Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-07-16
PLATFORM ADOPTED.
Full Text OF the Deo,nratIOn of Principles
~ Finally Passed.


was read BIZ Senator Jones, of Arkan-
sas, chairman of the committee:
The Platform.
We, the democrats OF the United States in
national convention assembled, do reaflrm our
allegiance to those great essential principles
of justice aud liberty upon which our institu-
tions are founded, and which the democratic
party has maintained from Jeferson's time to
our own-freedom OF speech, freedom OF the
press. freedom Of conscience. the preservation
of personal rights, the equality Of all citizens
before the law. and the faithful observance OF
constitutional limitations.
The constitution Of the United States guar
sntees to every citizen the right OF civil and
religious liberty. The democratic party has
always been the exponent OF political liberty
and religious freedom, and 1t renews It's obli-
cations and reafirms its devotion to these fun
damental principles OF the constitution.
During all these years the democratic party
has resisted the tendency Of selfish interests
to the Capitalization Of governmental power,
and has steadfastly maintained the integ-
rity Of the dual scheme OF government estab-
lished by the founders of this republic OF re-
publics. Under It's guidance and teachings the
great principle OF local self-gOvernment has
found its best expression in the maintenance
OF the rights Of the states and its assertion
that 1t Is necessary to confine the general gov
eminent to the exercise OF the powers granted
by the constitution Of the United States.
Recognizing that the money question is par
amount to all others at this time, we invite
attention to the fact that the federal constitu"
tion names silver and gold together as the
money metals of the United States, and that
the first co image law passed by congress under
the constitution made the silver dollar the
unit OF value, and admitted gold to free coin
age at o ratio measured by the silver dollar
unit
We declare that the act OF 1879, demonetiZ-
ing silver without the knowledge or approval
of the American people, has resulted in the
appreciation Of gold and corresponding fall
in the prices Of commodities produced by the
people; u heavy increase in the burden OF
taxation. and Of all debts, public and private;
the enrichment Of the money lending class ut
home and abroad paralysis Of industry and
impoverlshment Of the people.
We are unalterably opposed to the single
gold standard, which has locked fast the pros
perity of an industrious people in the paraly-
sis OF hard times. Gold monometallism Is a
British policy, founded upon British greed for
gain and power and its general adoption has
brought other nations into financial Servitude
TO London. 1t is not only un-American, but
anti-American, and it can be fastened upon
the United States only BY the sitting OF that
indomitable spirit and love OF liberty which
proclaimed our political independence In l176
and won 1t in the war OF tho revolution
We demand the immediate restoration Of
the free and unlimited coinage OF gold and
silver at the present legal ratio Of sixteen to
one, without waiting for the aid or consent Of
any other nation We demand that the stand
ard silver dollar shall be full legal tender,
equally with gold, for all debts public and
private, aad we favor such legislation as will
prevent the decentralization Of any kind OF
legal tender money by private contract.
We arc opposed to the policy and practice of
surrendering to the holders OF obligations OF
the United States the option reserved by law
to the government OF rGdeeming such obliga-
tions in either silver coin or gold coin.
We are opposed to the issuing OF interest
bearing bonds OF the United States in times of
peace, and condemn the traficiug with banking
syndcates which, in exchange for bonds and at
an enormous profit to themselves, supply the
federal treasury With gold to maintain the
policy OF gold moaometalliSm
Congress alone has the power to coin and
issue money. and President Jackson declared
that this power could not be delegated to cor
poratons or individuals. We therefore de-
mand that the power to issue notes be taken
from the banks. aEd that all paper money
shall be issued directly By the treasury depart
ment
We hold that tariff duties should be levied
solely for the purposes Of revenue, and that
taxation hould be limited by the needs Of tho
government, honestly and economically ad-
ministered. We denounce as disturbing to
business the republican threat to restore the
Mckinley law which has been twice con-
demned by the people in national elections,
and which, enacted under the false plea of pro-
lection to home industry, proved q 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 are
opposed to any agitation for further changes
in our tariff laws except such as are necessary
to make up 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 the revenue under
the law passed by democratic congress in
strict pursuance Of the uniform decisions Of
that court for nearly 100 years. that court hav-
ing in that decision sustained constitutional
objections to its enactment which had previ-
iously been overruled by the ablest judges who
have ever sat on that bench We declare that
it is the duty Of congress to use all the consti-
tutional power which remains after that de-
cison, or which may come from its reversal by
the court as it may hereafter be constituted,
so that the burdens Of taxation may equally
and impartially lead to the end that wealth
may bear its due proportion OF the expenses
OF the government
We hold that the efficient way of protecting
American labor is to prevent 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
artisans is greatly reduced by vicious none
tary system. which depresscs the prices Of
their products below the cost Of production,
and thus deprives them Of the means of salts
flying their needs.
The absorption Of wealth by the few, the
consolidation OF our leading railway systems
and the formation Of trusts and pools, require
stricter control by the federal government
of those arteries Of commerce. We demand
the enlargement of the powers OF the inter-
state commerce commission and such restric-
tions and guarantees In the control Of rail-
roads as will protect the people from robbery
and oppression
We denOCnce the proaigate waste OF the
money wrung from the people by oppressive
taxation, and the lavish appropriations Of re-
cent republican congresses, which have kept
taxes high, while the laborer that pays them
is unemployed and products OF the people to it
are depressed in price till they no longer repay
the cost Of production. We demand return
to that simplicity and economy which best
BELTS democratic government and reduction
in the number Of useless Offices, the salaries OF
which drain the substance OF the people.
We denOunce arbitrary interference. by fed
eralauthOrities in local affairs as a violation
OF tho constitution Of the United States aud O