Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-07-17
THE PLATFORM.

We. the democrats OF the United States I'm
national convention assembled. do rcuitirm
our allegiance TO those great cssent tinl prln-
cipes OF justice and liberty upon which our
institutions are founded. aud which the demo-
cratic party has advocated from Jefrerson's
time TO our own-frecdom OF speech freedom
OF the press. freedom OF conscience the
preservation OF personal rights, the equality
OF oil citizens before the Law and the faithful
observance OF constitutional limitations.
During all these years the democratic marty
hos resisted the tendency o: selfish interests
TO the Capitalization of governmental power
and stcadfastly maintained tho Integrity OF
tho dual schcuic OF government established by
the founders of this republic of republics
Under Its guidance and teachings the gront
principal of local scf-government has found
its best expression in the maintenance OF the
rights OF the states lind IN Its assertion OF the
necessity OF combining the general government
to the exercises OF the powers granted by the
constitution OF the United Statcs
The constitution OF the United States
guarantees to every citizen the right OF OWL
and religious liberty. The democratic party
has always been the exponent of political lib
erty and religious freedom and IL renews its
obligations and reaflirms it's devotion to these
fundamental principles of tho constitution
Recognizin: that the money ques tion is par
amount to all others at this time. we invite
attention to the fact that the federal consti-
tuition names silver and gold together as tho
money metals OF the United States, and that
the first coinage law pa-sel by congress under
the constitution made tho silver dollar tho
monetary unit OF value and admitted gold to
Tree coinage Mt ratio measured by the silver
dollar unit
We declare that the act of 1877, demonotizing
oliver without the knowledge Or approval OF
the American people has resulted IN the ap-
probation of gold and corresponding fall in
The prices OF commodities produced by the
people, u heavy increase In tho burden OF tax
ntion and OF all debts public and private; the
enrichment OF the moncv-l lending class ut
home and abroad postration of industry. md
impOverishmcnt OF tho yeoplc
We are unaltcrably opposed TO tho single
gold standard which h locked fast The pros
perity OF nm Industrial people in the paralysis
OF hard times. Gold monomctalli,m IA n
British policy and its adoption has brought
other nations into financial servitude to Lon
don 1t is not only nn-Amcrican but anti
American and it can be fastened on tho United
states only by the sitting of In L indo.n.table
spirit and love OF liberty which proclaimed
our political independence in i7ft aLd won IL
In The war OF the revolution
We demand tho free and unlimited coinage
of both silver and gold tho pres cnt Legal ratio
OF leto I. without waiting for the ;.id or consent
OF any other nation We demand that the
standard silver dollar shall be full legal ten
der, equally with gold for all debts. public and
private, and We favor such fcgisl- tion will
prevent the demonetiz tion OF any kind OF le-
gal tender m0ney by private contract.
We are opposed to the policy and practice
OF surrendering TO the holders OF the obiiga-
tions OF the United States the option reserved
by lac to the governnon Of rcdeeming such
obligations in cithcr silver coin OF gold coin.
We are opposed to the issuing OF interest
, bearing bonds OF the United States In time OF
rpcace. and condemn the traflckng with bank
Ing syndicate5 which, In exchange for bonds
ard at an enormous profit 10 themselves. sup
ply the federal treasury with gold to maintain
the policy Of gold mononetailism
Congress alone has the power to coin and
Issue money. and President Jackson declared
that this power could not bc delegated TO cor
porations or individuals.
We therefore denounce the issuance OF
notes intended TO circulate rs money by ma
tonal banks az In deroga ton OF the constitu-
t!on and we demand that all paper witch Is
made n legal tender for public and private
debts or which is receivable for dues to the
United States. shall be issued by the govorn-
ment OF the United States and shall be re-
deemnble in coin.
We hold that tariff duties should DO levied
for purposes OF revenue, should also be ad-
1usted MS to operats equally throughout
the country. and not discriminate between
class or section. and that tax tion
should be limited by tho-aoeds of the govern
ment honestly and Economically administered
We dcnounce MS disturbing TO business tho
republican threat to restore the Mckinley
law which has been twice condemned by the
people in the national elections and
which. enacted under the false plea OF
protection to home industry, proved prolific
breeder o! trusts and monopolios enriched
the few Mt the expense OF the many, restricted
trade and deprived the producers OF tho great