The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-07-16

| exclaimed in conclusion, stretching ont his
arms Is If in benedction and voice trembling
with passionate thrill. "place a crown of thorns
| upon the brow of Liberty or sacrifice mankind
| upon your cross Of gold!"
Bedlam broke loose, deliruu reigned supreme.
Every man In the vast audience climbed upon
his chair and, infected by the cyclonic frenzy
| oil the moment. seemed absolutely obivious to
what he did or what he said. Comparative
| silence was finally restored.
The motion to substitute the minority report
for the majority report was defeated by two
thirds majority-yeas 303, nays 626.
The vote taken separately on the motion to
| commend the Administration of President
| Cleveland was yeas 357, nays 564.
The platform, as published, was then adopted
yeas 62S, nays Sol.
THE PLATFORM.
We the Democrats of the United States In Ma
tonai Convention assembled, do reaftirm our alle-
glance TO those great essential principles of Justice
| and liberty upon which institutions are
| founded, and which the Democratic Party has adj
vocated from Jeferson's time TO our own-reedom
| of speech. freedom of the press. freedom of con-
science, the preservation of personal rights. the
equality of all citizens before the law aud the faith
iuI observance of constitutional limitations
The Constitution of the United States guarantees
! 10 every citizen the rights of civil and religious
liberty The Democratic Party has always been
the exponent of political liberty aud religious iree-
dom, and it renews its obligations and reaffirms
the devo on 10 these fundamental principles Oft
Constitution.
STATE RIGHTS.
During all these years the Democratic Party has
resisted the tendency of selfish interests to the
Capitalization of governmental power and stead
lastly maintained the integrity of the dual scheme
of Government, established by the founders of this
| Republic of Republics. Under its guidance and
teachings the great principle of local self Eovern-
ment has found its best expression in the mninten-
ance of the rights OF the States and in its assertion
of the necessity of combining the General Govern
ment TO the exercise of the powers granted by the
| Constitution OF tile United States
THE MONEY QUESTION.
Recognizing that the money question is para
mount TO all others mt this time, invite attention
TO the fact that the Federal Constitution names sill
Yer and gold together the money metals OF the
United States and that the first coinage law passed
by Congress under the Constitution made the silver
dollar the monetary unit, aud admitted gold TO free
coinage at n ratio based upon The silver unit.
We declare that the act of 1878 demonetzing sill
yer without the knowledge or approval of the
American people has resulted in the appreciation
OF gold and a corresponding fall in the prices OF
| comm ODDITIES produced by the people.
We are unalterabiy opposed 10 recommendation,
which has locked fast the prosperity of an indus.
trial people in the paralysis Of hard times. Gold
monometslsm is British policy, and its adoption
has brought other nations into financial servitude
10 London. 1t is not only un-A American but anti,
Americah, ard il be fastened on the United
States only by the sitting of the spirit and love of
liberty which proclaimed our political independ-
ence Ia l116, and won ii in the war OF the Revolu-
ton.
FREE SILVER.
We demand the free and unlimited coinage of
both gold and silver at the present legal roo of l6
to without waiting for the aid or consent of any
other nation. We demand that the standard silver
dollar shall be full legal tender, equally with
gold. for all debts public and private, and we favor
such legislation will prevent for the future the
demonezation of any kind of legal-tender money
! by private contract.
We are opposed TO the policy and practice OF sur
rendering to the holders Of the obligations OF the
Snled states The option reserved by Jaw 10 me
| either silver coin or gold coin.
BOND ISSUES.
We are opposed 10 the issuing OF interest bearing
bonds of the United States in time of peace, and
condemn the IrafliCking with banking syndicates
which ia exchange for bonds and at An enormous
profit to themselves. supply the Federal Treasury
with gold 10 maintain the policy Of gold mono
metallisni.
Congress alone has power TO coin and issue
money aud President jackson declared that this
could not be delegated TO corporations or to
individuals. We therefore, denounce tile Issuance
of notes money for National banks as ia dero-
CATION of the Constitution, and demand that all
paper which is made legal tender for public and
private debts. which is receivable for dues to
the United States, shall be issued by the Govern
of the United States. and shall be redeemable
Ia coin.
TARIFF FOR REVENUE
We hold that the tariff duties should be levied
for purposes of revenue. such duties 10 be adj
jusied TO operate equally throughout the conn-
try, and not discriminate bet ween class section,
aud that taxation should toe limited by the needs
OF the Government honestly and economically adj
miuistered. We denounce as disturbing 10 bus-
ness Inc Republican threat to restore the Mckinley
law, which has been twice condemned by the peo-
/ pie in National elections aud which, enHclcd
/ under the false plea of protection Ia home in
| dustry, proved prolific breeder of trusts aud
monopolies. enriched the few at the expense of the
many, restricted trade, and deprived the producers
| of the great American staples OF access 10 their
natural markets. Until the money question Is
settled we are opposed 10 any agitation for further
changes in our tariff laws, except such
essay TO meet the deficit IN revenue caused by the
| adverse decision Of The Supreme Court on the
! income tax
THE INCOME TAX.
There would no deficit in the revenue but for the
annufnent by the Supreme Court OF u law passed
10y Democratic Congress in strict pursuance of HE
uniform decisions Of that court for nearly 100 years
that court having ia that decision sustained con-
syituional objections to its enactment which had
previously been uyeTruled by The ATTEST Judges who
had ever sat upon that bench. We declare that it
Is the duty of Congress to all te constitutional
| power which remains after that decision which
may come from its reversal by the turt. IL may
hereafter be constituted, that the burdens of
! thHatlon may he equally ana lmpartlally laid, to
the cad that wealth may bear its due proportion of
the expenses of the Government.
IMMIGRATION.
We hold that the most efficient way of protecting
American labor il prove the importation OF
fIreign pauper labor TO com pete with ia the home
market. aud that the value of the home mark To
our American farmers aud artisans is greatly
duced 10y a vicious monetary system which de-
presses the prices of their products below the
Of reproduction, aud thus deprive them of the means
of purchasing the products of our home manu-
factories.
CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS.
We denouncc The prVfgate waste OF the money
| wrung from the people by oppressive taxation and
the lavish appropriations of recent Republican
Congresses, which have kept taxes high, while The
labor that pays them Is unemployed aud tile prod.
ucts OF the peoples toll depressed in price I'LL
| they no longer repay the cost Of production. We
demand a return to that simplicity and economy
which BELTS Democratic Government and a re-
ducton la the number of useless Offices the salaries
1 OF which drain the substance of the people.
FEDERAL INTERFERENCE.
| We denouncc arbitrary Interference by Federal
authorities in local affairs violation Of the Con.