The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-09-24


at Chicago:
We. the Democrats OF the United
States In National Convention assembled
do reaairm our allegiance TO those grea,
essential principles OF justice ana hOc'y
upon which our institutions are iouHueu'
and which the Democratic party mas au-
vocated from Jelerson's time TO our own
freedom Of speech. freedom OK the press
freedom OF conscience, the preservation
OF personal rights. the equality OF all
citizens before the law, and the fathfui
observance of constitutional limitations.
During all these years the Democratic
party has resisted the tendency of selfish
interests TO the Capitalization OF govern
mental power and stolidly maintained the
integrity OF the dual rights OF government
established by the founders OF this re-
public Of republics.
Under it's guidance and teaching the
great principle OF local self-govefnment
has found It's best expression in the MAIN
tenance OF the rights of tho States and
IN its assertion OF the necessity OF con-
fining the general government to the eN-
ercise OF the powers granted by the Con-
sttution Of the United States.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
The Constitution OF tic United states
guarantees to every citizen the right or
civil and religious liberty. The Demo-
cratic party has always been the et-
ponent OF political liberty and religious
freedom. and IL renews its obligations
and reafirms It's devotion 20 tie funda-
mental principles OF the Constitution
FINANCIAL PLANK.
Recognizing that the money question
Is paramount 10 an others at this time
We invite attention 20 the fact that the
Federal Constitution names silver ana
gold together as the money metals OK
tho United States. and that tho urst com
ago law passed by Congress under the
Constitution made the silver dollar the
monetary unit and admitted gold 10 free
coinage az ratio based upon the silver
dollar unit.
We declare that the act OF 1873 de-
mOneuziug silver without the KNOWLEDGE
or approval OF the American people has
resulted In the appreciation OF gold ana
4 corresponding iall In the prices OK COM
modites produced oy the people; heavy
increase IN the burden of taxation and OF
all debts. public and private; the enrich
ment Of the money-iending class az homo
and abro d. tho prO-trauon Of Industry
ana Impeachment OF the poor.
We are unaltorab.y opposed 70 mono
metalllsm. which has locked fast the pros
perty of an industrial people In the pa
ralysis Of hard times. Cold monOmetalli sm
IS a British policy and its adoption has
brought other nations into financial SER
vitude TO London II f. not only un-Amer-
lean. but anti-American, and II can DO
fastened only by the sitting OF that
spirit and love OF liberty which proclaim
ed our political independence In ln6. and
won it IN the war OF the Revolution.
FREE SILVER COINAGE.
We demand tho free and unlimited
coinage OF both silver and gold NJ the
pre-ent legl ratio OF Is TO 1 without
waiting for the aid or consent II any
other nation We d. mand that the
standard silver dollar shall be 4 fun legal
tender. equally with gold. for ell debts,
public and private and we favor such
legislation as viii prevent for the future
the decentralization OF any kind Of legal
tender money by private contract.
We are opposed 10 The policy and prac-
.ice Of surrenderlng to the holders Of the
obligations Of the United States the OPP
lion reserved by the government OF re-
deeming such obligations In either silver
coin or gold coin.
BONDS.
We are opposed TO the issuing Of inter-
est-bearing bonds Of tho United States in
time OF peace and condemn the traflicklng
with banking syndicafes which ia ex-
change for bonds and 40 an enormous
profit to themselves, supply the Federal
treasury with gold 10 maintain the policy
Of gold mOnometallism.
Congress alone has the power 70 coin
and issue money and President Jackson
col hn 10
delegated TO corporations or individuals.
NATIONAL BANKS.
We therefore denounce the issuance Of
notes intended to circulate as money by
national banks as IA dor0gation OF the
Constitution, and we demand that al
paper which IS mado a legal tender for
public ard private debts, and which Is
receivable for dues % the Ulited States,
shall be issued by the Government OF The
United States, and shah be releemable In
coin.
TARIFF.
We hold that tariff duties should be
levied Tor purposes OF revenue. such
duties % be so adjusted as TO operate
equally throughout the country. and not
discriminate between class or section, and
chat taxation should be limited by tho
needs OF the Government honestly and
economically administered.
We denounc8 as disturbing 10 business
me Republican threat 70 restore the Nc
Kinley law, which has twice been con-
demnci by the people Ga national cleo
lions. and which, enacted under the false
plea OF protection to home industries.
proved prolific breeder OF trusts and
monopolies. enriched The few az the ex-
pcnse OF the many. restricted trade ar1
deprived tho producers Of the great Amer
lean staples OF access 20 their national
markets.
INCOME TAX.
Until the money question Is settled We
are opposed 70 any agitation for further
changes fla our tariff laws. except such
as are necessary 10 meet the deficit IN
revenue caused by the adverse decision
OF the Supreme Court On tho Income tax.
But for this decision by the Supreme
Court there would be no deficit in tho
revenue under tho law passed by a.
Democratic Congress fn strice pursuance
OF the uniform decisions OF that court
for nearly one hundred years. that court
having I'm that decision sustained consti-
tuti6ral objections 10 It's enactment, which
had previously been overruled by tho
abest judges who have ever sat On that
bench.
We declare that Il IS the duty Of Con-
gress TO use all the constitutional power
which remains after that decision, or
which may come from its reversal by
the court "a Il may hereafter be consti-
tuted so that the burdens OF taxation may
be equally and impartially laid 10 tho
end that wealth. NAV hear ira dua p-opor