The advocate., 1896-07-15
The Platform.
unanimous,

The Platform
We, the democrats OF the United States il
national convention assembled, do reaiflrm oul
allegiance to those great essential principles
Of justice and liberty upon which our institu'
tions are founded, and which the democratic
party has maintained from Jefferson's time tC
our own-freedOm OF speech, freedom Of the
press, freedom OF conscience, the preservation
OF personal rights, the equality OF all citizens
before the law, and the faithful observance ol
constitutional limitations.
The constitution of the United States guar
sntees to every Citizen the right Of civil and
religious liberty. The democratic party has
always been the exponent Of political liberty
and religious freedom, and It renews its obli-
cations and reafflrms its devotion to these fun.
damental principles of the constitution.
During all these years the democratic party
has resisted the tendency of selfish interests
to the Capitalization OF governmental power
and has Steadfastly maintained the inteR-
rity OF the dual scheme OF government estab-
lished by the founders Of this republic OF re-
publics. Under its guidance and teachings the
great principle of local self-government has
found its best expression In the maintenance
of the rights of the states and its assertion
that It is necessary to confine the general gov
ernment to the exercise Of the powers granted
Recognizing that the money question is par
amount to all others at this time, we invite
attention to the fact that the federal cOnstltu-
tion names silver and gold together as the
money metals of the United States, and that
the first co image law passed by congress under
the constitution made the silver dollar the
unit Of value, and admitted gold to free coin
age at ratio measured by the silver dollar
unit
We declare that the act OF 1873, demonetiz-
ing silver without the knowledge or approval
Of the American people, has resulted in the
appreciation Of gold and 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 class at
home and abroad paralysis Of industry and
impoverlshment Of the people
We are unalterably opposed to the single
gold standard, which has locked fast the pros
perity Of an industrious people in the paraly-
sis OF hard times. Gold monometallism is q
British policy, founded upon British greed for
gain and power, and its general adoption has
brought other nations into financial servitude
TO London II is not only un-American, but
anti-Amerloan, and 1t can be fastened upon
the United States only by the sitting OF that
indomitable spirit and love OF liberty which
proclaimed our political independence in l776
and won 1t In the war OF the revolution
We demand the immediate restoration OF
the free and unlimited coinage OF gold and
silver at the present legal ratio Of sixteen TO
one, without waiting for the aid or consent OF
any other nation We demand that the stand
ard silver dollar shall be o full legal tender,
equally with gold, for all debts, public and
private, sad we favor such legislation as will
ha of L nd NJ
legal tender money by private contract.
We are opposed to the policy and practice OF
surrendering to the holders OF obligations OF
the United States the option reserved by law
to the government OF redeeming such obliga-
tions 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 traficing with banking
syndicates which, in exchange for bonds and at
an enormous profit TO themselves, supply the
federal treasury with gold to maintain the
policy Of gold monometallism.
Congress alone has the power to coin and
issue money, and President Jackson declared
that this power could not be delegated TO COR
porations or individuals. We therefore de-
mand that the power 10 issue notes be taken
from the banks, and that all paper money
shall be issued directly by the treasury depart
ment
We hold that tariff duties should be levied
solely for the purposes Of revenue, and that
taxation should be limited by the needs OF the
government, honestly and economically ad-
miniStered We denounce as disturbing to
business the republican threat 70 restore tho
Mckinley law. which has been twice con-
demned By the people in national elections,
ana which. enacted under the false plea Of pro-
tectlQa - home industry, proYed prolific