The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1896-07-18
The Democratic Platform.

We, the Democrats of the United
States, III national convention assem-
hIed, do reatfirm our allegiance to those
great essential principles Of Justice and
ilbtrtyiupon which our Institutions are
founded and which the Democratic par
ty has advocated from Jetfersun's time
tn unr own, freedom OF speech, freedom
of the press, freedom of conscience, the
preSerYaiinE 6t personal rights. the
equality of all citizens before the law,
and the faithful observance nf cunsti-
tutionai limitations.
During all these years tii,sxse.:Gocrat-
ic party has resisted the ten tency uf
selfish interests To the CONTEMPLATION OF
governmental power and seladfastty
maintained the integrity Of the dual
scheme Of government established by
the founders of this republic ofpfepub-
lies. Under its guidance the ggaAt prln-
cipIe of local self. f.governmeuIeas found
lis best expression in the maintenance
of the rights of the States and in its as
sertion of the necessity of contining The
general government to the exercise of
the powers granted by the Constitution
of the United States.
s Recognizing that the money system is
paramount to all Others at this time, we
invite attention to the fact that the
Federal Constitution names silver aud
gold together as the money metals OF
the United States, and that The first
coinage law passed by Congress under
the Constitution made the silver dollar
the monetary uuit and admitted gold
to free coinage at il ratio based upon the
silver dollar unit.
We declare that tic act OF 1878, de-
mOnetizing silver without the kBowl-
edge or approval of the American peg
pie, has resulted in the appreciation Of
gold aud a corresponding fall ID 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
leading classes at home aud abroad ;
prostration of industry and impover-
ishment Of the people.
We are unalte:abiy opposed 10 the
monometailisln, which has locked fast
the prosperity OF an industrial people
in the paralysis OF hard times. Gold
mOuoMetallisn is Il British policy, and
its adoption has brought other nations
into financial servltude to London. 1t
is not only uu American, but antl-Am-
erican, and it can be fastened on the
United States only by the sitting OF
that spirit and love of liberty which
proclaimed our political independence
in 1716, and it won it III the war at the
Revolution.
We demand the free aud nnlimit ed
cuinage of both gold aud silver ut the
present legal ratio OF 16 to l. without
waiting for the aid or consent OF any
other nation. We demand that the
standard silver dollar shall be Il full ie-
gal tender, equally with gold, for all
.,nA f.,
vor such legislation as will prevent fol
the future The decentralization of any
kind of legal tender money by private
| contract.
| We are opposed to the policy and
practice OF surrendering to the holders
| of the Obligations of the United States
| the option reserved 10y law to tie gov
ernment OF redeem ng such obligations
| in either silver coin or gold coin.
| We are opposed to The issuing of ln-
| terest- -bearing bonds of the United
/ States in the time of peace aud condemt
the trafficking will, banking syndieates
| which, i'll exchange for bonds aud IA
an enormous profit to themselves, sup
). ply the Federal treasury with gold mon
umetallism.
| Congress alone has the power to coiT
and issue money, and President Jack
| sou uecfdf6H titaJ LhlS power coulu DO
be delegated TO corporations or to in
tlvidaals. We therefore denounce th'
issuance OF notes as money for natiOna
banks as in violation of the Constitu
ton, and we demand that all pape
whici, is made legal tender for puhii
aud private debts, or which is receiv
able for dues to the United States, shal
he issued by the government of tn
United States aud shall be redeemabl
in coin.
We hold that the tariff duties shonl
be levied fol purposes of revenue, sue
duties to be SO adjusted as to operat
equally throughout the country, aud nc
discriminate between class and section
and that taxation should be limited b
the needs of the government, honsstl
and economically administered. w
denounce as disturbing to business th
Republican threat to restore the Mt
Kinley law, which has twice been cor
demned by the people in national elet
tiOns, and which, enacted under th
false plea of protection to home indus
try, proved prolific breeder OF trus1