The Democratic advocate., 1896-09-19

not only WITHOUT the alu Oh SynulcaleS, Dut
in spite of any opposition which syndicates
may present. To assert that the Govern
ment is dependent upon the good will or
assistance of any portion of the people other
than constitutional majority is to assert
that we have Government in form, but |
without vital force
A dignifed but firm maintenance of the
foreign policy first set forth by President
Monroe and reiterated by the Presidents
who have succeeded him, instead of arous-
ing hostility abroad, is the best guarantee
of amicable relations with other nations.
Il is better for all concerned that the United
States should resist any extention of Euro
pean authority in the Western hemisphere
rather than invite the continual irritation
which would necessarily result from any
attempt to increase the influence of the
monarchical institutions over that portion
of the Americas which has been dedicated
to republican government.
The position taken by the platform
against the issue of paper money by national
banks is supported by the highest Demo
cratic authority, as well as demanded BY
the interests of the people. The present
attempt of the national banks to force the
retirement of United States notes and
Treasury notes in order to secure basis
for larger issue of their own notes illus
trates the danger which arises from per
mitting them to issue their paper as cir
culating medium. The national banknote,
being redeemable in lawful money, has
never been better than the United States
note which stands behind it, and vet the
banks persistently demand that these United
States notes, which draw no interest, shall
give place to interest bearing bonds in order
that the banks may collect the interest
which the people now save. To empower
national banks to issue circulating notes is
to grant valuable privilege to favored
class, surrender to private corporations the
control over the volume of paper money,
and build up class which will claim a
vested interest in the national financial
policy. Our United States notes, COM
monty known as greenbacks, being redeem
able in either gold or silver at the option
of the Government, and not at the option
of the holder, are safer and cheaper for the
people than national bank notes based upon
interest bearing bonds.
No nation can afford to be unjust to its
defenders. The care of those who have
suffered injury in the military and naval
service of the country is sacred duty. A
nation which, like the United States, relies
upon voluntary service rather than upon
large standing army, adds to its own secu-
rity when it makes generous provision for
those who have risked their lives in its de-
fence. and for those who are dependent
upon them.
Labor creates capital. Until wealth is
produced by the application of brain and
muscle to the resources of this country
there is nothing to divide among the non
producing classes of society. Since the
producers of wealth create the nation s
prosperity in time of peace, and defend the
nation flag in time of peril, their interests
ought at all times to be considered by those
who stand in official positions. The Demo-
cratic party has ever found its strength
among those who are proud to be known
as the common people, and it pledges itself
to propose and enact such legislation as is
necessary to protect the masses in the free
exercise of every political right and in the
enjoyment of their just share of the re-
wards of their labor.
| desire to give special emphasis to the
plank which recommends such legislation
as is necessary to secure the arbitration Of
differences between employers engaged in
interstate commerce and their employees.
Arbitration is not new idea-it is simply
an extension of the court of justice. The
laboring men of the country have expressed
desire for arbitration, and the railroads
cannot reasonably object to the decisions
rendered by an impartial tribunal. So
ciety has an interest even greater than the
interest of employe, and has right to
protect itself by courts Of arbitration against
the growing inconvenience and embarTass-
ment occasioned by disputes between those
who own the great arteries of commerce,
ON the one hand, and the laborers who
operate them on the other.
While the Democratic party welcomes
to the country those who come with love
for our institutions and with the determi-
nation and ability to contribute to the
strength and greatness of our nation, it is
opposed to the dumping of the criminal
classes upon our shores and to the impcr
tation of either pauper or contract labor to
compete with American labor
The recent abuses which have grown out
of injunction proceedings have been so EN-
phatically condemned by public opinion
that the Senate bill providing for trial by
jury in certain contempt cases will meet
with general approval.
The Democratic party is opposed TO
trusts. 1t will be recreant to its duty to
the people of the country if it recognizes
either the moral or legal right of these
great aggregations of wealth to stiAe COM
petition, bankrupt rivals and prey upon
society. Corporations are the creatures of
law, and they must not be permitted to
pass from under the control Of the power
which created them; they are permitted to
exist upon the theory that they advance
public veal, and they must not be allowed
to use their powers for the public injury.
The right of the United States Govern
ment to regulate Interstate commerce can
not be questioned, and the necessity for
the vigorous exercise of that right is be-
coming more and more imperative. The
interests of the whole people require such
an enlargement of the powers of the In
terstate Commerce Commission as will en-
able it to prevent discrimination between
persons and places, and protect patrons
from unreasonable charges.
The Government cannot afford to dis
criminate between its debtors, and must,
therefore, prosecute its legal claims against
the Pacific railroads. Such a policy is
necessary for the protection of the patrons
as well as for the interests of the Govern