The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-09
THE PLATFORM.
Principles Agreed on by Maj orl'y Of
Resolutions Committee.

upon by a majority OF the committee:
We the Democrats OF the United States
in national convention assembled, do
reaffirm our allegiance 10 those great es-
sential principles of justice and liberty
upon which our institutions are founded.
and which the Democrtic party has ad-
vocated from Jeffersons time TO our
own--freedom of speech. freedom or the
press freedom of conscience, the preser-
walton of personal rights, the equallty
of all citizens before the law ana the
faithful observance Of constitutional
limitations.
During all these years the Democratic
party has resisted the tendency OF sell
fish interests to the Capitalization or
governmental power, and steadfastly
maintained the integrity OF the dual
system of government established py
the founders OF this republic of republics.
Under its guidance and teachings the
great principle of self government has
found it's best expression in the main
tenance OF the rights of the states and
In its assertion Of the necessity or con-
fining the general government to the
exercise OF the powers granted by the
constitution of the United States.
Recognizing that the money system Is
paramount to all Others at this time, we
invite attention to the fact that the fed
eral constitution names silver and gold
United States, and that the first coinage
law passed by congress under the consti-
tuition made the silver dollar the none
tary unit and admitted gold TO free coin
age at ratio based upon the silver unit.
We declare that the act of 1873, de-
nlonetizing silver without the knowledge
and approval OF the American people,
has resulted I'm the appreciation of gold
and a corresponding fall in the price OK
commodities produced by the people
We are unalterably opposed TO mon
ometallism which has lecked fast the
prosperity of an Industrial people In
the paralysis of hard times. Gold
monometallism is British policy, and
it's adoption has brought other nations
into financial servitude To London. Ii
is not only un-American, but anti
American, and ii can be fastened on the
states only by the sitting of that
spirit and love of liberty which pro-
claimed our political Independence In
l776 and won IL in the war of the revolu-
ton.
We demand the free and unlimited
coinage of both gold and silver at the
present legal ratio OF l6 10 i, without
waiting for the aid or consent of any
other nation. We demand that the
standard silver dollar shall be full legal
tender equally with gold, for 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 by private CONTRACT.
We are opposed TO the policy and 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 such obligations in either
silver coin or gold coin.
We are opposed TO the issuing of inter-
est bearing bonds of the United States
in time OF peace. and condemn the traf-
ncking with banking syndicates, which,
in exchange for bonds and at an enor-
nous profit to themselves, supply the
federal treasury with gold to maintain
the policy OF gold monometallism.
Congress alone has the power to coin
or issue money as President jackson
declared that this power could not be
delegated to corporations or individuals.
We therefore demand that the power to
issue notes to circulate as money be
taken from the national banks. and that
all paper money shall be issued directly
by the treasury department, be redeem
able in coin and receivable for all debts.
public and private.
We hold that tariff duties should be
levied for purposes Of revenue, such
duties to be so adjusted as TO operate
equally throughout the country and not
discriminate between class or section.
and that taxation should be limited by
the needs OF the government, honestly
and economically administered. We de-
nounce as disturbing TO business the Re-
publican threat to restore the Mckinley
law, which has been twice condemned
by the people I'm national elections, and
which, enacted under the false plea OF
protection to home industry. proved
prolific breeder OF trusts and monopolies.
enriched 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
Until the money question Is settled we
rrc opposed to any agitation for further
changes in our tariff laws, except such
as are necessary 10 meet the deficit In
revenue. caused by the adverse decision
of the supreme court on the income tax.
But for this decision by the supreme
court there would be no deficit IN tho
revenues under the law passed by a
Democratic congress, ia strict pursuance
OF the uniform decisions Of that court
for nearly 100 years. that court having
I'm that decision sustained constitutional
objections 10 its enactment. which had
previously been overruled by the ablcgt
judges who have ever sat on that
bench. We declare that 70 ~ tho duty OF
congress 90 use all the constitutional
power, which remains after that decis-
ion, or which may come from It's reversal
by the court. as IL may hereafter be con-
stitutcd, so that the burdens OF taxa
iion may be equally and impartially
laid, 10 the end that wealth may bear its
due proportion OF the eXpcngc Of the