The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-05-27

1Z6Q 10 Dc dangerous 10 LDo hepuullc.
The American people have lost confidence
in life tenure OF officers in any depart
ment Of government, and we repeat here
the warning of Jefferson against the ten
dency and effect of the constitution Of the
Federal Judiciary, which he styles ian
irresponsible body working like gravity
by night and day. gaining a little to-day
and O little tomorrow, and advancing
it's noiseless steps like q thief owe the
field of jurisdiction until all shall be
usurped from the States and the govern
ment of all be consolidated in one." The
sudden reversal of the decision in the in"
come tax cases has never been satisfacto-
rily explained to tho American people,
and the Court has lost the respect and
confidence OF the people as a D. al re-
suit. To restore confidence in the Judici-
ary and make the Courts the bulwarks of
liberty rather than the apparent tools of
the "sordid despotism of wealth. to pro-
tect the people against the brood Of YAM
pires in the shape Of monopolists, trusts
and com bines which have grown up un-
der vicious laws badly administered; to
provide for the election of Senators and OF
all high government officials by the pee
pie so az to reduce the the dangers ofFed-
eral patronage in the hands of upscrupu-
lous Presidents; tn restore government
of the people, by the people and for the
people, we demand the calling Of q Con-
stitutional Convention to form an organ
ic law suitable to the changed conditions
and to the growth Of the country.
4. We demand a more economical ad-
ministration of our national affairs and
that taxes should be levied 80 as to bear
equally on all sections and all classes.
Labor should be lightly burdened
and by a graduate income tax wealth be
made made to pay for its own protection.
5. A sound and just system OF finance
is the most potent factor in a nations
prosperity and we demand the restora-
ton OF the money of the constitution by
giving silver. the same rights and privi-
ieges now given to gold. We demand
the free and unlimited coinage of silver
at a ratio of sixteen to n regardless OF
the action Of any and all other nations and
that such coinage be q lsgal tender for all
debts, public and private. Congress
alone has the power to coin and issue
money and President Jackson declared
that this power could not he delegated
to a corporation, therefore we demand
the national banking system be abolish
ed.
6 The absorption of wealth by a few,
the consolidation of our leading railroad
systems and the formation of trusts and
pools require a s~tricter control by the
Federal government of these arteries OF
commerce, therefore we demand the en-
largement of the powers OF the Inter
State Commerce Commission under Con-
s%titutional instructions and guarantees
which will protect the people from rob.
berv and oppression.
Much cheering followed the reading OF
the platform.
Mr.. Jno. S. Reynolds said he had a mi
uority report which be, at least, wanted to
have read before the majority report was
adopted.
Senator Tillman explained that there
was to have heen a meeting OF the COM
mittee at 7.30 o'clock and that he was to
have reported q section to the committee.
Final action was then to be taken by the
committee Then be could not fnd the
committee, and since then MI. Rsynolds
had told him of q minority report and
asked that it he received.
Mr.. Reynolds then offered the follow
ing minority report t'The undersigned
unable to concur in all the declarations
submitted by the majority of the COM
mite or platform, recon mend the follow
ing changes. in the report Of such msjori-
ty:
i. That there be added to Section l OF
the platform and declaration Of principles
the following words And we declare
our purpose TO abide by tho action and
support the nominees of the National
Democratic Convention to assemble in
Chicsgo on the 7th of July next"
2. That Section 8 be stricken out.
8. That Section 4 be amended by add
ing thereto the following words: Sand
we demand the repeal of the 10 per
cent. tax on the circulation Of State
5snks."
That there be added to said platform
and declarations the following words
"We reafEirm the principles of the Ma
tional Democratic platform of 1892 res
pecting the reform of the tariff"
JNo. S. REYNOLDS,
j.. w. FERGUSON.
I cannot concur, said Mr.. Reynolds, in
Section 2 or in Section 3. Aside from the
consideration that it is denuncistory to
an extent notjusti6ed by history, it has
no place in the platform of the Demo.
cratic party OF South Carolina. I further
object to the declaration in Section G, be-
cause I think it unnecessary.
Senator Tillmen said that unless Mr..
Reynolds wished to say something he
would move to table the minority re.
port.
Mr.. Barnwell, of Charleston, however,
asked for a few moments, and this was
gracefully accorded. He said he did not
propose to delay the work of tie conven-
ton by discussing all the planks, but he
wished to speak on the financial policy
and whether it was best to now declare at
16 to l as to silver. The purpose of q par.
" wss to 81 cceed in elections, but the
question was whether tree silver could
succeed. He would not enter into a full
discussion, but his firm belief was that
free silver would ruin all the farmers
Laughter.) He said he knew he was in
a minority, but that did not make him
right or wrong. There are AT votes in
the Electoral College, and to carry it 224
votes must be carried. The Solid South
was about IS per cent of the college and
IS more votes were required. 1t Is ne
cessary to get these G5 votes il order to
succeed. Utah will not change the re-
suit. New York, Connecticut or New
Jersey cannot be carried or a free silver
platform. The niue remaining States
have only Sc electoral votes, and add these
to the South and there is not enough.
Maryland could not he carried on a free
silver platform, and North Carolina and
West Virginia are very doubtful to the
Democracy. He said he had been educa-
ted as a Democrat, and one of the party's
principles was free trade. The Demo-
cratic party was for home rule, absence
of religious tests, free trade and local gov.
eminent, and it seemed as if all these
were to be given up for free silver. 1t
looks like desertion of our Democratic
friends for free silver-for an issue that
seems doubtful. He wanted to know if
it was right to throw this bombsheli into
the party. In the days of the past this
party stuck to the South. It was these
very people who let US have homo rule.
Mr.. Barnwell spoke in excellent tone and
spirit.
Mr. Reynolds, of Ricbland, said it look
ed like a vain effort to fight the majority
platform. He was conscious OF surprise
that argument was necessary to convince
a Democratic Convention that it should
abide by the nomination Of the National
Convention. But the opposition said that
If they could not get free silver they
would abardon the party. They would
put aside every consideration OF gratitude
and loyalty for a single financial issue.
He was in favor of free silver at the ratio
of 16 to l. He had advocated free silver
for years, (applause), bur he was opposed
to sacrifice all that the National Democ-
racy can do for them for that one thing.
We w something to the National Dem
cratic party. The record is that the
Democratic party has stuck to US at its
own cost. The question is, where are we
going to IL out OF the Democratic party?
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