Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-07-17
THE PLATFORM.
The Declaration of Principles of the Dem.
ooratic National Convention.

ooratic National Convention.
The following is the full text of the
platform adopted by the convention:
We, the Democrats OF the United States in
national convention assembled, do Teathrm
our allegiance to those great essential prin-
ciples of justice and liberty upon which our
institutions are founded and which the Demo
cratic party has maintained from Jefferson's
time to our own-freedom Of speech, freedom
Of the press, freedom of conscience, the pres
ervation of personal rights, the equality of
all citizens before the law and the faithful
observance Of constitutional limitations.
During 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 republics. I'm
der its guidance and teachings the great prin-
ciple of local self government has found its
best expression in the maintenance Of the
rights of the states and in It's assertion Of the
necessity of combining the general government
to the exercise Of powers granted by the con-
stitutlon Of the United States.
The constitution of the United States guar
antees to every citizen the rights of civil and
Religious liberty. The Democratic party has
always been the exponent Of political liberty
and religious freedom, and IL renews its obli
cations and reaffirms its devotion to these
fundamental principles OF the constitution.
Recognizing that the money question Is par
aTNpunt to all others at this time, we invite
att+ntion to the fact that the federal constitu
tioh names silver and gold together as the
money metals of the United States, and shat
the arst coinage law passed by congress un-
der the constitution made the silver dollar
the unit of value and admitted gold to free
coinage at q ratio measured by the silver dol
lar unit.
Wedeclare that the act Of 1873 demonetizing
-
the AntFican people has resulted in the appre-
ciation'9 81 gold and a corresponding fall in the
prices q commodities produced by the people
heavy increase in the burden of taxation
and Of gil debts public and private, the en-
richment OF the money lending class at home
and abroad paralysis Of industry and impov-
erishment Of the people,
We are unelterabiy opposed to the single
gold standard, which has locked fast the pros
perity Of an industrious peol.e in the pRraly-
sis Of hard times. Gold li-onomotallism 10 o
British policy, founded upon British greed for
gain aud power, and its general adoption has
brought other nations to financial seryitude
TO London. II Is not only n-American, but
anti-American, and 1t can be fastened upon the
United States only by the sitting of that in
domitable spirit and love Of liberty which
proclaimed our political Independence in Il
and won IL ia the war Of Revolution.
We demand the immediate restoration OF the
| free and unlimited coinage Of gold and silver
at the present legal ratio Of 10 TO l. 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
eorI for al debts, public and private, and we
favor such legislation as viii prevent the do
monetization Of any kind OF legal lender mon.
/ ey by private contract
We are opposed to the policy and practice Of
surrendering 70 the holders OF the obligations
/ Of the United states the option reserved by
law to the government Of redeeming such OBJ
| legations in either silver coin or gold coin.
We are opposed to the issuing of interest
bearing bonds Of the United States In times q
peace and condemn the traiiioking with bank
ing syndicates, which, in exchange for bondl
and at an enormous prohe4l themselves. sup
ply the federal treasury with gold TO main
tain the policy Of gold recommendation.
Congress alone has the power 70 coin and issul
money, and President jackson declared tina
this power could not be delegated 10 corpora
tions or 60 individuals
We therefore denounoe the issuance Of note
intended 10 circulate as money BY nationa
banks as In derogation of the constitution, ani
we demand that all paper which Is made 10
gal tender for public and private debts, o
which Is receivable for duties y the Unite'