Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-07-11

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 Con-
gress under the Constitution made the
silver dollar the monetery unit and
admitted gold to free coinage at Il
ratio based upon the silver dollar
unit.
Decentralization ACT DENOUNCED.
We declare that the act of 1878,
demonetizing silver, without the knowl-
edge or approval of the American peo
pie, has resulted in the appreciation Of
gold and a corresponding fall in the
price Of commodities produced by the
people heavy increase in the bur-
den of taxation and of all debts, pub.
lie and private; the enrichment of the
money-lending class at home and
abroad the prostration OF industry
and impoverishment of the people.
OPPOSED TO MoNoMETALIsM.
We are unalterably opposed to
monometallism, which has locked fast
the prosperity of an industrial people
in the paralysis of hard times Gold
monometallism is British policy and
its adoption has brought other nations
into financial servitude to London. 1t
is not only un-American, but anti.
American, and il can be fastened on
the United States only by the sitting
of that spirit and love of liberty which
proclaimed our political independence
in 1876 and won it in the war of the
revolution.
FREE SILVER COINAGE DEMANDED
We demand the free and unlimited
coinage of both gold and silver at the
present legal ratio of lG to without
waiting for the aid or consent of any
other nation. We demand that the
standard silver dollar shall he a full
legal tender, equally with gold, Tor all
debts, public and private; and we
favor such legislation as will prevent
for the future the demonstration of
any kind of legal tender money bv
private contract.
TRAFFIC OF BANKING sYNDICATEs
We are opposed to the policy and
practice OF surrending to the holders
of the obligations of the United States
the option reserved by law TO the
Government of rcdeeming such obli-
cations in either silver coin or gold
coin.
We are opposed to the issuing Of
interest bearing bonds Of the United
States in time OF peace, and condemn
the traiiicking with banking syndi
Gates which, in exchange for bonds
and at an enormous profit to them
selves, supply the Federal Treasury
with gold to maintain the policy Of
gold recommendation.
CONGRESS ALONE TO ISSUE MONEY.
Congress alone has the power TO
coin and issue money, and President
Jackson declared that this power
could not be delegated to corporations
or individuals. We therefore demand
that the power to issue notes to cir
culate as money be taken from the
national banks, and that all paper
money shall be issued directly by the
Treasury Department. redeemable in
COIN and receivable for all debts, pub
lie and private.
TARIFF FOR REVENUE.
We hold that tariff duties should be
divided Tor purposes of revenue, such
duties to be 50 adjusted rs 10 operate
equally throughout the country and
not discriminate between class or sec
ton, and that taxation >hnlll be limi
ted bv the needs OF the Government.
honestly and economically admins
tered.
We denounce as disturbing to bust
ness the Republican threat to restore
the Mckinley law, which has twice
been condemned by the people in ma
tional elections. and which, enacted
under a false plea of protection TO
home industry, proved prolific
breeder Of trusts and monopolies en-
riched 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.
THE INCOME TAN
ntil 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 deticir in revenue caused by the
adverse decision of the Supreme Court
OF The Income tax.
But for this decision by the Supreme
Court there would be no deficit in the
revenue under the law passed by
Democratic Congress in strict pur.
suance of the uniform decisions of that
Conrt for nearly one hundred years
that Court having in that decision
sustained constitutional objections to
liz enactment which had previously
been overruled by the ahle>t Judges
who have ever sat on that bench.
We declare that it is the duty of
Congress to Use all the constitutional
power which remains after that decis-
ion or which may come from lis rever-
sal by the Court rs it may hereafter he
constituted. sd that the burdens of tax
alton may he equally and impartially
laid. TO the end that wealth may bear
lis due proportion of the expenses of
the Government
OPPOSED TO FOREIGN PAUPER LABOR.
We hold that the most efficient way
Of protecting American labor is to pre-
vent 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