The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1896-09-26
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

tial principles of justice and liberty upon
which our institutions are founded n
which the Democratic party has adv0cat-
ed from Jefferson's time to our own. Tree
dom of speech. freedom of the press tree.
dom of conscience, the preservation OF
personal rights the equality OF all cltlZeus
before the law, and the faithful observ-
ance of constitutional limitations.
During all these years the DemocIaIic
party has resisted the tendency OF selfish
Interests to the Capitalization OF govern,
mental power and steadfastly maintained
the integrity of the dual scheme OF gov.
eminent established by the founders OF
this republic of republics. Under It's
guidance the great principle OF local sell
government has found its best expression
in the maintainance of the rights OF the
States and in its assertion OF the necessl-
ty of combining the general government 20
the exercise of the powers granted by the
Constitution of the United States.
Recognizing that the money system 10
paramount to all others at this time. we
invite attention to the fact that the Fed:
eral Constitution names SILVER and gold
together MS the money metals of the Unit
ed States, and that the first coinage law
passed by Congress under the Constltu-
tion made the silver dollar the monetary
unit and admitted go.dthe free coinage &C
a ratio based upon the silver dollar unit.
We declare that the act of 1873, de-
monetizing silver without the knowledge
or approval of the American people, has
resulted in the appreciation OF gold ahd
a corresponding fall i'll the prices OF COM
1nodities produced by the people; g heavy
of all debts, public and private; the en-.
richlnent of the money lending class at
home and abroad; pr%ostration of industry
and impoverishment Of the people,
We are unalterably opposed to me
recommendation, which has locked fast the
~,,,u1ar;4xv Df a n inI1Gtriat mamie IN Gn6
paralysis of hard times. Gold mon0niet-
allism is a British policy, and its adoption
has brought other nations into hnanclai
servitude to London. 1t is not only I'M
American, put anti-American, and It c$n
be fastened OH the United States only, by
the sitting of that spirit and love of lib
cry which proclaimed our political lnde-
pendence in l776. and won it i'll the war
of the Revolution. !,
We demand the free and unlimited
coinage of both gold and silver at the
present legal ratio of l6 TO l., without
waiting for the aid or consent Of any 9TH
er nation. We demand that the standard
silver dollar shall be o full legal tender
equally with gold, for all debts, public,
and private. alNEkSSnye favor such legisla-
tion as will prevent for the future the de-
monetizati0n OF any kind OF legal tender
money by private contract.
We are opposed to the policy and prac.
tice of surrendering to the holders OF tue
obligations of the United States the op-
y ton reserved by law to the government
Y of redeeming such obligations In either
silver coin or gold coin.
We are oppOsed to the issuing of inter.
est bearing bonds of the United States III
time Of peace and condemn the traf1cklne
with banking syndic8tes which, IN eX'
change for bonds II as an, enormous
profit to themselves. supply the Fedora
treasury with gold to malntaln the poilcJ
of gold mOnometalllsm,
Congress alone has the power to coli
and issue money, and President lacks
declared that this owe could not be del
gated to corporations or individuals. W.
therefore demand that the power to ISSUE
notes to circulate as money be taken iron
national banks and that all paper mon
ey shall be issued directly by tn
Treasury Department, redeemable in coil
and receivable for all debts, public ant
private. :,
We hold that the tariff duties shout.
be levied for purposes OF revenue. sue
equally throughout the country. and no
discriminate between class and section
and that taxation should be limited 3.
the needs Of the government, honestl
and economically administered. we &c
0unc as disturbing to business the he
publican threat to restore the Mckinie
law, which has twice been condemned D.
the people in national elections. an
which, enacted under false plea or prs
lection to home industry, proved a PROM
breeder of truss and m%onopolies, enricE
ed the few at the expense OF the many
GERS of the great American staples OF az
cess to their natural markets.
Until the money question is settled W
are opposed to any agitation for furthe
changes in our tariff laws, except such Z
are necessary to make up the deficit
nrnrs nArnn6 by thu nhxynrnQ dln1E10
by the supeme court on the income ia:
But for this there would be nc deficit
revenue. Under the law passed by
Democratic Congress, in strict pursuant
of the uniform decisions OF that lou
having that decision sustained, consult
has been overruled by the ablest judg
VINO eve sat on that bench. We declaI
that 1t ia the duty of Congress to all II
constitutional power which rematns art
that decision or which may come from !
reversal by the court as it may, hereaft
taxation may be equally. and Impartial
laid to the end that wealth may bear /
due proportionate expenses OF the COVER
ment.
We hold that the most efficient way
protect American labor is to prevent t
importation OF foreign pauper labor
compete with it in the home market, OIL
that the value of the home market to o
farmers and artisans is greatly reduc
by avicious monetary system, which {
presses the price of their products belt
the cost of production, and thus depriS
them of the means of purchasing the p
ducts of our home manufacturers,
The absorption of wealth by the fe
the consolidation of our leading railw
systems and the formation of trusts a
pools, require a stricter control by I
Federal Government of those arteries
UHa Hawai- nd TIM nR,I rnamk
of the powers of the Interstate CONNIE
Commission and such restrictions a
guarantees in the control Of railroads
will protect the people from robbery q