The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-05-20

wealth be made to pay Tor us protec
ton.
We repudiate the construction plac'
ed on the financial plank of the las
Democratic national convention BY
President Cleveland and Secretary
Carlisle as contrary to the plain m maan
ing of English words and as being ar
act of bad faith, deserving of severes
censure. The issue of bonds in time
of peace with which to buy gold to re
deem coin obligations. payable in sill
YER or gold, at the option of the gov
ernment, and the use OF the proceeds
to defray the ordinary expenses OF the
government, are both unlawful ano
| usurpations of authority deserving
Impeachment
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 ano
privileges now given to gold.' We de
mand the free and unlimited coinage
of silver at ratio of 16 to 1, regard
Hess of the action of any and all Other
nations and that such coinage be le
gal tender for all debts. public ano
private. Congress, alone has the
power to coin and issue money and
President Jackson declared that thif
power could not be delegated to a cor
poration, therefore, we demand the
national banking system be abolish
ed.
The absorption of wealth by few,
the consolidation of our leading rail
road systems and the formation ol
trusts and pools, require strictel
control by the Federal government o1
those arteries of commerce. We de
mand the enlargement of the powers
of the interstate commerce commits
sion. =,
The reading was concluded amid
loud applause. Larry CAN'T moved
that it be adopted unanimously with
every 81" dotted and every st. cross
ed.
A MINORITY REPORT.
It was about to be done when Mr..
John s. Reynolds of Richland an
nounced that he had a minority re-
port.
Senator Tillman rose and stated that
since coming into the hall the gentle
man from Richland had come to him
and told him of the minority report.
He requested the convention to hear
the report and consider it. Mr.. Key
nolds read it as follows:
The undersigned, unable to concur
in all the declarations submitted by
the majority of the committee on plat
form, recommend the following
changes in the report of such majori'
ty:
1. 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 the action and support the nomi
nees of the national Democratic con-
vention to assemble in Chicugo on
the 7th of July, next"
Q. That Section be stricken out.
8. That section be amended by ad-
ding thereto the following words:
"And we demand the repeal of the 10
per cent. tax on the circulation OF
State banks"
a. That there be added to said plat
form and declaration the following
words: 1--WE reaffirm the principles
of the national Democratic platform OF
1892, respecting the reform of the
tariff" JOHN 5. REYNOLDS.
J. w. FERGUSON.
7 cannot concur in section Q or in
section 8. Aside from the considera-
ton that it is denunciatory to an ex-
tent not justified by the facts of his.
tory, it has no place in the platform OF
the Democratic party of South Caro-
lima.
I further object to the declaration
in section 6 because I think 1t unne
cessary. John s. Reynolds.
Mr.. Reynolds did not speak to the
report and Senator Tillmau gave no
tice that he would move to lay it on
the table.
LEADING A FoRLoRN HOPE
Mr.. Jos. w. Barnwell then took up
the matter of the policy of the Demo
cratic party in declaring for free silver.
He was aware he was in a minority.
Free silver, he believed would ruin all
the farmers in the State. daughter
MIR. Barnwell continued to argue that
free silver would put the Democratic
party in position where it could not
make a winning fight against the Re.
publican party. 1t seemed impossible
to accomplish anything by declaring
for free silver. He was opposed to
antagonizing States which had stood
by us in greater crises. Was it well
to throw this bombshell in the centre
of the ranks of the Democratic party.
1t was exchanging old, tried friends
for new friends who might not be so
kind. Mr.. Barnwell was applauded.
Mr.. Reynolds then took the floor
He said that he felt that he was beaten
at the start, and there was enough to
show that it was useless to offer argu-
ment.. But there was one proposition
in the minority report which was
worthy of the closest consideration. 1t
was the provision that called for ac-
uuiescence in the action of the nation
al convention, and the support of that
body's work. For 20 years past there
has never been any such talk of aban-
doning the national party. He point
ed out the danger of abandoning the
friends of the south OF 80 years stand
ing. He was in favor of the free coin
age of silver at 16 to l.. (Applause.
He had advocated it for years. He had
criticised Cleveland in 1886. But should
they sacrifice all else that the national