kept
taxeS high. while tho labor that peys them is
unem ployed and tho product OF the peoples
toll arc depressed I'LL they no longer repay the
cost OF production. We dcInaad q return 20
that simplicity and economy which belts
democratic governments and . reduction In
she number as useless of8eers. she salaries OF
which drain the substance OF the people
We denounee the arbitrary Interfere noe by
FEDERAL authorities in loo al sIairs as q viola
Ion or the consiItution OF tho United States
M HrfV ~.fn