The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-09-08


have driven American capital and en-
teTpr.se to the use of alien flags and
alien crews, have made the stars and
Stripes an almost unkno wn emblem
in foreign ports, and have virtually
extinguished the race of American sea
men.
We oppose the pretense that discrim-
mating duties will promote shipping;
that scheme is an invitation to com,
mercial 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 freights on
our agricultural and manufactured
products.
COL TIL NECESSARY MONEY.
The experienced of mankind has shown
that, by aso of their natural quail
ties, gold is the necessary money of the
large affairs of commerce and business,
while silver is conveniently adapted to
minor transactions, and the most bene
fetal use of both together can be in
sured only the adoption of the former
as a STANDARD of monetary measure,
and the maintenance of silver at a
with gold by its limited coinage
under suitable safeguards of law. Thus
the largest possible enjoyment of both
metals is gained, with a value univer-
sally accepted throughout the world,
which constitutes the only practical
bimetallic currency, assuring the most
stable standard, and especially the best
and safest money for all who earn their
livelihood by labor or the product of
husbandry. They cannot suffer when
paid in the best money known to man,
but are the peculiar and most defense
less victims of a debased and fuctuat-
ing currency, which offers continual
profits to the money changer at their
cost.
Realizing these truths, demonstrated
by long and public inconvenience and
loss, the Democratic party, in the in
terests Of the meeses and of equal JUS
tice to all, practically established by
the legislation of the masses and Of
equal justice to all, practically estab-
lished by the legislation of 1884 and
1853 the gold standard Of monetary
measurement and likewise entirely
divorced the government from banking
and currency issues. To this long
established Democratic policy we ad-
here and insist upon the maintenance
of the gold standard and Of the parity
Herewith of every dollar Issued by the
government, and are firmly opposed
to the free and unlimited coinage of
silver and to the compulsory purchase
of silver bullion. But we denounce
also the further maintenance of the
present costly patchwork system of
national paper currency 10 a constant
source of injury and peril.
CURRENCY REFORM DEMANDED.
We assert the necessity of such in,
telligent currency reform as will CON
fine the government to it's legitimate
functions, completely separated from
the banking business, and afford to all
sections Of country a uniform, safe
and elastic bank currency, under gov.
ernmental supervision, measured in
volume by the needs of business.
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND ENDORSED.
The fidelity, patriotism, and courage
with which President Cleveland has
fulfilled his great public trust, the high
character Of his administration, its wis
dom and energy in the maintenance OF
civil order and the enforcement of the
laws, its equal regard for the rights of
every class and every section, its firm
and dignified conduct of foreign affairs,
and it's sturdy persistence in uphold
ing the credit and honor of the nation
are fully recognized by the Democratic
party and will secure to him a place in
history beside the fathers of the Re
public.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
We ais0 commend the adminietra
ton for the great progress made in the
reform of the civil service, and we in
dorse it's effort to extend the merit sys-
tenn still further.
We demand that no backward step
be taken, but that the reform be sup
ported and advanced until the I'm
Democratic spoIls system of appoint
ments shall be eradicated.
We demand strict economy in the
appropriations and in the administra-
ton of the government.
We favor arbitration for the settle.
ment of international disputes.