The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-08
THE PLATFORM PROPOSED.
Speaks Out in No Uncertain Sound on
the Money Question.

Chicago, July 7.-Following is the
platform as agreed to by the sub-com-
mittee to be submitted to the general
committee tomorrow morning. 1t is
thought that few if any notifications
will be made before the resolutions
are presented to the convention al
though planks favoring the Monroe
doctrine and recognizing Cuban
beIligerency are proposed. The min
ority will of course present a report
taking the ground against the free
coinage of silver.
1--WE, the Democrats of the United
State in National convention, do reaf-
firm our allegiance to those great es-
sential principles of justice and liberty
upon which our constitutions are found
ed and which the Democratic party
has maintained from Jefferson's time
to our own day: freedom Of speech,
freedom of conscience, the
preservation of personal rights, the
equality of all citizens before the law
and the faithful observance of consti-
tutional limitation.
Recognizing that the money ques-
ton is paramount to all others at this
time we invite attention to the fact
that the Federal constitution names
silver and gold together as the money
metals of the United States and that
the first coinage law passed by Con-
gress under the constitution made the
silver dollar The unit of value and adj
mitted gold to free coinage at a ratio
measured by the silver dollar unit.
"We declare that the act OF 1878, de-
monetizing silver without the knowl-
edge or approval of the American Peo-
ple. has resulted in the appreciation or
gold and a corresponding fall in the
prices of commodities produced by the
people; heavy increase in the burden
of taxation and of all debts public
and private; the enrichment OF the
money lending classes at home and
abroad; paralysis of industry and i'm
poverishment of the people.
''We are unalterably opposed to the
single gold standard. which has locked
fast tho prosperity Of an industrious
people lin the paralysis OF hard times.
Cold recommendation is Il British policy,
founded upon British greed for gain
and power. and it's general adoption
has brought other nations into finan-
cial servitude to London. IL is not
only un-American but anti-American
and it can be fastened upon the Uni
ted States only by the sitting Of that
indonniable spirit and love of liberty
which proclaimed our political indie
pendenee in 1916, and won it in the war
Of the revolution.
1--WE demand the immediate restOra
ton of the free and unlimited coinage
OF gold and silver ab the present legal
ratio of 16 to ], without waiting for
the aid or consent of any other nation.
We demand that the standard OF silver
dollar shall be a full legal tender,
equally with gold, or for all debts, pub
lie and private, and we favor such
legislation as will prevent the demone-
tization of any kind OF legal tender
money by private contracts.
eve are opposed to ale policy and
practice Of surrendering to the holders
of the obligations of the United States
the option reserved by law to the gov
eminent OF redeeming such obligations
in either silver coin or gold coin. We
are opposed to the issuing OF interest
bearing bonds of the United States
IN times of peace and condemn the
trahicing with banking syndicates
which. in exchange for bonds and at
an enormous profit to themselves, sup
ply the Federal treasury with gold to
maintain the policy Of gold mono
metallism.
Congress alone has the power to
coin and issue money and President
Jackson declared that this power could
not be delegates to corporations or in
dividuals.
eve therefore demand'thatt the power