The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-09-04

national platform, upon which the can
didacy of Mr.. Bryan is being made.
Following is the declaration in full:
The Platform.
We, the democrats OF the United States, in
national convention assembled, DO resfirm our
allegiance to those great essential principles
Of justice ana liberty upon which our institute
Sions are founded, and which the democratic
party has maintained from JeGerson's time to
our oWn-fresdom Of speech, freedom Of the
press, freedom Of conscience, the preservation
OF personal rights, the equality Of all citizens
before the Law. and the faithful observance Of
constitutional limitations.
The constitution Of the United States guar
sutees TO every citizen the right Of civil and
religious liberty. The democratic party has
always been the exponent Of political liberty
and religious fresdom, and it FeneWs its obli-
cations and reafirms its devotion to these fuus
demental principles Of the constitution.
During all these years the democratic party
has resisted the tendency Of selfish interests
20 the Capitalization Of governmental power,
and has steadfastly maintained the integ-
rsty Of the dual scheme Of government estab-
iishsd by the founders Of this republic Of re-
publlcs. Under its guidance and teachings the
found its best expression in the maintenance
Of the rights of the states and its assertion
that it is necessary to conine the general gov
eminent 70 the exercise Of the powers granted
by the constitution Of tie United States.
Recognizing that the money question is par
amount to ali others at this time, We invite
attention TO the fact that the federal eonstitu-
tion names silver and gold together as the
money metals Of the United States, and that
the first CO image law passed by congress under
the constitution made the silver dollar the
unit Of value, and admitted gold to free coin
age OF a ratio measured by the silver dollar
unit
We declare that the act Of 1873, demonetiz-
ing silver without the knowledge OF approval
Of the American people, has resulted in the
appreciation Of gold and a corresponding fall
In the prices Of commodities produced by the
people, a heavy increase in the burden Of
taxation, and Of all debts, public and private:
the enrichment Of the money lending class at
home and abroad. paralysis Of industry and
impoverishmsEt Of the people.
We are unalterably opposed to the single
gold standard, which has locked fast the pros
peFity Of an industrious people in the paraIy-
sis OF hard times. Gold monometallism is a
British policy, founded upon British greed for
gain and power, and its general adoption has
brought other nations into financial serVitude
to London, It Is not only un-American, but
anti-Ameriean, and it can be fastened upon
the United States only by the sitting Of that
indomitable spirit aud love Of liberty which
proclaimed our political independence in I77s
and won it in the war Of the revolution.
We demand the immediate restoration Of
the free and unlimited coinage Of gold and
silver at the present legal ratio Of sixteen to
yuffhOft vu1fffuF for Fo al ar -
any other nation We demand that the stand
ard silver dollar shall be q full legal tender,
equally with gold, for all debts, public and
private, aad We favor such legislation as will
prevent the characterization Of any kind of
legal tender money by private contract.
We are opposed to the policy and practice Of
surrendering to the holders OF obligations Of
the United States the option reserved by law
to the government Of redeeming such obligs-
tions In either silver coin OF gold coin.
We are opposed to the issuing Of interest
bearing bonds OF the United States in times OF
peace, and condemn the traficiGg with banking
syndicates which, in exchange for bonds and at
n enormous profit to themselves, supply the
federal treasury with gold to maintain tha
policy Of gold recommendation.
Congress alone has the power to coin and
issue money, and President Jackson declared
that this power could not be delegated to cor
pOrations or individuals. We therefore de-
mRnd that the power to issue notes be taken
from the banks, and that all paper money
shall be issued directly by the treasury depart
ment
We hold that tariff duties should be levied
solely for the purposes Of revenue, and that
taxation should be limited by the needs Of the
government, honestly ana economically ad-
ministered We deuounce as disturbing to
business the republican threat to restore the
Mckinley law, which has been twice con-
demned by the people in national elections,
and which, enacted under the false plea Of pro-
lection to home industry, proved prolific
breeder of trusts and mohopoiies, enriched the
few at the expense Of the many, restricted
trade and deprived the producers Of the great
American staples Of access to their natural
markets.
Until the money question is settled we are
opposed to any agitation for further changes
in our tariff laws except such as are necessary
TO make up the deficit in revenue caused by
the adverse decision Of the supreme court on
the income tax.
But for this decision by the supreme court
there would be no deficit In the revenue under
the law passed by a democratic congress in
strict pursuance of the uniform decisions Of
that court for nearly 100 years that court haV-
ing in that decision sustained constitutional
objections to its enactment which had pFeVi-
iOusly been OVerruled by the ablest judges who
have ever sat q that bench. We declare that
it is the duty OF congress to use all the oOlsti-
tutionsl power which remains after that de-
cision, or which may come from its reversal by
the court as it may hereafter be constituted
so that the burdens Of taxation may equally
and impartiRlly lead to the end that wealth
NAV bear its due proportion Of the eyDenSss
Of the government
We hold that the efficient way of protecting
American labor is to prevent the importation
of foreign paupeF labor to compete with il Ia
the home market and that the value Of the
home market to our American farmers and
artisans is greatly reduced b. vicious none
tary system, which depUesses the prices Of
their products below the cost Of production,
and thus deprives them Of the means Of salts
flying their needs
The absorption Of wealth by the few, the
consolidation Of our leading railway systems
and the formation OF trusts and pools, require
Q strioter control by the federal government
OF those arteries Of commerce, We demand
the enlargement OF the powers Of the inter-
state commerce commission and such Festric-
tiens and guarantees in the control Of rail-
roads as will protect the people from robbery
and oppression
We dehouGee the prohigate waste Of the
money wrung from the people by oppressive
taxation, and the lavish appropriations Of re-
cent republican congresses, which have kept
taxes high, while the laboFer that pays them
Is unemployed ana products Of the people to it
are depressed in price till they no longer repay
the cost Of production. We demand return
to that simplicity and economy which hest
behts a democratic government and reduction