The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-06-25
THE SILVER PLATFORM.
The Platform Adopted by the Silver
Convention Yesterday.

ton at their session yesterday morning
First-The Democracy of Texas in
convention assembled reaffirms its ira
dtional principles in favor of a strict
construction of the Federal constitution
and the preservation of the rights of the
state and the liberties of the people; the
political equality of our citizens, freedom
of conscience. the separation of church
and state and the freedom of the press
as among the fundamental doctrines EN-
bodied in the declaration of independence
and the constitution of the United States
and at all times adhered to by the De-
mocracy of the Union.
Second-We are opposed to all mo-
nopoles and trusts and all class legisa-
ton and demand equal rights to all and
exclusive privileges to none, and we in
sst that all of the great corporations
while protected in all rights should be
held subordinate to law and held subject
to legal restraint and control.
Third-We favor a tariff for revenue
only, but in sufficient amount supple
mented by other taxation to meet the
expenses of the government economic
ally administered. so as to render it un-
necessary to increase the public debt in
any manner or form whatever And we
believe that the present tariff law which
lets into this country raw materials free
/
ufactured products. thus subjecting our
agricultural and pastoral classes to com
petition with the world while it enables
| the rich manufacturers by means of com
| binatiOns and trusts to cXtort their own
prices for their products from the people.
violates the Federal constitution as well
as the fundamental principles of the
Democratic party that tariff duty should
be levied and collected for the purpose
of revenue only.
FOurth-We favor an economical ad-
ministration of the government. And
we view with alarm the increased ex-
penses caused by the session of congress
Just adjourned. which has appropriated
for expenditures during the next fiscal
year $515, 759, S20.49. We condemn
this excessive appropriation of the peo-
pies money, and insist on a large reduc-
ton of the public expenditures, and we
| believe that there has been an unneceS-
sary increase in the number of officers
and employees of the Federal government
and that the number should be greatly
and speedily reduced.
Fifth-We demand the submission of
a constitutional amendment to the sew
eral states which will authorize congress
to pass an income tax law to the end
that the wealth of the nation may be
4
expenses of the government.
SiXth-The Democratic party is unal
terably opposed to the issuance of in
terest- bearing bonds by the Federal gov
eminent in times of peace, and we de-
mand that the national debt should be
diminished rather than increased until
it shall be fully paid off and discharged.
| Seventh-We favor the free and I'M
limited coinage of gold and silver into
standard money without discrimination
against either and at the ratio of 16 to l
independently of the action of other ma
tons, which standard money shall be a
legal tender for all debts public and pri-
vate, and we further demand that the
money of the country shall consist of
gold and silver thus coined, and of paper
convertible into these coins on demand
of the holder, and in this connection we
demand that the practice of the treasury
department of refusing to exercise its
option to pay coin notes in silver the
same as in gold shall be discontinued,
because the same is an unwarranted use
of power which results in making the
Federal treasury but brokerage office
for speculation in gold.
Eighth-We demand that law shall
be enacted by the Federal congress MAX
ing gold and silver coined at
|
and the paper convertible into such
coin on demand of the holder
of such notes, legal tender for all debts,
public and private, thereafter contracted,
without reference to any contract of
agreement that the debts shall be paid
in some particular kind of money reserv-
ing alone to the federal government the
right to designate the kind of money in
which customs and dues may be paid.
Ninth-We are opposed to the cancella-
ton and retirement of the legal tender
notes of the government, which serve all
the purposes of money to the government
and people at the least expense at which
currency can be supplied.
Tenth-We oppose national banks of
issue for the reason that the issuance of
paper currency is a function of the gov
eminent, which should not be framed
out to any individual, either natural or
artificial.
Eleventh-That the Democracy recog-
, nizes as necessary result of the war be-
, tween the states that the federal soldiers
who were thereby disabled and whose
necessities may require it, should re.
ceive Il pension; but it is insisted that the
pension roll should be made n roll OF
I honor, and that those who performed NJ
| services for the government, or who are
, a.
mand that the masses be taxed to in
:. crease their wealth and still greater
t burden should not be imposed upo1
q those who are so little able to bear it
The Democratic party views with alarm
r the growing tendency in pension legisla
ton to discriminate between the officers
= and the soldiers of the late war, and t.
g give to the widows of deceased officers
larger pensions, and to the widows O.
$ the common soldiers very much smaller
@ amounts without reference to the need
l. of the one or the wealth of the other
$ thereby creating what the spirit of on
II government prohibits, a privileged elias
o akin to and fashioned after the elias
distinctions of European monarchies.
e Twelfth-The Democracy of Texa
e further hereby instructs its delegate
h to the national convention to ASSEMBLE
ut Chicago, to use their utmost en-
8 beavers to secure the adoption of tn
l. platform above outlined in its entirety
and particularly that portion which re
u lates to the money question, which W
r believe to be the paramount issue in thi
y campaign.
/ Thirteenth-They are further special
Is instructed to use their utmost and bes
- endeavors to secure the nomination o
a candidates for president and vice pres
dent of the United States at said col
- vention who are known to be in perfeC
" harmony with the money plank herei
II proposed and who will endeavor to st