Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1896-09-18
A MODEL PLATFORM.

Adopted by the Democrats In National
Convention.
The following is the full and COM
lplete platform as adopted by the
National Democratic conventions.
We, the Democrats of the United
STATES In national convention aSsemb-
led, do reatiirm our allegiance to those
great essential principles of justice
and liberty upon which our institu-
tions are founded, and which the
Democratic party has advocated from
JefferSon'S time TO our own-freed0m
of speech, freedom of the press, free
dom of conscience, the preservation of
personal rights, the equality of all
citizens before the law, and the faith
full observance of constitutional limi-
tations.
During all these years the Demo-
cratic party has resisted the tendency
of selfish interests to the centraliz-
alton of governmental power, and
steadfastly 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-government has
found it's best expression in the main
tenance of the rights of the states
and in its assertion of the necessity
of contining the general government
to the exercise of powers granted by
the constitution of the United States.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
The constitution of the United
States guarantees to every citizen the
rights of civil and religious liberty.
The democratic party has always been
the exponent of political liberty and
religious freedom and it renews its
obligations and reafirms its devotion
to these fundamental principles OF
the constitution.
FINANCE.
Recognizing that the money ques-
tion is paramount to all Others at this
time, we invite attention to the fact
that the 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 constitution made the sill
yer dollar the money unit, and adj
mitted gold to free coinage at ratio
based upon the silver dollar unit.
We declare that the act OF 1873 de-
monetizing silver without the knowl'
edge or approval of the American peo-
pie has resulted in the appreciation
of gold, and a corresponding fall In
the price 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 class at home ano
abroad, the .prostration OF industry
and mpoverishment OF the people
We are unalterably opposed to mon
ometallism, which has locked fast the
prosperity of an industrial people In
paralysis Of hard times, Gold mono
metailism is a British policy, and its
adoption has brought other nations
into financial servitude to London
It is not only un-American, but anti
American, and it can be fastened or
the United States only by the stif1in6
of that spirit and love OF liberty
which proclaimed our political inde
pendence In 1776 and won in the wal
of the revolution.
FREE COINAGE.
We demand the free and unlimited
tonnage of both silver and gold at the
present legal ratio Of l6 to i, without
waiting for the aid or consent OF any
other nation. We demand that the
standard silver dollar shall be a ful
legal tender, equally with gold, for al
debts, public and private, and We
favor such legislation as will prevent
for the future the characterization Of
any kind of legal tender money by
private contract.
BONDS.
We are opposed TO the policy ant
n. practice of surrendering TO the hold
n ers of the obligations, OF the United
+ States. the option reserved by law x
n the government OF redeeming such OBJ
z LEGATIONS in either silver coin or golC
10 coin.
/. We are opposed 10 the issuing OF In
no terest-bearing bonds OF the Onluet
/. States in time OF peace, ana condemn
IF the trafficking with banking syndl
T. Gates which, In exchange Ior Dohd'
sr and at an enormous prOht 10 them
\ selves. supply the federal treasury
Ie with gold to maintain the policy o
gold mOnometallism.
ISSUE OF MONEY.
al Congress alone has the power h
coin and issue money, and Preriden
jackson declared that this poWe
could not be delegated 10 corporation
or individuals. We therefore ue
nounce the issuance OF notes INTENDED
TO circulate as money Dy naIlOna
' hanks as ia deFogation OF the consti
tuition, and we demand that all pape
which Is made a legal tender 70
: public and private debts or which
: Receivable for duties TO the Unitet
lGtates shall be be issued by the gov
. ernment of the United States and
q snail be redeemable In coin.
. TARIFF.
! We bold that tariff duties should D
levied for purpose OF revenue, such du
: ties TO be 50 adjusted as 10 operau
|. equally throughout the country an,