People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-07-16
PLATFORM ADOPTED.
Full Text Of the Declaration Of Principles
ns Finally Passed.

CHICAGO, July 10.-The majority re-
port Of the committee on resolutions OF
the democratic national convention
submitted the following report, which
was read by Senator Jones, of Arkan'
sas, chairman Of the committee:
Tho Platform.
We, the democrats Of the United States, In
national convention assembled, do reafflrm our
allegiance TO those great essential principles
OF justice and liberty upon which our institu-
lions are founded, and which the democratic
party has maintained from Jefiersons time 70
our own-freedom Of speech, freedom Of the
press, freedom OF conscience. the preservation
OF personal rights, the equality OF all citizens
before the law and the faithful observance Of
constitutional limitations.
The constitution Of the United States guar.
sntees TO every citizen the right OF civil and
religious liberty The democratic party ha,
always been the exponent OF political liberty
and religious freedom, and II renews its obli-
cations and reafiirms IT'S devotion 10 these fun.
damental principles OF the constitution.
During all these years the democratic party
has resisted the tendency Of selfish interests
10 the Capitalization Of governmental power,
and has steadfastly maintained the integ.
riiy OF the dual scheme OF government estab-
lished by the founders Of this republic OF re-
| publicS Under its guidance and teachings the
great principle OF local Selt-goyernment has
found It's best expression In the maintenance
OF the rights Of the states and its assertion
that It is necessary to conflne the general gov
eminent 10 the exercise Of the powers granted
| by the constitution OF the United States.
| Recognizing that the money question is par
amount to all others at this time, we invite
attention 70 the fact that the federal constitu-
ton names silver and gold together as the
money metals OF the United States. and that
the first co image law passed by congress under
the constitution made the silver dollar the
unit OF value, and admitted gold 10 free COIN
age at a ratio measured by the silver dollar
unit
We declare that the act Of 1873, demonetiz.
| ing silver without the knowledge or approval
OF the American people has resulted in the
appreciation Of gold and corresponding fall
| In the prices OF commodities produced by the
people; a heavy increase in the burden ID
taxation, and Of all debts public and private;
the enrichment Of the money lending class at
home and abroad paralysis Of industry and
impoverishment OF the people.
We are unalterably 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 monometallism is q
British policy, founded upon British greed fof
| gain and power, and its general adoption has
brought other nations into financial servitude
10 London. II IS not only un-American, but
snti-Amercan, and It can be fastened upon
the United States only by the sitting Of that
indomitable spirit and love Of liberty which
proclaimed our political independence in lie
and won 1t in the war OF the revolution.
We demand the immediate restoration Of
| the free and unlimited coinage OF gold and
silver at the present legal ratio Of sixteen to
! one, without waiting for the aid or consent Of
any other nation We demand that the stand
ard silver dollar shall be a full legal tender,
| equally with gold for all debts, public and
| private, sad we favor such legislation as will
prevent the decentralization Of any kind Of
legal tender money by private contract
| We are opposed to the policy and practice Of
surrendering to the holders OF obligations Of
the United States the option reserved by law
TO the government OF redeeming such obliga-
lions 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 traficing with banking
syndicates which. In exchange for bonds and at
an enormous profit 10 tn .mselyes. supply the
federal treasury with gold TO maintain the
! policy Of gold monometallism.
Congress alone has the power 10 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 be taken
from the banks, and that all paper money
shall be issued directly By the treasury depart
ment
We hold that tariff duties should be levied
solely for the purposes Of revenue and that
taxation should DO limited BY the needs Of the
government, honestly and economically ad-
ministered We denounce as disturbing 70
business the republican threat 10 restore the
Mckinley law, which has been twice con-
demned by the people In national elections,
and which, enacted under the false plea OF pro-
lection to home industry, proved q prolific
breeder OF trusts and monopolies, enriched the
few ct the expense Of the many, restricte,.
trade and deprived the producers OF the great
American staples Of access 10 their natural
markets.
Until the money question Is settled, we ore
opposed to any agitation for further changes
In our tariff laws except such as are necessary
10 make up the deficit In revenue caused by
the adverse decision OF the supreme court on
the income tax
But for this decision by the supreme oour;
there would be no deficit In the revenue under
the law passed by democratic congress In
strict pursuance Of the uniform decisions Of
that court for nearly 100 years, that court hsv.
Ing In that decision sustained constitutional
objections TO its enactment which had previ-
lously been overruled BY the sblest judges who
have ever sat on that bench We declare that
It is the duty Of congress 10 use oil the consti-
tutional power which remains after that de-
cision. or which may come from its reversal by
the court as II may hereafter be constituted,
so that the burdens OF taxation may equally
and impartially lead TO the end that wealth
may bear its due proper ton Of the expenses
OF the government
We hold that the eficient way OF protecting
American labor is 10 prevent the importation
OF foreign pauper labor TO compete with 1t 10
the home market and that the value OF the
home market TO our American farmers and
artisans is greatly reduced by q vicious none
tary system, which depresses the prices OF
their products below the cost OF production,
and thus deprives them Of the means OF salts
flying their needs
The absorption OF wealth BY the few, the
consolidation Of our leading railway systems
and the formation Of trusts and pools, require
sstricter control by the federal government
Of those arteries Of commerce. We demand
the enlargement Of the powers Of the inter-
state commerce commission and such restric-
tons and guarantees in the control OF rail-
roads as will protect the people from robbery
and oppression.
We denotnce the prohigate waste Of the
money wrung from the people by oppressive
taxation, and the lavish appropriations OF re-
cent republican congresses, which have kept
taxes high, while the lsborer that pays them
is unemployed and products OF the people to 4.
are depressed in price till they no longer repay
the cost Of production We demand q return
10 that simplicity and economy which best
l.