The Daily Texarkanian., 1896-10-13
THE PLATFORM
Adopted by the National Democratic
Convention, at Chicago, July, 1895.

We the Democrats of the United
States, in national convention assembled,
do reaftirm Our allegiance to those great
essential principles of justice and liberty
upon which our institutions are founded,
and which the Democratic party has ad-
yOcated from JeiferSon'S time to our own
freedom of speech, freedom OF press,
freedom of conscience, the preservation
of personal rights, the equality of all citi-
zens before the law, and the faithful OBJ
servation of constitutional limitations.
During all these years the Democratic
party has resisted the tendencies of selfish
interests to the centriliZation Of govern
mental power, and steadfastly maintain
ed the integrity of the dual scheme of
of government established by the found
ers of this republic of republics. Under
its guidance and teachings the great prin-
cipie of local government has found
its best expression in the maintenance of
the rights of the States and its assertion
of the necessity of confning the general
government to the exercise OF the powers
granted by the constitution of the United
States
Recognizing that the money question is
paramount TO all Others at this time, we
invite attention to the fact that the Fed
cral constitution names silver and gold
together as the money metals OF the Unit
ed 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 ut a
ratio measured by the free silver dollar
unit.
We declare that the act Of 1873 demonc
tizing silver without the knowledge or
approval of the American people has re-
suited in the appreciation of gold and a
corresponding fall in the prices OF com
modities produced by the people; heavy
increase in the burden Of taxation and Of
all debts, public and private; the enrich
ment of the money lending class at
home and abroad; prostration OF industry
and lmpoverlshment Of the people.
We are unalterabIy opposed to mono
metalism, which has locked fast the
prosperity of an industrious people In the
paralysis of hard times. Gold monomot-
alllsni is A British policy, and It's adOp-
Zion has brought other nations into fnan-
cial serytudc to London. II Is not only
American, but anti-Amerlcan, and IL
can be fastened on the United States only
by the sitting OF that indOmltabIe spirit
and love OF liberty which proclaimed our
political independence IN l776, and won II
In the war Of the revolution.
We demand the free and unlimited
coinage of both gold and silver at the
present legal ratio Of l6 70 !, without
waiting for the consent or aid Of any oth-
or nation. We demand that the standard
silver dollar shall be u full legal tender,
equally with gold. for all debts, public
and private. and we favor such legisla-
tIon as will prevent for the future the de-
monetlzatIOn OF any Kind OF legal tender
money by private contract
We arc opposed 10 the policy and prac-
tlce of surrcndering 90 the holders OF the
obligations of the United states the 0pln.
ion reserved by law 20 the Government Of
redeemIng such obligations IN either Sill.
yer coin or gold coin.
Weare opposed to the issuing Of inter
est. bearing bonds Of the United States in
timeof peace and condemn the tralicing
withdrawing syndicatos whichin exchange
for bonds and az an enormous profit TO
themselves, supply the Federal Treasury
with gold TO maintain the policy OF gold
monomet0lls SIN.
Congress alone has the power 10 coin
and issue money, and President Jackson
declared that this power could not be dol
opated 20 corporations or individual, We
therefore demand that the power to issue
notes TO circulate as money De taken from
the national banks and that all paper
money shall be issued directly by the
Treasury Department be rcdocmDble In
coin and received for all debts, publlcand
private.
We hold that tariff duties should be lev.
led for purposes Of revenue, such duties
TO be so adjusted as TO operate equally
tLrouoho out thn rnuntry mud NOT digprImI s
nate between class or section, and that