The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-05-07
The Platform.

the fundamental principles II mas
taught and enforced from the founda-
tor of the Government, and which it
believes are essential to the continu-
ance of our system of free popular
institutions. 1t declares for a strict
construction of all constitutional
grants of power to the Federal Gov
eminent that infringe upon the rights
If communities or the liberty of the
citizen; for a liberal Interpretation of
all reservations of rights to the people;
tor home rule and against the central
zation of power; for freedom of
thought, and against all prescription
ior religious opinions; against needless
sumptuary legislation, and for the
largest measure Of liberty to individ.
uals consistent with the enforcement
of law and order the preservation Of
rights of persons and property and the
maintenance of free government. 1t
believes that Federal taxation, in
whatever form, is justihable only to
the extent that may be needful for the
maintenance of the Government, hon
estly and economically administered,
within the sphere of granted powers.
1t is opposed to all schemes Of tax
alton that bear unequally upon indj-
viduals, or that tend to increase the
profits of the few at the expense Of the
many, or to impose upon the few
those burdens of government which
should be born by all alike.
The Democratic party has fulfilled
the pledges under which it was en-
trusted with power, relieving of unjust
and oppressive taxation by the enact
ment of a tariff for the purposes of
revenue, framed on constitutional
lines. We are opposed to any back
ward step in the reform thus accom-
plished.
We demand that the legitimate
business interests Of the country shall
nov have rest from all disturbing agi-
tation Of this question. The people
are entitled to the substantial and
lasting prosperity which we believe
must surely come as the result Of the
reforms thus accomplished. We be-
heve that these results are postponed
only because of the failure and refusal
of a Republican Congress to heed the
wise suggestions of President Cleve.
land.
We call the attention of the country
to the fact that the present Congress,
with Its Republican majority of more
than two-thirds of the House of Rep
resentatives and its control of the or
ganization of the Senate, has utterly
failed to legislate for the relief of the
people from the disastrous effects Of
the money panic, brought on chiefly
by the loss of confidence in the ability
of the Government to maintain its
credit under the terrible financial bur-
dens imposed by vicious Republican
Laws, and has designedly neglected to
fulfill its pledges to the people. We
denounce as utterly unworthy the
confidence ofthe people party whose
Representatives and Senators in Con.
gress deliberately determined, and
publicly proclaimed it to be their pol
icy, to do nothing for the relief of the
financial condition of the Govern
ment and the people.
We demand repeal of all laws au.
thorizing the issue or reissue of green
backs and Treasury notes of doubtful
constitutionality. Originally issued
under the plea of military necessity
and under pledge of early withdraw
al, they are a constant menace o
financial disaster and national dishon
or. They should have no place il
the currency of the country. We be
lieve that the Federal Government
should be entirely divorced from The
business of banking, and that Congress
should enact such legislation as will
give to the country banking currency
ample IN volume for the needs of bust
ness, absolutely secure under every
contingency and at all times redeem
able in gold. We are in favor of firm.
unvarying maintenance of the golc
standard. While we favor the most
liberal use of silver consistent with
the enforcement of gold standard
we are absolutely opposed to the free
coinage of silver and to the compul
sorry purchase of silver bullion by the
Government. We believe that the
interests of the people demand that
the earnings of trade, agriculture,
manufactures and commerce, and es
pecially the wages Of labor, should be
paid in money of the greatest intrinsic
value and of the highest standard
adopted by the civilized nations o
the world. We are, therefore, unal
terably opposed to all devices anC
schemes for the debasement of oul
currency and to all evasions and com
promises of a question so closely af