The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-10-29
Democratic Platform.

The following Is Il synopsis Of the
platform adopted bv The national con
vention at Chicago judy 9th 1896. The
plank referring to free coinage of silver
is given in fall:
Recognizing tiiat the money question is para
mount 10 all others at this time. we invite atten-
ton to the fact that the federal constitution
uames silver and gold together as the money
metal of the Ugited States. We declare that
the demOnetizatiOn OF silver in 1873 has resulted
in the appreciation of gold and a corresponding
fall ia the price OF com nodities produced by the
people. We are unalterabiy opposed to a SIM
gle gold standard. Gold mOnometa!ism is a
British policy: 1t Is not only uD-American but
anti-Am ericap.
We demand the free and. unlimited coinage of
both gold and silver at the present legal ratio of
16 TO ! without waiting for the aid or consent of
any other nation. We demand that the stan
dard silver dollar shall be. y full legal tender
equally Win gold. Tor all dtD.., iIuUnc ana pi,
vate, and we favor such legislation as will pre-
vent the decentralization OF any kind of lega.
tender money by private contract.
We are opposed to the policy and practice o.
guaranteeing TO the holders OF the Obligations of
the United States the option reserved by law to
the government of redeeming such obligation
in either SILVER coin or gold coip.
We are opposed to the issuing of interest bear
log bonds of the United States IN time OF peace
circulate as money be taken from the natiOna,
banks. and that all paper money shall be issued
directly ny the treasury department.
We hOld that tariff duties Should be ,vied for
purposes OF revenue and that taxation should be
limited by the needs 1 tine government honestly
and economical ly administered. We denouncn
as disturbing 10 business the Republican threat
twice condemned by the people in national
elections, and which, enacted under the false
plea OF Protection to nome Industry. proved a
prOllflc breeder Of trusts and inan0p0lies, enrich
ed tine few at the expense, of many, restricted
trade aud deprived the producers Of the great
American staples of access to their natural mar
ketS. Until tue money question is settled we are
Opposed TO any agltation for further change in
our tariff laws. except such as are necessary to
make tue deheit IN revenue caused by tie adj
verse decision OF the Supreme Court on the in
come tax. There would be no deficit In the
Court OF q law passed by the democratic con-
gress in strict Pursuance of the uniform de-
cisiOn OF that court for nearly one hundred
years. We hold that the most efficient Way of
protecting American labor Is to prevent the i'm
pOrtatlOnGf foreign pauper labor to compete
with it in our home market.
We denoui:ce the prOfigate waste of the
money wTt,ilg from the people. by oppressive
taxation and the lavish appropriations of recent
republican congresses, which have kept taxes
high while the labor that paws them Is nemp;oy-
ed and the products OF the peOple'stoii are de-
pressed In price till they no longer repay the
cost OF production.
We denounce the arbitrary interference by
federal authorities in local affairs Us a violation
of the constitution of the United States and d
crime agaEst free institutions.
Recognizing The just claims of deserving union
soldiers, We heartily endorse the rule OF Com
missioner Murphy that no names shall he arbi-
trarily dropped from the pension roll, and the
fact OF enlistment and service should be deemed
conclusive evidence against disease and disab il
ity before enlistment.
We extend our sympathy to the people of Cuba
in their heroic struggle for liberty and indepen-
dence.
We are opposed to life tenure in the public
service. We FAVOR appointments based upon
merits, fixed term of office, and such an admin
equal opportunities to all citizens of aimed
fitness.
We declare it to be the un~Titten, Law of this
republic. established by custom aud usage OF
one hundred years and sanctioned by the ex-
ample of the greatest and wisest of those who
founded and have maintained Our government,
that no man should be eligible fora third term
of the presidential Office.