The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-05-22
STATE DEMOCRATIC rLATFoRM.


"The Democratic party of Tennessee, as
sembled in convention, declares its abiding
faith in the great fundamental principles
that gave it birth.
~. A rigid restriction of the Federal
power within the written limitations of the
Federal Constitution. a
80. The largest measure of individual
freedom consistent with the general good.
"3. The jealous preservation of the right
OF local self-goVernment and constant OPP
position to the encroachments of the Gen
eral Government upon the reserved rights
of the people or the States.
a. We hold that it is the high duty and
honor of the Democratic party to call back
the Government to the old paths, to restore
purity and virtue, and to root out all the
pernicious influences that have corrupted
It's legislation and the administration of its
laws. AS Il first and most necessary step
to this end, we demand the restoration of
the money OF the Constitution by law
providing for the free and unlimited coin
age of both gold and silver as full legal
tender money at the ratio of Is to /, regard
less of the action of any other nation.
"b. We demand the enactment of laws,
both State and national, making both gold
and silver legal tender for all debts, and
prohibiting in contracts thereafter made
any discrimination for or against either.
IS, We oppose the Increase of the public
debt by the issuance OF interest-bearing
bonds to sustain the gold standard.
~. We demand that all obligations OF the
United States shall be honestly discharged
according to the terms of the contract in
either gold or silver, at the option and con-
Venience of the Government and not in
gold alone, at the option of the creditor.
"8. We demand the repeal of the uncon-
stitutional 10 per cent tax on the issues of
State banks, and the abolition ut the earli-
est possible time Of the national banking
system.
20. We demand that all Federal taxation
shall be strictly and only for revenue for
the support of an economically admins
policy Of the Republican party in prosti
tuting the taxing power to enrich the few
ut the expense OF the many.
40. We demand the enactment of laws
taxing incomes in order that those who en-
JOY the largest measure of Government
protection shall be required to bear their
Just share of the public burdens.
III. We hold that the interests of labor, of
the toiler in the field ana in the factory,
demands the consideration of the lawmaker
rather than the greed and avarice of mo-
nopoly.
''l2. We hold that the laborers of the
country should be paid their wages in law
full money, and not in script by means of
which their nominal wages are scaled by
eXOrbitant charges ut the company store, >
and that the country, in all its legislation,
both state and national, shall be always
attentive to the just demands of labor,
whether in the factory or in the field.
"l3 We favor an equitable adjustment of
our system of taxation in order that the
burdens may fall equally and justly upon
all classes alike, and the enactment of such
laws as will reach hidden wealth that has
hitherto escaped the tax assessor.
"lI We demand the enactment of laws
that will reduce the heavy cost to State
and county Of criminal prosecutions and n
reduction of the burdens of litigation.
as We favor the enactment of laws to
simplify the collection of taxes, to reduce
the cost of their collection and the number
of tax gatherers. We favor such legislation
ms Will give the regular tax collector full
nfNFa 4
thereby obviate the necessity for special
officers to collect delinquent taxes
10 We favor honesty and economy in the
administration of the State government.
III. We favor n liberal and efficient pub
Tic school system for the education of the
youth of the country, and strict super
vision OF the collection and disbursement of
the public school fund. The charitable in
stitutions of the State should always be
carefully fostered and supported.
us. We favor an efficient public road syS-
tenn, and the utilization in the counties of
convict labor for that purpose.
10, We indOrse the action of the last Leg
iSlature in preserving the integrity of our
election laws and purging the poll of all
votes unlawfully cast in the preceding cleo
tioni and we demand in future rigid com.
pliance with the wholesome laws enacted
by the Democratic party to preserve the
purity of the ballot. We heartily indorse
the administration of GOV. Peter Turney,
whom we regard as an honest, able and
faithful public servant, and we extend to
him in his present painful illness the SYM
pathy and best wishes of the Democratic
party.
1--WE hereby instruct the delegation Sc
lected by this convention to vote as unit
on all questions coming before the nation
al convention; to vote in accordance with
the principles embodied in this platform
and especially to vote for a platform decla-
ration in favor of the free, unlimited and
Independent coinage of both gold and silver
as full legal tender money at the ratio of l6
to l; and we recommend to this convention
that il choose delegates from the State at
large and from each Congressional district,
who are in sympathy with this policy.
1--WE indorSe the course and conduct of
our distinguished Senators, Isham G. Har-
ris and VIM. b. Bate, and the majority of
our Democratic Representatives in Con-
gress for their brave stand in favor of the
Constitution and of the people,
"E. W, CARMACK. Chairman.
NV. NJ. BRANDON, Secretary"