The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1896-07-23


gold for all debts. public and private. and
We favor such legislation as will prevent
for the future the characterization OF any
kind of legal-tender money by private con-
tract
We are opposed to the policy and practice
of surrendering to the holders of the OBJ
legations Of the United States the option
reserved by law to the government Of re-
deeming such obligations In silver or in
gold coin. We are opposed to the Issuing Of
Understanding bonds of the United States
in time of peace. and condemn the traf-
licking with banking syndicates. which, In
| exchange for bonds at an enormous profit
to themselves. supply the federal treasury
| with gold to maintain the policy Of gold
monometalism.
Congress alone has the power to coin
| and issue money. and President Jackson
| declared that this power could not be dele
! gated to interpretations or individuals. We
therefore demand that the power to issue
notes to circulate as money be taken from
| the national banks. and that all paper
money shall be issued directly by the treas
| ury department. be redeemable in coin,
and receivable for all debts. public and
| private.
| We hold that the tariff duties should be
| levied for the purpose Of revenue, such
| duties to be so read1usted as to operate
| equally throughout the country, and not
| discriminate between class or section. and
| that taxation should be limited by the
| needs of government. honestly and eco
| nomcally administered.
| We denounce as disturbing to business
| the republican threat to restore the Nc
| Kinley law. which has been twice con-
| demned by the people in national elections,
| and which, enacted under the false plea Of
| protection to home industries. proved q
| prolific breeder of trusts and monopolies,
- ~
| 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 OPP
posed to any agitation for further changes
| In our tariff laws, except such as are nee
| essary to make I'D the deficit In revenues
| caused by the adverse decision of the su-
| preme conrt on the income tax. But for
| this decision of the supreme court, there
would be no deficit in the revenue under
| the law passed by the democratic congress,
| in strict pursuanc Of the uniform decisions
| of that court for nearly 100 years. that
| court having under that decision sus-
tanned constitutional objections to Its
enactment which had been overruled by
the ablest judges who have ever sat on
| that bench.
| We declare that 1t is the duty Of con-
gress to use all the constitutional power
| which remains after that decision, or which
may come from It's reversal by the court
| as it may hereafter be constituted, so that
the burdens of taxation may be equally
and impartally divided, to the end that
we may all bear the due proportion Of the
| expenses of government.
We hold that the most efficient way Of
protecting American labor is to prevent
| the importation Of foreign pauper labor to
compete with 1t In the home market. and
that the value Of the home market to our
American farmers and artisans Is greatly
reduced by vicious monetary system,
which depresses the prices OF their prod
ucts below the cost of production, and thus
deprives them of the means of purchas-
ing the products of our home manufac-
tories The absorption Of wealth by the
few, the consolidation of our leading rail-
way systems, and the formation Of trusts
and pools require a stricter control by
the federal government of those arteries Of
commerce.
We demand the enlargement Of the pow
ers of the interstate commerce commits
sion, and such restrictions and guarantees
in the control of the railroads as will pro-
tect the people from robbery and oppres-
sion.
We denounce the pro1igate waste Of
money wrung from the people by oppres-
sve taxation. and the lavish approprla-
tons of recent republican congresses
labor that pays them Is unemployed. and
the products of the peoples toll are de-
pressed in price until they no longer repay
the cost of production. We demand re-
turn TO that simplicity and economy which
befit democratic government, and re-
ducton In the number OF useless offices,
the salaries OF which drain the substance
of the people.
We denounce arbitrary interference by
federal authorities in local affairs as
violat ton OF the constitution of the United
States and a crime against free institu-
tons, and we especially object to govern
ment interference by injunction, as new
and highly dangerous form OF oppression,
by which federal judges, In contempt OF
the laws of the states and rights Of citt-
zens, become at once legislators, judges
and executors. and we approve the bill
passed at the last session of the United
States senate. and now pending In the
house of representatives, relative to con-
tempts in federal courts. and providing for
trials by jury in certain cases OF con-
tempt.
No discrimination should be INDUCED in
by the government of the United States In
favor of any of its debtors.
We approve of the refusal of the SD
congress to pass the Pacific railroad fund
ing bill. and denounce the effort OF the
present congress to enact similar meas
ure.
Recognizing the just claim Of deserving
Union soldiers. we heartily indorse the rule
Of Commissioner Murphy that no names
shall be arbitrarily dropped from the pen
sion rolls, and that fact OF enlistment and
service should be deemed conclusive evil
dence against disease and disability before
enlistment.
We favor the admission Of the territories
of New Mexico and Arizona into the Union
as states and we favor the early
admission of all the territories 1aving the
necessary population and resources to en-
title them to statehood and while they re-
main territories we hold That the officials
appointed to administer the government OF
any territory, together with the District OF
Columbia and Alaska. should be bona fide
residents Of the territory or district In
which their duties are to be performed
The democratic party believes In home
rule and that all public lands OF the
United States should be appropriated to
the establishment of free homes for Amer
lean citizens.
we recommend that the territory Of
Alaska be granted a delegate In congress,
and that the general land and timber laws
of the United States be extended to said
territory.
We extend our sympathy to the people OF
Cuba In their heroic struggle for liberty
and independence.
The federal government should care for
and improve the Mississippi river ana
other great waterways of the republic. so
as to secure for the interior states easy
and cheap transportation to tidewater.
When any waterway of the republic Is OF
sufficient Importance to demand aid OF the
government such aid should be extended
upon a definite plan OF continuous work,
until permanent Improvement Is secured
We are opposed to life tenure in pub
lie service. We favor appointments based
upon merit fixed terms Of Office. and such
an administration of the civil service laws
as will afford equal opportunity to all citi-
zens of a certain fitness.