The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1896-07-18
The Chicago Platform.

ne pl9tIOIm 8OOpCeO Oy tUe
Democratic National conventions q
Chicago, July 7th, is 90 explicit
that there is no possibility Of even
the most obtuse person being de.
ceived as to it's import. It declares
for the free and unlimited coinage
of silver at the ratio of is to l
the freedom of speech, the freedom
of the press, the preservation OF
personal rights, the equality of al
American citizens before the law
and the faithful observance of con
stitutional provisions. 1t condemns
the Mckinley law and favors . tariff
for revenue only; opposes any
changes in the present tariff until
the money question is settled, and
recognizes that question as the par
amount issue. The most important
plank in the platform is the finan'
cial one, of which the following is
the full text:
"Recognizing that the money question
Is paramount to all others at this time
We invite attention to the fact that the
Federal Constitution names silver and
gold together a. the money metals of the
United States, and that the first coinage
law passed by Congress under the Con-
stitution made the silver dollar the mon.
etary unit and admitted gold to free
coinage at - ratio based upon the silver
dollar unit.
1--WE declare that the act Of 1878 de.
monetizing silver without the knowledge
or approval of the American people HIS
resulted in the appreciation Of gold and
a corresponding fall in the prices of COM
nodities produced by the people; .
heavy increase in the burden Of taxation
and of all debts, public and private; the
enrichment of tha money lending class,
at home and abroad; prostration Of indus
tries and Impeachment Of the people.
1--WE are unalterably opposed to mono
metallism, which has locked fast the
prosperity of an industrious people In the
paralysis of hard times. Gold monometal-
lism Is a British policy, and its adoption
has brought other nations into financial
servitude to London. It is not only un-
American, but anti. American, and it can
be fastened upon the United States only
by the sitting of that love of liberty
which proclaimed our political indepen-
dence in 1776 and won it in the War of
the Revolution.
1--WE demand the free and unlimited
coinage of both gold and silver at the
present legal ratio of Is to /, without
waiting for the aid or consent Of any other
nation. We demand that the standard
silver dollar shall be full legal tender,
with gold, for all debts, public
and private, and we favor such legislation
az will prevent for the future the demon
of any kind Of legal tender
money by private contract.
1--WE are opposed to the policy and
practice of surrendering to the holders of
the obligations Of the United States the
option reserved by law to the Govern
ment of rsdeeming such obligations in
sither silver coin or gold coin. We are
opposed to the issuance of interest. bear.
ing bonds of the United States in time of
peace, and condemn the traihcking with
syndicates which in exchange
Tor bonds, at an enormous profit to them
,elves. supply the Federal treasury with
gold to maintain the policy Of gold mo. !
Congress alone has the power to coin
md issue money, and President jackson
that this power could not be
delegated to corporations or individuals.
We, therefore, demand that the power to
ssue notes, to circulate as money, be
aiken from the national banks, and that
sll paper money shall be issued diretoly
BY the Treasury Department, lie redeem
able in coin and receivable for all debts,
public and private"