Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-07-16

session Of the United States senate and nov
pending in the house. relative to contempts il
federal courts. and providing for trials by jury
| in certain cases Of contempt
No discrimination should be INDUCED in by
| the government OF the United States in favor
of any Of its debtors. We approve OF the re-
fusal OF the F'ifty-Third congress to pass the
| Pacific railroad funding BILL and denounce the
effort OF the present republican congress to
| enact similar measure
| Recognizing the Just claims of deserving
| union soldiers. we heartily indorse the rule OF
the present commissioner OF pensions that nc
names shall be arbitrarily dropped from the
pension roll. and the fact OF enlistment and
! service should be deemed conclusive evidence
| ment
| The democratic party believes In home rule
and that all public lands Of the United States
| should be appropriated to the establishment
| of free homes for American citizens
| We extend our sympathy to the people OF
Cuba in their heroic struggle for liberty and
| independence
We are opposed to life tenure in the public
| service. We favor appointments based upon
| merits, fixed terms of Office. and such an ad-
ministration OF the civil service laws will
| afford equal opportunities to all citizens of as
| certained fitness.
| We declare it to be the uuwritten law OF this
republic. established by custom and usage OF
! 100 years and sanctioned by the examples OF
the greatest and wiSest of those who founded
| it and have maintained our government that nc
man shall, be eligible for third term OF the
presidential office.
Conflding in the Justice of our cause and the
necessity OF its success at the polls, we sub
NIT the foregoing declaration Of principles
| and pur poses to the considerable judgment OF
| the American people. We invite the suppor'
OF all citizens who approve them, and who de
! sire to have them made effective through
legislation for the relief OF the people and the
restoration of the countrys prosperity.
The MInority's Protest.
The report of the minority was read by j. II
Wade. of Ohio. former reading clerk of the
| house of represen tatives. as it was presented
| by Senator David B. Hill
ITO the Democratic National Convention
| Sixteen delegates constituting the minority
| the committee on resolutions find many decla
| lions in the report of the majority to which
| they cannot give their consent. Some of thess
are wholly unnecessary. Some are ill-consid
| cred and anonymously phrased-whils
others are extreme and revolutionary OF
the we'll recognized principles Of the
party. The minority content themselves
with this general expression Of their
dissent without going into specific statement
OF these Objectionable features OF the report OF
the majority But upon the financial question
which engages at this time the chief share OF
public attention, the views of the majority
differ SO fundamentally from what the minor
lty regard vital democratic doctrine as &c
demand distinct statement of what they hold
to as the only just and true expression Of dem.
ocratic faith upon this paramount issue as fol-
lows, which is offered substitute for the
I'VE declare our belief that the experiment
on the part of the United States alone of free
coinage and a change of the existing STANDARD
OF value. independently of the action of other
great nations. would not only imperil
finances. but would retard or entirely prevent
| the establishment of International bimetal.
ism. to which the efforts of the government,
| shout be steadily directed 1t would place
this country at once upon a silver basis, impair
contracts disturb business, diminish the pur
chasing power of the wages of labor and infiici
irreparable evils upon our nations commerce
and industry.
leading nations for the free coinage OF silver
can be secured, we favor the rigid maintenance
of the existing gold standard as essential tC
the preservation of our national credit the
demption of our public pledges and the keep
ing inviolate OF our countrys honor. We in
sist that all our paper and silver cur
rency shall be kept absolutely at a parity
with gold The democratic party is
the party of hard money, and is opposed te
legal tender paper money as part Of our per.
manent financial system, and we therefore
favor the gradual retirement and cancellation
Of all United States and treasury notes, under
such legislative provisions will prevent
due contraction. Wedemand that the national
credit shall be resolutely maintained at all
times and under all circumstances.
THE minority also feel that the report OF
the ma lority is defective in failing to make
any recognition OF the honesty. economic cour-
age and fidelity OF the present democratic ad-
lowing declaration amendment to the
majority report:
I'VE commend the honesty. ee6nomic cour
age CT the United States and fidelity of ths
present Observation-Disclosures administration
David B. Hill IN. W. William F. Villa:
CWis.). George Gray DeL) John Prentiss Pos
(Md.), Irving w. Drew On. H }. c. y. Holman
{Me.), p. j. Farrell (Vt), Lynde Harrison
Comm. David F. Baker Or. l., Thomas A G
Weadock tMich), James O'Brien (Minn.)
John E. Russell lMass.), Robert E. Wrigh'
tPa.), William R. Steele Is. d.. ALA A. Nc
Dermott IN. J), Charles D. Rodgers (Alasla)
Senator Hill also offered the following
amendments to the platform and moved thei
adoption:
But it should be carefully provided by Law
at the same time that any change in the none
tary standard should not apply to existing con
tracts"
Our advocacy of the independent free coin
age OF silver being based on belief that such
coinage will effect and maintain parity be-
tween gold and silver at the ratio OF sixteen &c
one, we declare pledge OF our sincerity
that il such free coinage shall fail to effect
such parity within year from its enactment
by law. such coinage shall thereupon be sus-
pended
The ballot on the amendments offered by
Hill for the minority of the committee was
626 noes. 303 ayes. and one not voting.
Then the majority platform was adopted by
62s for to 301 against and the convention ad
journed till p. m
The Night Session.
CHICAGO. July 10-At the night session
the convention, in the presence OF fully 2'.O0