The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-07-17


We, the democrats Of the United States, in
national convention assembled, DO reafirm our
allegiance TO those great essential principles
Of justice and liberty upon which our institu-
tons 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
antees 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 it Fenews its obli-
cations and Teafirms 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,
ana has steadfastly 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 cOnfne 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-
ton 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 a ratio measured By the silver dollar
unit
We declare that the act Of 1873, demonetiz-
ing silver without the knowledge or approval
Of the American people, has resulted in the
appreciation Of gold and a corresponding fall
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
impOVerishInent Of the people.
We are unalteTably opposed to the single
gold standard, which has locked fast the pros
perity Of an industrious people in the paTaIy-
sis OF hard times. Gold monOmetallism is q
British policy, founded upon British greed for
gain ana power, and its general adoption has
brought other nations into financial seTVitude
TO London 1t is not only un-American, but
| anti-American, and 1t can be fastened upon
the United States Olly BY tue sitting Of that
indOmitable spirit ana love Of liberty which
proclaimed our political independence in 1776
and won it in the war OF the revolution.
We demand the immediate restoration OF
! the free and unlimited coinage Of gold and
silver az 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 ali debts, public and
private, aad We favor such legislation as will
- Id .
legal tender money by private contract.
We are opposed to the policy and practice Of
! suTreHdering to the holders of obligations Of
the United States the option reserved by law
| to the government Of Tedeeming 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 trafieing 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 recommendation.
Congress alone has the power TO coin and
! issue money, and President Jackson declared
that this power could not be delegated to cor
porations OF 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-
| 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 a prolific
! breeder Of trusts and monOp0lies, 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 q 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 oveFruled 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-
cision, OF which may come from its reversal By
the court as it may hereafter be constituted,
so that the burdens Of taxation may equally
and impartialiy 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 II
the home market, and that the value OF the
home market to our American farmers and
artisans is greatly reduced by a vicious none
/ tsFy system. which depFesses the prices Of
I their products below the cost OF production
/ and thus depri7ss them Of the means Of salts
| tying their needs
The absorption Of wealth by the few, the
| consolidation Of our leading railway systems
| and the formation OF trusts and pools, require
a stricter control By the federal government
I OF those arteries Of commerce. We demand
the enlargement Of the powers CT the inter
| state commerce commission and such TsstFic-
tons aud guarantees in the control Of rail-
roads as VIII protect the people from robbery
and oppression
We denoUnce she prOhigats waste Of the
money WEung from the people by oppressive
/ taxation, and the lavish appropriations Of re-
cent republican congresses, which have KEPT
taxes high. while the labOrer thst pays then
is unemployed and products Of the people 20 Il
are depressed tn price till they no longer repas
tie cost Of production. We demand a return
to that simplicity and economy which besl
belts 8 dsnlcgssie guFeER1ssst and ssa1sil1f