The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-04
THE PLATFORM.
by IL Unanimous Vote With
out Argument.

AT ten minutes TO O'Clock Senator Will
lam f. Villas. the chairman of the commit
tee on platform, appeared in the hall and
was escorted to the platform, where he
| was warmly greeted by Mr.. Caffery, the
chairman of the convention.
Chairman Caffery-Gentlemen of the cons
vention, the committee resolutions is
now ready to report. (Appiause)
Senator Vilas-Mr. President, l am in
structed by the committee on resolutions
to report the following as a platform or
principles for submission to this conven-
iotn; and at the conclusion of the report
to make a formal motion that it be
adopted.
AT the conclusion of the reading of the
platform it greeted with wild cheers,
| the delegates rising to their feet and shout
! ing their approval, and by the waving of
many small flags. When the noise had
! somewhat subsidized the band in the gal.
| lery played the national air, My Country.
| IT'S of Thee
Upon the conclusion of the music Senator
| Villas said: Mr.. President before such
! body as this no argument can be neces-
| sary to the full understanding of the pro-
! posals and principles set forth in the plat
| form which is proposed for your considera-
| ton, and, therefore, with a due recCgni-
! ton of all the circumstances of the hour
| l shall omit any argument or speech for
! the purpose of advancing its consideration
and will proceed directly to discharge the
| office which the committee has imposed
upon me, and move the adoption of these
! resolutions.
The motion was put by the chair and
unanimously and enthusiastically adopted
| AT the conclusion of this business Mr.
| Cultivate, of Ohio, moved that the con-
vention take a recess until $3.50 o'clock D.
M, but he was so dismayed by the shouts
! of mo- no., that his heart failed him and
lie did not insist upon the motion. The
platform is follows
TEXT OF THE PLATFORM.
This convention has assembled to uphold
the principles on which depend the honor
and welfare of the American people, in or
der that Democrats throughout the Union
may unite their patriotic efforts to avert
disaster from their country and ruin from
their party. The Democratic party is
pledged to equal and exact justice to all
men, of every creed and condition.; to the
| largest freedom of the individual consistent
with good government; to the preservation
of the federal government in it's constitu.
tional vigCr and to the support Of the
States in all their lust rights: to economy
in the pubic expenditures to the main
| tenance of the public faith and sound
money, and it is opposed to Daternaism
The declarations of the Chicago conVen-
ton attack individual freedom, the right
of private contract, the independence of the
judiciary and the authority of the Presi-
dent 10 enforce federal laws. They advo-
cate a reckless attempt to increase the
price of silver by legislation, to the de-
basement of our monetary standard, and
threaten unlimited issues of paper money
by the government. They abandon for Re-
publican allies, the Democratic cause OF
tariff reform to court the favor of protec-
tionists to their fiscal heresy- In view of
these and other grave departures from
Democratic principles, we cannot support
the candidates of that convention nor be
bound by its acts.
The Democratic party has survived
many defeats, but could not survive vic
tory won in behalf of the doctrine and poll
cy proclaimed in it's name at Chicago.
The conditions, however, which make pos
sible such utterances from national con-
vention the direct result of class legis-
lation by the Republican party. 1t still
proclaims. as it has for years, the power
and duty OF government to raise and MAIN
tain prices by law, and 1t proposes no rem
edy for existing evils, except oppressive
and unjust taxation.
The National Democracy here convened.
therefore, renews its declaration of faith
in Democratic principles especially as APP
Taxation, tariff, excise or direct, is right
fully imposed only for public purposes and
not for private gain. It's amount is justly
measured by public expenditures. which
should be limited by scrupulous economy
The sum derived by the treasury from
tariff and excise levies is affected by the
state of trade and volume of consumption.
The amount required by the. treasury is
determined by the appropriations made by
Congress. The demand of the Republican
party for increase in tariff taxation has
it's pretext in the deficiency of revenue
trade and reduced consumption due en-
tirely to the loss of confidence that has fol-
lowed the Populist threat of free coinage
and depreciation of our money and the
Republican practice of eXtraVagant appro-
priations beyond the needs of good govern
I'VE arraign and condemn the Populist
conventions of Chicago and st. Louis for
their cooperation with the Republican
party in creating these conditions, which
are pleaded in justification of heavy in
crease of the burdens of the people by
further resort to protection: We, there
fore, denounce protection and its ally, free
coinage of silver, as schemes for the per-
sonal profit of a few at the expense of the
masses, and oppose the two parties Whlch
stand for these schemes as hostile let to the
shelter, comfort and prosperity are at
tackled by higher taxes a and .ddepre;ciiatgid
Democratic doctrine of tariff for revenue
only. -,
liberal policies towards American shipping
shall take the place of our imitation of the
fury. which were long ago apandoned by
every maritime power but the United states,
and which, to the Nations humiliation.
have driven American capital and enter
prise to the of alien flags and alien
crews, have made the stars and stripes al
most an unknown emblem in foreign ports,
and have virtually extingu1shed the race
of American seamen. We oppose the pre-
tense that discriminating duties will pro
mote shipping, that scheme is an invitation
to commercial warfare upon the United
States un-American in the light of our
great commercial treaties, offering no gain
whatever to American shipping, while
greatly increasing ocean freiEhts on our
agricultural and manufactured products.
s'The experience of mankind has SHOWN
that by reason of their natural qualities
gold is the necessary money OF the large
affairs of commerce and business while Sill
yer is conveniently adapted TO minor trans
actions and the most beneficial use of both
together can be insured only by the adop-
ton of the former standard OF none
tary measure and the maintenance OF sill
yer at a parity with gold by its limited
coinage under suitable safeguards of law.
Thus the largest possible enjoyment of
both metals is gained with a value uni
versally accepted throughout the world,
which constitutes the only practical bime-
taIifc currency. assuring the most stable
standard and especially the best and safest
money for all who earn livelihood by labor
or the produce of husbdndry. They cannot
suffer when paid in the best money known
TO man. but the peculiar and most de-
fenseless victims of debased and tiuctuat-
ing currency, which offers continual profits
TO the money changer at their cost
'fkealizing these truths, demonstrated by
long public Inconvenience and loss. the
Democratic party. In the interests OF the
masses and of equal iHstiee 10 all. practical
~ established by the legislation of 1884 and
1853 the gold standard o. monetary meas-