Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1896-10-21
A MODEL PLATFORM.

| Convention.
The following is the full and com
plete platform as adopted by tn,
National Democratic convention:
We, the Democrats Of the United
states In national convention assemb
led, do reatfirm our allegiance to those
great essential principles of Justice
ana liberty upon which our institu
tlons are founded, and which the
DemOcratic party has advocated from
Jetferson's time to our Own-freedom
OF speech, freedom of the press. free.
dom OF conscience, the preservation of
personal rights, the equality of all
citizens before the law, and the faith
full observance of constitutional limi-
tations.
During all these years the Demo-
cratic party has resisted the tendency
Of selfish interests to the CENTRALLY
alton OF governmental power, and
Steadfastly maintained the integrity
OF the dual scheme of government
established by the founders Of this
republic of republics. Under its
guidance and teachings the great
principle Of local Self-gOvernment has
found its best expression in the main
Jenance of the rights of the states
and in its assertion of the necessity
OF contining the general government
to the exercise of powers granted by
the constitution of the United States.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
The constitution of the United
States guarantees to every citizen the
rights of civil and religious liberty.
The democratic party has always been
the exponent of political liberty and
religious freedom and it renews its
obligations and reatirms its devotion
to these fundamental principles of
the constitution.
d FINANCE.
Recognizing that the money Ques-
tiOn is paramount to all others at this
time, we invite attention to the fact
that the constitution names silver
and gold together as the money metals
of the United States, and that the
first coinage law passed by congress
under the constitution made the sill
yer dollar the money unit, and adj
mitted gold to free coinage at ratio
based upon the silver dollar unit.
We declare that the act Of 1873 de-
mOnetiZing silver without the knOwl-
edge or approval of the American peO-
pie has resulted in the appreciation
Of gold, and corresponding fall in
the price Of commodities produced by
the people; Il 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, the prOstratiOn of industry,
and impOverShment of the people.
We are unalterably opposed to mon
Ometallism, which has locked fast the
prosperity of an industrial people in
metalliSm is a British policy, and its
has brought other nations
into financial servitude to London.
1t is not only un-American, bat anti
and it can be fastened on
the United States only by the stiiiing
of that spirit and love OF liberty
which proclaimed our political inde-
pendence in l776 and won in the war
Of the revolution. @
FREE COINAGE.
We demand the free and unlimited |
coinage of both silver and gold at the |
present legal ratio Of l6 to /, without
waiting for the aid or consent of any
other nation. We demand that the |
standard silver dollar shall be full |
egal tender, equally with gold, for all
lebts, public and private, and we
favor such legislation as will prevent |
Tor the future the demOnetization or
any kind of legal tender money by |
private contract.
BONDS.
We are opposed to the policy ana
practice of surrendering to the mold
,rs of the obligations, Of the United
States. the option reserved by law 70 |
he government Of redeeming such OBJ
igations in either silver coin or gold
,Oin.
We are opposed 10 the issuing OF in
bonds Of the United
states in time of peace, and condemn
he trafficking with banking syndl-
ates which, in exchange for bonds
md at an enormous profit TO them
elves. supply the federal treasury
With gold to maintain the policy OF
old recommendation.
ISSUE OF MONEY.
Congress alone has the power TO
DIN and issue money, and PTeTident
acl<sOn declared that this power
0uld not be delegated 10 corporations
r individuals. We therefore de-
ounce the Issuance OF notes intended
q circulate as money by national
anks as In derOgatiOn Of the c0nsti-
nti0n. and we demand that all paper
'bicb is made a legal tender for
ublic and private debts or which Is
sceiyable for duties to the United
fotes shall be be issued by the gov
rnment of the United States and
han be redeemable In coin.
TARIFF.
We hold that tariif duties should be
,yicd for purpose Of revenue, sue u du
es 10 be 50 adjusted as 10 operate
llnlly throughout the country ana
q ~ q. f..fnofo Hafuaau class ar gpp ]