The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1896-10-02

tanned from Jefferson's time to our own
freedom OF speech, freedom OF the press,
freedom Of conscience, the reservation
of personal rights, the equality Of all
citizens before the law, and the faithful
observance of constitutional limitations.
Recognizing that the money question
| is paramount to all others at this time,
! we invite attention to the TACT 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 consti.
tuition made the silver dollar the unit OF
value and admitted gold to free coinage,
at ratio measured by the silver dollar
unit Il
We declare that the act Of 1873 de-
mouetzing silver without the knowledge
or approval Of the American people has
resulted in the appreciation of gold and
corresponding fall in the prices OF
commodities produced by the people;
heavy increase in the burden OF taxation,
and OF all debts, public and private; the
enrichment of the moneylending classes
at home and abroad; paralysis OF indna-
tries and Impeachment of the people.
We are unalterably opposed to the sim
gle gold standard, which has locked fast
the prosperity Of an industrious people
in the paralysis of hard times. Gold
monometallism is British policy,
founded upon British greed for gain and
power, and its general adoption has
| brought other nations into financial ser.
vitude to London. 1t is not only un-
| American, but anti-AmericaD, and it can
be fastened upon the United States only
by the sitting of that indomitable spirit
and love of liberty which proclaimed our
political independence in 1776 and won
it in the war of the Revolution.
We demand the immediate restoration
of the free and unlimited coinage OF gold
and silver at the present legal ratio OF Is
to /, without waiting for the aid or con-
sent OF any other nation. We demand
that the standard silver dollar shall be
full legal tender, equally with gold, for
all debts, public and private, and We
favor such legislation as will prevent the
decentralization of any kind of legal
tender money by private contract.
We are opposed to the policy and practice
ofsurrendering to holders OF obligations OF
the United states any option reserved by
law to the government of redeeming such
obligations 10 either silver coin or gold
coin.
We are opposed to the issuing Of
interest bearing bonds OF the United
States in time of peace, and condemn
traffiCing with banking syndicates which,
in exchange for bonds at an enormous
profit to themselves, supply the federal
treasury with gold to maintain policy
OF gold monometallsm.
Congress alone has power to coin and
issue money end President jackson
declared that this power could not be
delegated to corporations or individuals.
We therefore demand that the power
tn issue notes be taken from the banks
and that all paper shall be issued direct
lv by the treasury department. We
hold that tariff duties should be levied
solely for the purpose OF revenue and
that taxation should be limited 6y
the needs of the government, honestly
and economically administered. We
denounce as disturbing to business
the republican threat to restore the Nc
! Kinley law, which hes twice been con-
demned by the people in national
, elections, and which, enacted under the
| false plea of protection to home industry,
!. proved q prolific breeder of trusts and
monopolies, enriching the few at the ex.
pense of the many, restricted trade and
deprived the producers of the great Amer.
ican staples of access to their natural
markets. Until the money question
is settled, we are opposed to any agitation
for further changes in our tariff laws ex-
| cept such as are necessary to make the
deficit in revenue, caused by the ad
verse decision of the supreme court
as to the income tax.
There would have been no deficit IN
the federal revenue during the last two
years but for the annulment by the
supreme court of the income tax law,
placed upon the statute books by demo
cratic congress. The obstruction to an
income tax, which the supreme court dis
covered in the constitution after it had
laid hidden for hundred years, must be
removed, to the end that accumulated
wealth may be made to bear its just share
Of the burden of the government We
therefore, favor an amendment to the
federal constitution that will permit tbs
levy OF an income tax. We hold that the
: efficient way of protecting American
labor ie to prevent the importation o
foreign pauper labor to compete with tht
! home market, and that the value Of tht
J home market to our American farmers
. and artisans is greatly reduced by |
vicious monetary system which depressel
the prices Of their product below the cosl
Of production, and thus deprives them o.
the means OF satisfying their needs. We
denounce the prohigate waste Of the
money wrung from the people by oppres.
: sive taxation and lavish appropriations
OF recent republican congresses, which
; have kept taxes high, while the laborel
that pays them ie unemployed, and pro
| ducts Of the people are depressed in price
; until they no longer repay the cost o.
production. We demand q return to thai
: simplicity aud economy which best beiits
q Democratic government, and reduc
ton in the number OF useless Offices, tbs
salaries Of which drain the substance O
! the people Contiding in the justice o
7 our cause and the necessity OF its success
: al The polls, we submit the foregoinl
g declaration OF principles and purposes t.
7 the considerate judgment Of the American
people. We invite the support OF al
|, citizens who approve them and who de
: sire 10 have them made effective througE
!, lerislation for the relief Of the people
, and the restoration Of the country
prosperity.