Evening journal., 1896-07-08


sas, chairman; Senator f. NJ Cockren
Missouri j. 3. George, Mississippi; n ~
WorthinRtop, Illinois; Senator Ben 4.
Tlllmnn, South Carolina; Mr. Owen, In
dian Territory; D. B. Hill, New York;
Senator W. f. Villas Wisconsin, and Sen
ator George Gray of Delaware.
Senator w n. Villas OF Wisconsin subso-
quently refused to sorve on the'subeom-
fnittee and John r. Russell of Massaclin-
setts was appointed in his place The
eariy adjournment Of the full committee
was reached only through resort to
strong measures by the silver forces. Ex-
Senator John II. Regan of Texas was re-
sponsible for the result, which no brought
about by moving the previous question on
the motion TO appoint a subcommittee
This motion had the effeot Of cutting of
all debate, and nothing was left Ito them
but to demand roll call which they did
The call resulted 80 to IA for the motion.
The Platform.
The following is the platform as agreed
to by the subcommittee 1t is believed
that few if any changes Will bo made be-
fore the resolutions are presented to tho
convention.
We. the Democrats Of the United States IN
national convention assembled, do reatiirm
our allegiance to those great essential prin-
ciples of justice and liberty upon which our
institutions arc founded and which the Demo
cratic party has maintained from Jefferson
time to our owh-freed0fn Of speech, freedom
Of the press freedom Of conscience, the pres
ervation of personal rights, the equality OF
ali citizens before the law and the faithful
observance CT constitutional limitations
Recognizing that the money question IS par
amount to all others at this time wo invite
attention to the fact that the federal constitu
tion names silver and gold together as the
money metals Of the United States, and that
the first coinage law passed by congress un-
der the constitution made the silver dollar
the unit of value and admitted gold to- free
coinage at ratio measured by the silver col
lar unit.
We declare that tho act Of 1873 dem onetizing
silver without the knowledge or approval Of
American people has resulted in the apprecia-
tion Of gold and corresponding fall in the
prices Of commodities produced by the people,
a heavy increase IN the burden Of taxation
and Of all debts public and private the on
richment Of the money lending class az home
and abroad, paralysis Of industry and impoY'
/ ershment Of the people.
| We are unalterahly opposed to the single
| gold standard which has locked fast the pros
perity Of an industrious people in the paraly'
| sis Of hard times. Gold monometallisin Is o
| British policy. founded upon British greed Tor
/ gam ana power anu llh general ulOpllou mas
brought other nations to financial servitude
to London. Il is not only un-American. but
| anti-American, and IL can be fastened upon the
| United States only by the sitting OF TINT in
domatable spirit and love Of liberty which
proclaimed our political independence in l77o
| and won it in the war of revolution.
We demand tho immediate restoration Of the
free and unlimited coinage o3 gold and silver
| at the present legal ratio Of 10 to l, without
| waiting for the aid OF consent of any other
! nation. We demand that the standard silver
dollar shall bo a full legal tender, equally with
gold, for all debts. public and private, and we
favor such legislation as viii prevent the de-
monetization Of any kind Of legal tender mon
| ey by private contract.
| We are opposed to the policy and practice of
surrendering to the holders of the obligations
Of the United States the option reserved by
law to the government Of rcdeeming 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 Of
peace and condemn the trafiicking with bank
| ing syndicates which, in exchange for bonds
and at an enoromus profit 70 themselves, sup
| ply the federal treasury with gold to main
tair 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 delegated to cor
porations or individuals. We therefore de-
mand that the power TO issue notes bo tukon
be issued directly hy the treasury depart
ment
We hold that tariff duties should be levied
solely for purposes of revenue, and that taxa
tion should be limited by the needs of tn,
government, honestly and economically. nd
! ministered. We denounce as disturbing e
business the Republican threat to restore III,
! Mckinley law, which has been twice con
| demned by the people in national election.
and which, enacted under tho false plea o
projection to home industry, proved prolif,
| breeder Of trusts and mOnOpOlos, enriched
the few az the expense Of the many. restricted
trade and deprived tho producers Of the grea
American staples Of access to their natura
| markets. Until the money question is settled
we are opposed TO any agitation for further
changes in our tariff laws except such as ars
necessary to make up the deficit IN revenue
caused by the adverse decision Of the supreme
court on the income tax.
There would have been no deficit in fedora
revenue during the last two years but for the
annulment by the supreme court Of the in
come tax law placed upon the statute books
| by Democratic congress. The obstruction
TO an income tax, which the supreme cour
discovered in the constitution after IL hag
| lain hidden for 100 years, must be removed, 4
the end that accumulated wealth may be mad
to bear its Just share Of the burdens Of th
government We, therefore, favor an amend
ment to the federal constitution that Will per
nit the levy of an income tax.
We hold that the most efficient way Of pro
Il tecting American labor is to prevent the i'm
portation of foreign paupor labor 10 compel
with IT in the home market, and that the valu
of the home market TO our American farmer
and artisans is greatly reducede by viciou
monetary, system which depresses the price
of their products below the cost Of produ,
/ tion. and thus deprives them Of the means q
satisfying their needs.
We denounce the prohigate waste Of th
money wrung from the people by the oppres.
i've taxation and the lavish appropriations q
recent Republican congresses which have kep
taxes high while the labor that pays them
unemployed and the products Of the people
toll are depressed in price till they no longe
repay the cost Of production. We demand
return TO that simplicity and economy whic
best BELTS a Democratic government and a II
duction IN the number OF useless Offices, th
salaries Of which drain the substance of th
people
We denounce arbitrary interference by FED
eral authorities in local affairs as violatio
OF the constitution Of the United States and
crime against free institutions, and we esps
cially object to government by Injunction q
a new and highly dangerous form of opprc.
sion by which federal judges, In contempt q
| the laws OF the states and tho rirhts of cit