The Daily Texarkanian., 1896-09-21
THE PLATFORM
Adopted by the National Democratic
Convention, at Chicago, July, 1896.

Convention, at Chicago, July, 1896.
We, the Democrats of the United
States. in national convention assembled,
do reatfirm our allegiance to those great
/ essential principles Of justice and liberty
upon which our institutions are founded,
and which the, Democratic party has ad-
YOcated from JetferSOn'S time to our own
freedom of speech. freedom OF press,
freedom of conscience, the preservation IN
of personal rights, the eQua lty OF all citi-
Zens before the law. and the faithful OBJ
seryatiOn of constitutional limitations.
During all these years the Democratic
party has resisted the tendencies of selfish
interests to the centrilizatiOn OF govern
mental power and steadfaStly maintain
ed the integrity of the dual scheme Of
of government established by the found
ers of this republic of republics. URder
it's guidance and teachings the great prin-
ciple of local government has found
its best expression in the maintenance OF
the rights of the States and its assertion
of the necessity of contining the general
government to the exercise Of the powers
granted by the constitution Of the United
States.
Recognizing that the money question is
paramount TO all Others at this time, we
lIlNllt dIltllllDl W bllb ldNu bldu bllO ! th
eral constitution names silver and gold
together as the money metals of the Unit
ed States, and that the ir-t coinage law
passed by Congress under the constitution
made the silver dollar the unit OF value
and admitted gold to free coinage at a
ratio measured by the free silver dollar
unit.
We declare that the act of 1873 demone
tiZing silver without the knowledge or
approval of the American people has re-
suited in the appreciation Of gold and a
corresponding fall in the prices of com
modities produced by the people; heavy
Increase in the burden of taxation and of
all debts, public and private; the enrich
ment of the money-lendng class at
home and abroad; proStration of industry
and lmpoyerishment OF the people
We are unalterably opposed to mono
metallism. which has locked fast the
prosperity of an industrious people in the
paralysis of hard times Gold monomet-
allism is a British policy, and its adop-
tion has brought other nations into finan-
cial servitude to London. 1t is not only
un- American, but anti American, and it
can be fastened on the United States only
by the sitting Of that indomitable spirit
and love Of liberty which proclaimed our
political independence in l776, and won it
In 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 |, without
waiting for the consent or aid of any 9TH
er nation. We demand that the standard
silver dollar sha be full legal tender,
eoually with gold, for all debts, public
and private. and we favor such legisIa-
ton as will prevent for the future the de-
monetization Of any kind Of legal tender
money by private contract.
We are opposed TO the policy and prac-
tice OF surrenderlng to the holders of the
obligations Of the United States the opin-
ion reserved by law to the Government Of
redeemng such obligations in either sill
yer coin or gold coin
Weare opposed to the issuing Of inter
est bearing bonds of the United States in
time Of peace and condemn the tralicing
withdrawing SyndlcateS whchin exchange
for bonds and az an enormous profit TO
themselves, supply the Federal Treasury
with gold TO maintain the policy OF gold
monometalism
Congress alone has the power TO coin
aud issue mon"y, and President jackson
declared that this power could not be deli
cgatod TO corporations or individuals. We
therefore demand that the power to issue
notes TO circulate as money be taken from
the national banks and that all per
money shall be issued directly by the
Treasury Department, be redecmablo In
coin and received for all debts, public and
private.
We hold that tariff duties should be lev
led for purposes OF revenue, such duties
TO be so adjusted as TO operate equally
throughout the country and not dlscriml-
nate between class or section, and that
taxation should be limited by the needs Of
the Government honestly and economic
tufbing TO business the Republican threat
to restore the Mckinley law, which has
been twice condemned by tho people In
national olcctIouS aud which, enacted
under the false plea OF protection TO homo
industry proved prolific breeder OF
trusts and monop0lles, enriched the few
dt 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 20 any agitation for further
changes In our tariff laws, except such ~
are necessary 10 make up the deficit In
the revenue caused by the adverse dccs-
ion Ol the supreme Court ON the Income
tax. hut for this decision by the Su.
prcmo Court there would be- no deficit In
The revenue under the law passed by
Democratic Congress In strict pursuance
OF the uniform decisions Of that court Tor
nearly one hundred years that court
having sustained constitutional Obiec
tlons 20 It's enactment, which have been
oycrrulpd byltho oblcst Judges who have
ever sat upon the bench, We declare
that u Is the duty OF Congress 10 use nj
the constitutional power which remains
aitorthat decision, or which may como
from us reversal by tho court as 10 may
hereafter be constituted, so That The bur.