The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-09-08

Indianapolis, Sept 3.-The delegates as
sembled slowly to-day. but despite the dis
agreeable drizzle outside, the ticket holders
were eager to secure entrance.
At II :3S Permanent Chairman Caffery
called the convention to order. There was
no prayer. Senator Caffery informed the
convention that the committee on resolu-
lions was not ready to report, and begged
it's patient indulgence for a few moments
Senator Villas, chairman of the committee
on resolutions, mounted the stage and read
the platform to the convention. 1t is as
follows:-
This convention has assembled to uphold
the principles upon which depend the honor
and welfare of the American people in
order that Democrats throughout the Union
may unite their patriotic efforts to avert
disaster from their country and ruin from
the party. The Democratic party is pledged
to equal and exact justice to all men #
every creed and condition; to the largest
freedom Of the individual consistent with
good government; to the preservation of the
federal government in it's constitutional
vigor, and to the support of the states i'll
all their just rights; to economy in the pub
lie expenditures; to the maintenance of the
public faith and sound money, and it is OPP
posed to paternaliSm and all class legisla-
ton.
The declarations of the Chicago conven-
ton attack individual freedom, the right of
private contract, the independence of the
judiciary and the authority of the president
to enforce federal laws. They advocate
reckless attempt to increase the price Of
silver by legislation, to the debasement OF
our monetary standard, and threaten unlim-
tied issues of paper money by the govern
ment; they abandon for Republican allies
the Democratic cause of tariff reform, to
court the favor of protectionists to their
fiscal heresy.
In view of these and other grave depart
ures from Democratic principles we cam
not support the candidate of that conven-
ton, nor be bound by its acts. The Dem
ocratic party has survived many defeats,
but could not survive a victory won in be-
half of the doctrine and policy proclaimed
in it's name at Chicago. The conditions,
however, which make possible such utter
ances from q national convention are the
direct result of class legislation by the Re-
publican party 1t still ploclaims, as it has
for years, the power and duty of govern
ment to raise and maintain prices by law,
and it proposes no remedy for existing
evils except oppressive and unjust taxation.
The National Democracy, here convened,
therefore renewS It's declaration of a faith
in Democratic principles, and especially as
applicable to the conditions of times. Tax
alton, tariff, excise or direct, is rightfully
imposed only for public purposes and not
for private gain It's amount is justly
measured by public expenditures, which
should be limited by scrupulous economy.
The sum derived by the treasury from tar
if and excise levieS is affected by the state
of trade and of consumption. The amount
required by the treasury is determined by
the appropriations made by congress. The
demand of the Republican party for an
increase in tariff tax has its extent in the
deficiency of revenue which has its causes
in the stagnation of trade and reduced con-
sumption, due entirely to the loss of con-
fidence that has followed the Populist
threat Of free coinage and depreciation of
our money, and the Republican practice of
eXtravagant appropriations beyond the
needs of good government. We arraign and
condemn the Populistic conventions of Chi
cago and ST. Louis for their cooperation
with the Republican party in increasing
justification of heavy increase of burdens
of the people, and a further resort to pro-
lection. We, therefore, denounce protection
and its ally, free coinage of silver, as
schemes for the personal profit Of few at
the expense of the many, AID oppose the
parties which stand for these schemes as
hostile to the people of the republic, whose
food and shelter, comfort and prosperity
are attacked by higher taxes and depreci-
ated money. In fine. reaffirm the his
toric Democratic doctrine Of tariff for rev.
enue only.
We demand that hencefGrth modern and
liberal policies toward American shipping
shall take the place of our imitation of the