The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-07-08
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
1t Declares for Free Silver and the In
come Tax.


come Tax.
CHICAGO, July S-The committee on
platform met Immediately after the ad-
journment of the resolutions committee,
and were at work until long after mid
night. The platform as finally agreed
upon by tho majority is in substance as
follows:
Recognizing that the money question Is
paramount to all others at this time, we
invite attention to the fact that the fed
eral constitution names silver and gold to-
gether as the money metals Of the United
States, and that the first coinage law
passed by congress under the constitution
made the silver dollar the unit of value,
and admitted gold to free coinage at ra-
ito measured by. the silver dollar unit.
We declare thAt the act of 1873 demone-
tizing silver without the knowledge or ap-
proval Of the American people has re-
suited in the appreciation Of gold and
corresponding fall in the prices of COM
modities produced by the people; a heavy
increase in the burden of taxation and of
all debts, public and private; the enrich
ment of the money lending classes at home
md abroad paralysis Of industry and i'm
poverishment of the people.
We are unalterably opposed to the single
gold standard which has locked fast the
prosperity of an industrious people in the
paralysis of hard times. Gold monometal-
ism is a British policy founded upon Brit
ish greed for gain and power and its gen.
eral adoption has brought other nations
into financial servitude to London. 1t is
not only un-American but anti "A american,
and it can be fastened upon the United
States only by the sitting of that indom-
liable spirit and love of liberty which pro-
claimed our political independence in ITO
and won it 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 IS
to l. without waiting for the aid or con-
sent of any other nation We demand
that the standard silver dollar shall be
full legal tender, equally with gold, for all
debts public and private, and we favor
such legislation as will prevent the de-
monetization of any kind of legal tender
money by private contract.
We are opposed to the issue of interest
bearing bonds of the United States in
times of peace land condemn the trafficking
with banking syndicates which, in ex-
change 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 dele
gated to corporations or individuals. We
therefore demand that the power to issue
ln t,l ho hon he nd bnt
all paper money shall be issued directly by
the treasury department.
I.ere would have been no deficit in fed
eral revenue during the last two years but
for the annulment by the supreme court
of the income tax law placed upon the
statute books by Democratic congress-
The obstruction to an income tax which
the supreme court discovered in the con-
stitution after it had lain hidden for
hundred years must be removed to the
end that accumulated wealth may be made
to bear its just share of the burdens of the
government. We therefore favor an
amendment to the federal constitution
that will permit the levy of an income tax.
We hold that tariff duties should be
levied solely for purposes of revenue, and
that taxation should he limited by tho
oeeds of the government, honestly and
economically administered. We denounce
as disturbing to business the Republican
threat to restore the Mckinley law which
has been twice condemned by the people
in national elections, and which, enacted
under the false plea Of protection to home
industry, proved u prolific breeder of
trusts and monopolies, enriched the few
at the expense of the many, restricted
trade and deprived the producers of tho
great American staples of access to their
natural markets.
We denounce the profigate waste of the
money wrung from the people Ivy oppres-
sive taxation and the lavish appropria-
tons of recent Republican congresses,
which have kept taxes high while the la
Dor that pays them is unemployed and the
products of the peoples toll are depressed
in price till they no longer repay the cost
Of production.
We denounce arbitrary interference by
federal authorities in local affairs as a
violation of the constitution of the United
States and crime against free institu-
tons, and we especially object to govern
ment by injunction as a new and highly
dangerous form Of oppression by which
federal judges, in contempt Of the laws of
the states and the rights Of citizens, be-
come at once legislator, judge and execu-
TONER
The platform further opposes life tenure
In public service and declares that no man
should be eligible for third term as presi-
dent. 1t is likely that Cuban resolution
will be added by the general committee.
A minority report will be presented
PERMANENT CHAIRMAN WHITE.
Senator Hill Receives Six Votes in the
Committee on Organization.