The Daily Texarkanian., 1896-10-19
THE PLATFORM
Adopted by the National Democratic
Convention. at Chicago. July, 1896.

| OUufOuIlVu, dD NillO1SVi vuiyJ AooV'
We, the Democrats of the United
States, in national convention assembled
do reaifirm our allegiance to those grea
essential principles Of Justice and liberty
upon which our institutions are founded
and which the Democratic party has ad
vocated from Jefferson's time to our owl
freedom of speech, freedom OF press
freedom Of conscience, the preservation
OF personal rights, the equality OF all citi
zens before the law, and the faithful OBJ
servation Of constitutional limitations.
During all these years the Democratic
party has resisted the tendencies of seiisl
interests to the centrilization OF govern
mental power, and steadfastly maintain
ed the integrity Of the dual scheme Of
ers Of this republic OF republics. Under
its guidance and teachings the great prln'
ciple OF local government has found
its best expression In the maintenance Of
the rights OF the States and its assertion
OF the necessity OF confning the genera
government to the exercise OF the 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 Fed
eral constitution names silver and gold
together as the money metals OF the Unit
ed States, and that the first coinage law
passed by Congress under the constitution
made the silver dollar the unit Of value
and admitted gold to free coinage at q
ratio measured by the free silver dollar
unit.
We declare that the act OF 1873 demone
tizing silver without the knowledge or
approval Of the American people has re-
suited In the appreciation OF gold and o
corresponding fall in the prices OF com
moditles produced by the people; a heavy
increase In the burden OF taxation and OF
all debts, public and private; the enrich
ment Of the money lending class at
home and abroad; prostration OF Industry
and lmpoyerlshment OF the people.
We are unaltnrably opposed TO mono
prosperity OF nm Industrious people In the
paralysis Of hard times. Gold monomet-
alism is q British policy, and It's ad0p-
tion has brought other nations into linan-
cia servltude TO London. IL Is not only
un- American, but anti American, and II
can he fastened on the United States only
by the sitting Of that indomitable spirit
and love Of liberty which proclaimed our
political Independence in 1776, and won II
In the war Of the revolution.
We demand the free and unlimited
coinage Of both gold and silver at the
present legal ratio OF 10 10 !, without
waiting for the consent or aid OF any 9TH
or nation We demand that the standard
silver dollar shall be u full legal tender,
equally with gold, for all debts, public
and private, and we favor such legisa-
ton 0s will prevent for the future the do
monotzatl0n OF any Kind OF legal tender
money by private contract.
We are opposed 10 the policy and prac'
tco Of surrendorIng 10 the holders OF the
obligations Of the United States the opln.
ion reserved by law 20 the Government Of
redoemIng such obligations IN either Sl'
yer coin or gold coin,
We are opposed 10 the issuing OF inter
est. bearing bonds Of the United States In
time of peace and condemn the traHcinp
withdrawing syndlcates whichin exchange
for bonds and at an enormous profit 70
themselves, supply the Fedora Treasury
with gold 70 maintain the policy OF gold
mon0metalllsnl,
Congress alone has the power 10 coin
aud issue money, and President Jackson
declared that this power could not bo del
egated to corporations or indivldualE, we
therefore demand thnt the power 10 issue
notes 10 circulate Ae money be taken from
the national banks and thDt al paper
money shall be issued directly by The
Treasury Department, be rodoomobe IN
coin and received for oil debts, public and
private,
We hold that tariff duties should be lev.
led for purposes VI revenue such duties
to be 30 adjusted us 70 0pornto equally
throughout the country and not dlscrlnI.
nate between class or section, and that