Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-07-16
pLATFoRM ADOPTED.
Full Text OF the Declaration OF Principles
AS Finally Passed.

as Finally Passed.
CHICAGO, July 1O.-The majority re-
port of the committee on resolutions OF
the democratic national convention
submitted the following report, which
was read by Senator Jones, of Arkan-
sas, chairman Of the committee:
The Platform.
We. the democrats OF the United States. In
national convention assembled, DO reafnrn our
| allegiance to those great essential principles
of justice and liberty upon which our instttu-
| tions are founded and which the democratic
party has maintained from Jenerson'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 II renewS It's obi
| cations and reaflrms its devotion to these fuE-
| 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.
end has steadfasty maintained the integ-
rity of the dual scheme of government estab-
lished by the founders of this republic OF re-
publics. Under its guidance and teachings the
great principle of local seif-government has
found its best expression in the maintenance
of the rights OF the states and its assertion
that it is necessary to confire 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, invite
attention to the fact that the federal constitu-
ton 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 ratio measured by the silver dollar
unit
We declare that the act OF 1873 demonetiz-
ing silver without the knowledge approval
of the American people, has resulted in the
appreciation OF gold and corresponding fail
in the prices of commodities produced by the
people: a heavy increase in the burden OF
taxation. and Of all debts, public and private:
the enrichment of the money lending class at
home and abroad paralysis of industry and
impoveriShment 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 recommendation is a
British policy, founded upon British greed for
gain and power, and it's general adoption has
brought other nations into financial servitude
to London. It 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 1875
and won it in the war of the 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 a full legal tender,
equally with gold. for all debts. public and
private, aad we favor such legislation will
prevent the characterization of any kind OF
legal tender money by private contract.
We opposed to tine policy and practice of
surreudering to the holders of obligations of
the United States the option reserved by law
to the government OF redeeming such obliga-
tons in either silver coin or gold coin.
We opposed to the issuing of interest
bearing bonds of the United States in times of
peace. and condemn the trafffeing with banking
syndicates which. in exchange for bonds and at
an enormous profit to themselves. supply the
federal treasury with gold to maintain the
policy of gold monometallism.
Congress alone has the power to coin and
issue money and President Jackson declared
porations or individuals. We therefore de-
mand that the power to issue notes be taken
from the banks. and 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 should be limited by the needs of the
government, honestly and economically ad-
business the republican threat 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-
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 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 cverruled by the ablest judges who
have ever sat On that bench. We declare that
it is the duty of congress to ali the consti-
tutional power which remains after that de-
cision. or which may come from its reversal by
the court it may hereafter be Stituted.
SO that the burdens of taxation may equally
and impartiallv lead to the end that wealth
may bear its due proper ton 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
the home maraet. and that the value of the
home market to our American farmers and
artisans is greatly reduced By vicious none
tary system. which depresses tho prices of
their products below the cost OF production,
and thus deprives them of the means of salts
tying their needs.
The absorption of wealth by the few, the
consolidation Of our leading railway systems