River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-07-30
THE SILVER PLATFORM.
Text of the Resolutions as Adopted by
the Convention.


the Convention.
The platform as reported 10y the com
mittee, and as finally adopted by the
convention. is as follows:
THE national silver party OF America,
In convention assembled. hereby adopts
the following declaration OF principles:
"First-The paramount issue at this time
in the United States is indisputably the
money question. 1t is between the British
gold standard, gold bonds and bank cur
rency on the one side, and the bimetallio
standard, no bonds. government currency
land an American policy on the other
ION this issue we declare ourselves to be
in favor of distinctively American finan-
cial system. We are unalterably opposed
TO the single gold standard, and demand
the immediate return to the constitutional
standard of gold and silver, by the restora-
ton by this government, independently
OF any foreign power, OF the unrestricted
coinage of both gold and SILVER, into
standard money at the ratio of siA teen to
enc, and upon terms of exact equality
as they existed prior to 1873; the silver
coin to be of full legal tender, equally
with gold, for all debts ana Dues public
and private. and we demand such leg.sla-
ton as Will prevent Tor the future the
destruction of the legal tender quality
of any kind OF money by private contract
I'VE hold that the power to control ana
regulate paper currency is inseparab BILE
from the power to coin money; and hence
thai all currency intended to circulate as
money should be issued and its volume
controlled by the general government only
and should be q legal tender.
I'VE are unalterably opposed to the Is
sue by the United States of interest-bear-
ing bonds In time ot peace, and we de-
nounce as a blunder, worse than a crime,
the present treasury policy eoncurred IN Ey
a republican house, of plunging the coun-
try into debt by hundreds of millions In
the vain attempt to maintain the gold
standard by borrowing gold; and we de-
mand the payment of all coin obligations of
the united states, as provided by exist
ing laws, in either gold or silver coin, at
the option of the government, and not at
the option of the creditor.
''Over and above all other questions of
policy, we are In favor of restoring to
the people of the United States the time
honored money of the constitution-gold
and silver, not one but both-the money
of Washington and Hamilton, and JEFF
ferSon and Monroe, and Jackson and Lin
coin, to the end that the American people
may receive honest pay for an honest
products; that the American debtor may
pay his just obligations in an honest
standard and not in a dishonest and I'M
sound standard appreciated 100 per cent
In purchasing power. and no appreciation
in debt-paying power, and to the end
further, that silver standard countries
may be deprived of the unjust advantage
they now enjoy. in the difference IL ex-
change between gold and silver-an ad-
vantage which tariff legislation cannot
overcome.
I'VE therefore confidently appeal TO the
people of the United States to hold In abey-
ance all other questions, however impor-
tant and even momentous they may a.
pear. TO sunder. II need be, all former party
ties and affiliations, and - unite in one
supreme effort to free themselves and their
children from the domination of money
power-a power more destructive than any
" hich has ever been fastened upon the
civilized men OF any race or In any age
And upon the contamination Of our desires
and efforts, we evoke the aid of all patrio tic
American citizens. and the gracious IA
vor of Divine providence.