The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-02-01
PLATFORM

FLA lFOiih IROMl LGATED
The following is the declaration OF
the conference:
The paramount issue at this time in the
United States is indisputably the money queS-
ton. II = between the gold standard. gold
DOaGS and bank currency on one side. and the
biU3etaliic standard. no bonds and government
currency on the other.
IN this issue We declare ourselves to be in
favor Of Il distinctive American financial syS-
tenn. We are unalterably OppoSez to the single
gold standard. and demand the immediate re-
tTTa to the constitutional standard of gold
and silver. b. the restoration by the govern
Jncrt. independently of any foreign power. of
tho unrestricted power of both gold and silver
into standard money, at the ratio OF 10 to l.,
and upon terms Of exact equality, as they ex-
listed prior t. 1873, the silver coin to be of full
legal tender equality with gold for all debts
and dues. public and private.
We hold that the power to control and regu-
iata a paper currency is inseparable from the
power to coin money: and, hence, that all cur
rcncy intended to circulate as money should he
issued. ana its volume controlled, by the gen
eral COVE n:aent only, AID should be legal
tender.
We are uEalterably opposed to the issue by
The United States Of Interast-bearing bonds in
time Of peace. ana We denOGnce as 4 biunder
worse than i crime the present treasury policy,
coucUTred in by 4 republican house, OF p~!unging
the country in debt by hundreds of millions in
Rhe vain attempt to maintain the gold standard
b: borrowing gold: and re demand the pay
mcnt CT all the coin obligations Of the United
States a. provided b. existing laws, in either
gold or silver com. At the option of the govern
mont, ami not at the option Of the creditors.
WHEREAS. The characterization OF silver in
Is13 enormously increased the demand for gold.
enhancing its purchasing power and lowering
al prices measured by that standard: and.
WHEREAS. Since that unjust and indefenSi-
bile act. the prices of American products have
fallen upon AZ average nearly 20 per cent,
carrying down with them prOpOrtionately the
money value Of all other forms OF property, ex-
Cept in northumberland localities; and,
WHEREAS, such fail Of prices has destroyed
the profits OF legitimate industry. injuring the
producer Cor the benefit Of the non-producer,
increasing the burden of the debtor and SWELL
ing the gains Of the creditor, paralyzIng the
productive energies of the American people,
re-, -ltiHg 20 idlcEeSS vast numbers Of willing
wIr' .crS. sending the shadows OF despair into
zar a3mc OF the honest toiler. filling the land
with trampS and pauperS, and building up
colossal fortunes at the money ~certerS; and.
WHEREAS. In the effort to maintain the gold
standard the country has. within the last
eighteen months. in a time OF profound peace
and plenty, been loaded down with SI52 OO0,OO
OF additional intereSt-bearing debt. under such
circumstances as to allow a syndicate Of ma
tive an : foreign bankers to realize a net profit
OF S!O.0l0CN on = single deal: and.
WHEREAS. Another call is now pending for a
further gold loan Of SlO0OOGO10. which, but for
an ouiburst Of popular indignation, would also
have been negotiated in the same secret man
ner and through the same syndicate. and,
WHEREAS, 1t stands confessed that the gold
standard can only be upheld by SO depicting
OUR paper currency as to force the prices Of our
products below the Europeans. and even below
the ASiatic level, in order that We may sell in
foreign markets, thus agGrevating the very
evils Of which our PEOPLE 50 bitterly complain,
degrading American labor and striking at the
ve!y foundations Of our civilization itself: and.
The advocates of the gold stand
ard pcrsiStCntly claim that the real cause Of
our distress and overproduction, that we have
Ir"cucet 50 much that il has made US poor,
which implies that the trade remedy is to
CLOSE The factory, abandon the farm and throw
q multitude Of people out OF employmert-a
GoctTl:e that leaves US absolutely without hope
Cor the future: and.
WHEREAS, The difference of EXCHANGE be-