Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-07-17
Platform Of Principles.
Pledges of the Democratic Party
TO the Voters OF the Land.

TO the Voters OF the Land.
Chicago, July 9.-The following
is the platform IN full as adopted
by the convention:
We, the Democrats of the United
States, IN national convention as
sem bled. do reaffirm our allegiance
to those great essential principles
of Justice and liberty upon which
our institutions are founded and
which the De mocratic party has
advocated from Jefferson's time 10
our own freedom of speech. free
dom OF the press, freedom of con-
science, the preservation of per-
sonal rights, the equality of all
citizens before the law and the
faithful observance of cOnstitu-
tionsl limitations.
Durlng all these years the
Democratic party has resisted the
tendency of selfish interests to the
Capitalization of governmental
power, and steadfastly maintained
the integrity of the dual scheme of
government established 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 mainte
nance of the rights OF the states
and in Its assertion of the neces'
sity of cOnfning the general gov
ernment to the exercise of the
powers granted by the constitution
of the United States.
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 pO-
litIcal liberty and religious free
dom and t renews Its obligations
and reaffirms its devotion to these
fundamental principles of the Con
stitutlOn.
Recognizing that the money ques-
ton is paramount to all others at
this time, we invite attention to
the fact that the constltu-
ton names silver and gold to.
gether as the money metals of the
United States, aud that the first
coinage law passed by congress
under the constitution made the
silver dollar the money unit,
and admitted gold to free coinage
at a ratio based upon the silver
dollar unit,
We declare that the ac' OF 1873,
demonetiNng silver without the
knowledge or approval of the
American people, has resulted in
the appreciation of gold and a cor
responding fall in the prices of
commodities produced by the peo'
pie; a heavy increase in the burden
OF taxation aud of all debts, public
and private; the enrichment OF the
moi ey lending class, at home and
abroad; paralysis of industry and
impoverishment of the people.
We are unalterably opposed to
monometallism, which has locked
fist the prosperity of an indus
tries people In the paralysis OF hard
times. Gold monometalism is a
British poliey, and its adoption has
brought other nations into financial
servitude to London. 1t is not
only un.American but anti.Amerl-
can, aud it can be fastened OH the
United States ouly by the sitting
Of that spirit and love of liberty
which proclaimed our political in.
dependence IN 1776 and won it in
the war of the revolution.
We demand the free and mn
limited coi0age of both gold and
silver at the present legal ratio OF
is to 1, without waiting for the
AID or consent of any other nation.
We demand that the standard
silver dollar shall be a full legal
tender, equally with gold, for all
debts, public and private, and we
favor such legislation as will pre-
vent tor the future The demonetiza
ton OF any kind of legal tender
money by private contract.
We are opposed to the policy
aud practice of surrendering to
the holders OF the obligations OF
the United States the option re
served by law to the government Of
redeeming such obligations ID
either silver coin or gold coin.
We are opposed to the issuing oI
interest bearing bonds of the
United States In time of peace, and
condemn the trsfficking with bono
syndicates which, IN exchange fol
, bonds at an enormous profit Il
themselves, supply the fedora
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