Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1896-08-18
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM

Following is the platform adopted by
the national Democratic convention at
Chicago:
We, the Democrats Of the United States,
In national convention assembled, do re-
affirm our allegiance to those great essen
tial principles of Justice and liberty upon
which our institutions are founded and
which the Democratic party has main
tanned from Jefferson's time to our own,
freedom of speech, freedom Of press free
dom of conscience. the preservation of
personal rights, the equality of all citizens
before the law, and the faithful observ-
ance of constitutional limitations
During all these years the Democratic
party has resisted the tendency of selfish
interest toward the Capitalization of gov
ornamental power and steadfastly main
tanned the integrity of the dual scheme of
government established by the founders
OF this republic of republics. I'm
der its guidance and teachings the
great principle of local self-government
has found it's best expression in the main
tenance of the rights of the states and in
the assertion Of the necessity of combining
the general government to the exercise Of
the powers granted by the constitution of
the United States.
The constitution of the United States
guarantees to every citizen the rights Of
civil and religious liberty. The Demo.
cratic party has always been the exponent
OF political liberty and religious freedom,
and it renews it's obligations and reaffirms
its devotion to these fundamental princi-
pies OF the constitution.
Recognizing that the money question is
paramount to all others at this time, we
invite attention to the fact that the fed
eral constitution names silver and gold
together as the money metals of the
United States, and that the first coinage
law passed by congress under the consti-
tuition made the silver dollar the none
tary unit and admitted gold to free coin.
age at ratio based upon the silver dollar
unit.
Result of Demonstration.
We declare that the act of 1878, 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 lending class at home
and abroad; paralysis Of industry and
1mpoverishment 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 1nonomet.
allism is British policy, founded upon
British greed for gain and power, and its
oHr 10,
tions into financial seryitude to London.
1t is not only un- American but anti
American, and it can be fastened upon the
United States only by the sitting of that
spirit and love Of liberty which proclaimed
our political independence and won it in
the war Of the Revoluti ion. ~. z:s s=.5 zs-'
Demand Immediate Restol alton. s =.s
We demand tho Immediate restoration
Of the free and unlimited coinage Of gold
and silver at the present legal ratio Of 16
to !, without waiting for the aid or con-
sent Of any other nation. We demand
that the standard silver dollar shall be d
full legal tender, equa1ly with gold, for
all debts, public and private, and we favor
such legislation as will prevent for the
future the demonetiz ation Of any kind 81
legal tender money by private contract.
lF We are opposed to the policy and prac,
tice5 Of surrendering to the tlers Of the
Lobli gationssof the United States the option
reserved By law to the government soi
lredeeming such obi lions ii, either silver
coin or gold coin. sSss..s
Oppose Bond Issues. ssss
We are opposed to the issuing 81. inter.
estrbearing bonds Of the United States ii
times OF peace, and ondelnn the traf6ck.
ling With bank ing syndi cates which al
xchange Tor bonds and at an enormous
prolific them Ives supply Tie federal