Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-09-10


This convention has assembled 20 uphold the
principles upon which depend the honor and
welfare Of the American people: In order 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 10 all men Of every creed
and condition; to the largest freedom OF the
individual consistent with good government;
20 the preservation Of the federal government
IN its constitutional vigor and to the support
Of the states in all their Just rights; TO econo-
my in the public expenditures: TO the main
tenanee OF the public faith and sound money;
and It is opposed 70 paternslism and all class
legislation
The declarations Of the Chicago convention
attack individual freedom, the right Of private
contract. the independence of the judiciary
ana the power Of the president TO enforce fed
er3l laws; they advocate a reckless attempt TO
increase the price Of silver by legislation 70
the debasement OF our monetary standard,
and threaten unlimited issues Of paper money
by the government. They abandon for repub-
lican allies the democratic cause Of tariff re-
form TO court the favor Of proteetionists to
their fiscal heresy.
In view OF these other grave departures from
democratic principles, we can not support the
candidates OF that convention, nor be bound
by its acts. THE democratic party has survived
many defeats. but could not survive q victory
won in behalf Of the doctrine and policy pro-
Claimed IN its name at Chicago.
The conditions, however, which make posi-
bic such utterances from a national convention
are the direct result OF class legislation by the
republican party. Il still proclaims. as IL has
for years, the power and duty OF government
TO raise and maintain prices by the Law, and il
proposes no remedy for existing evils except
oppressive and unjust taxation.
The National democracy here reconveued
therefore renews it's declaration Of faith in
democratic principles. especially as applicable
TO the conditions OF the times.
Taxation, tariff, excise or direct, is right
fully imposed only for public purposes. and
not for private gain. Its 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 appro-
priations made by congress. The de-
mand Of the republican party for
an increase in tariff taxation has
its pretext in the deficiency OF revenue. which
has its causes in the stagnation Of trade and
reduced consumption, due entirely to the loss
of confidence that has followed the populist
threat Of free coinage and depreciation OF our
money and the republican practice OF extrava-
CANT appropriations beyond the needs OF good
government. We arraign and condemn
the popuIistic conventions OF Chicago
and St Louis for their cooperation
with the republican party in creating these
conditions which are pleaded in justification Of
q heavy increase 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 personal
profit Of few at the expense Of the masses.
and oppose the two parties which stand for
these schemes as hostile to the people OF the
republic whoss food and shelter. comfort
and prosperity a:S attacked by higher taxes
and deprecated moEey. In fine, we reaffirm
the historic democrats doctrine OF tariff for
revenue only.