The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1896-10-10

We the Democrats of the United States
in national convention assembled, do re-
affirm our allegiance to those great esseh-
tial principles of justice and liberty upon
which our institutions are founded ana
which the Democratic party has advocat-
ed from Jetferson's time to our own, Tree
dom of speech. freedom of the press, Tree.
dom of conscience. the preservation OF
personal rights the equality OF all citizeus
before the law, and the faltifnl opserV-
ance of constitutional limitations.
During all these years the Democratlc
party has resisted the tendency OF selnsh
interests to the Capitalization OF govern,
mental power and steadfastiy maintained
the integrity of the dnals scheme OF gov
ernment established by the 1oInaers oa
guidance the great principle OF local self
government has found its best expression
ia The maintenance of the rights OF Tue
States and in its assertion OF the necessl-
ty of combining the general government TO
the exercise of the pnwers granted oy 'he
"Recognizing that the money systemiis
amD to all others at this time. we
invite attention to the fact that the req,
~eral Constitution names siiVerEand goiu
together az the money metals OF the UNIT
ed States, and that the first coinage law
nassed by Congress under the COnstitu-
ton made the silver dollar the monetary
INIT and admitted gO.dthe free coinage at
a ratio based upon the silver dollar unit.
We declare that the act OF 1873, de-
monetizing silver without the knowledge
or approval of the American people. has
a corresponding fall in the prices OF COM
modities produced by the people; q heavy
increase in the burden of taxation ana
of all debts, public and private; the en-.
richment of the money lending CLASS at
home and abroad: prostratlon OF INDUSTRY
o.J ,,Nyyorinhn, Af the na0ntH. o
We are unalterably opposed TO the
recommendation, which has locked fast the
prosperity Of an industrial people In the
paralysis of hard times. Gold mOnomet-
allism is aBritish policy, n its Adoption
has brought other nations into finalcla'
seryitude to London. 1t is not only un-
American, but anti-Americall, ana 10 can
be fastened OH the United States only by
the sitting of that spirit and love or ~
erry which proclaimed our political lnde-
pendence i'll l776. and won 1t III the wal
of theR Revolution;
We demand the free and unlimited
coinage of both gold and silver at, the
present legal ratio of Ii to l.. Wltnout
waiting for the aid or consent Ut any 9th,
er nation. We demand that the standard
equally with gold, for all debts, pubic,
and private, and we favor such leglsla-
tion us will prevent for the future the de-
anonetization of any kindof legal tender
money by, private CONTRAST
We are opposed to the policy prac.
.tice of surrendering to the holders OF the
obligations of the United States the op,
ton reserved by law to the government
.of redeeming snch obligations LII either
silver coin or gold COIN.
We are opposed to the issuing or inter.
sest-bearing bonds of the United states 10
time OF peace and condemn the trafficklne
with banking syndicateS which. IN ex-
change for bonds and as m enormous
profit to themselves, supply the, Federal
treasury with gold to maintain the policy
of geld monolmetallism,,
Congress alone has the power to COLI
and issue money, and President jackson
declared that this power could not pc Del
gated to corporations or individuals. We
therefore demand that the power to ISSUE
notes to circulate as money be IRON
national banks and that all paper mon.
CIV shall be issued directly, D I'M
Treasury Department, redeemable in coir
and receivable for all debts, publc ano
We holdNthat the tariff duties should
be levied for purposes OF revenue, sHcl
duties to be so adjusted as TO operate
equally throughout the country, ana mo-
discriminate between class and section
and that taxation should be limited pJ
the needs Of the government, honestly
and economically administered. we de
nounce as disturbing to business Ine re
f"w which has twice been condemned 10y
tha nannla in national elections, an
Witch Enacted under false plea Of pro
~tection to home industry, proved PROM
n III the fav ~ the expense of the many
% ra.tr;cted trade and deprived the prudu
cars If tha great American staples of &C
c cess ~ !, th y natural markets.
oo TTnt;, the money question is settled w,
are opposed to any agitation for furtne
"honpas in our tariff laws, except such a
er l. nsess ra /" make M the deficit il
rsvenne' caused by the adverse decision