The Indianapolis journal., 1896-07-28
PLATFORMS SINCE 1880.
Decla tiOns by the Republican and
Democratic National Conventions.

The Democratic platform Of 1880 declared
in favor of Honest money. the strict main
tenance of the public faith. consisting of
gold and silver and paper convertible into
coin on demand
The Republican platform of 1850 said MOTH
ing on the money question.
The Democratic platform of 1854 declared
that I'VE believe in honest money, the
gold and silver coinage of the Constitution
and a circulating medium convertible into
such money without loss
The Republican platform of 1884 declared
as follows: We have always recommended
the best money known TO the civilized
world; and urge that efforts should be
made 20 unite all commercial nations in
the establishment of an international stand
ard which shall fix for all the relative value
Of gold and silver coinage"
The Democratic platform of 1855 said
nothing on the money question.
The Republican platform of 1883 declared
that the Republican party is in favor Of
the use of both gold and silver as money.
and condemns the pohcy of the Democrat
ic administration in its efforts to demon
etize silver.
The Democratic platform of 1892 declared
as follows: I'VE denounce the Republican
legislation known as the Sherman act of
1890 cowardly makeShift, fraught with
possibilities of danger in the future which
as its author. anxious for its speedy re-
peal. We hold to the use of both gold and
silver as the standard money of the coun-
try. and 10 the coinage OF both gold and
silver without discriminating against either
metal or charge for mintage. but the dol
lar unit OF coinage of both metals must
be of equal intrinsic and exchangeable
value, or be adjusted through international
agreement or by such safeguards of legis-
lation as shall insure the maintenance of
the parity of the two metals and the equal
power of every dollar at all times in the
markets and the payment of debts; and
we we demand that all paper currency shall
such coin. We insist upon this policy as
especially necessary for the protection of
the farmers and laboring classes, the first
and most defenseless victims of unstable
money and fiuctuating currency"
The Republican platform of 1892 declared
as follows: THE American people, from
tradition and interest. favor bimetallism.
and the Republican party demands the use
of both gold and silver as standard money,
with such restrictions and under such pro-
visions. to be determined by legislation.
will secure the maintenance Of the parity
OF values of the two metals. so that the
purchasing and debt-paying power of the
dollar, whether Of silver. gold or paper.
shall be at all times equal. The interests
or the producers of the country. its farm
ers and its workingmen. demand that every
dollar. paper or coin. issued by the govern
ment shall be as good any other We
commend the wise and patriotic steps al
ready taken by our government to secure
an International conference to adopt such
measures as will insure a parity of value
between gold and silver for use money
throughout the world
The Democratic platform of 1896 declared:
Recognizing that the money system is
paramount to all others at this time. we
lrvite attention to the fact that the federal
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
silver dollar the monetary unit and admit
tea gold TO tree coinage at a ratio based
upon the silver dollar unit. We declare
that the act of 1878. demonetizng silver
without the knowledge or approval of the
American people. has resulted in the APP
preciatio in gold and a corresponding fall
In the prices of commodities produced by
the people: heavy Increase in the burden
of taxation and of all debts, public and
lending class at home and abroad: the
prostration OF industry and impoverish-
ment of the oeople We unalterably
opposed to the monometall:sm which has
locked fast the prosperity of an industrial
people In the paralysis of hard times Gold
monometallism is British policy and its
adoption has brought other nations into
financial servitude to London. 1t is not
only un-American but anti-American and
IL can be fastened on the United States
only by the sitting OF that spirit and love
of liberty which proclaimed our political
independence in lT6 and won i'm the war
OF the revolution We demand the free
and unlimited coinage of both gold and
silver at 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 a full legal
tender equally with gold for all debts. pub
lie and private. and we favor such legis-
lation as will prevent for the future the
demonetization of any kind of legaEtcnder
money by private contract"
The Republican platform Of 1896 declared
as follows: The Republican party is un-
reservediy for sound money. 1t caused the
enactment of the law providing for the re-
sumption of specie payments in 1879: since
then every dollar has been as good as gold.
We are .unalterably opposed TO every meas
ure calculated TO debase our currency or
impair the credit of our country. We are.
therefore. opposed TO the free coinage OF
silver except by international agreement
with the leading commercial nations of the
world. which We pledge ourselves TO pro-
mote and until such agreement can be OBJ
tained the existing gold standard must be
preserved. All our silver and paper cur
rency must be maintained at parity with
gold and We favor all measures designed
10 maintain inviolaby the obligations Of
the United States. and all our money
whether coin paper. at the present
standard-the standard of the most en-
lightened nations of the world"