The Greenville times., 1896-07-11
THE PLATFORM.
Declaration Of Principles Of the
Democratic Party
Presented bT th~ Csn@lttse oa Rssola-
tions for AdsPtioa hy the National
Conysatisa st It's s~ssioa
In Chicago.

full text OF the 4eeAardtiou OF primer
pies and platform presented by the
committee on resolutions in the dem
ocratic national convention at its ses-
sion in Chicago:
The Platform
We. the tem0crats o. The GATED States. IN
national convention assembled, DO reafirm our
allegiance 70 those great esseatial principles
q !ustice and liberty uPou which our institu-
tions are fountsd saa shieh the drnocratie
party has advocated from Jerersoa's time to
eur osu-frsedom Of speech. freedom of the
press. freedom o. conscience, the preservation
oi personal rights, the equality Of all citizens
before the las, and the faithful observance 0f
constitutional limitations.
During all these years the democratic party
has resisted the tendency of selfish Interests 10
the GENERALIZATION o. governmental power, and
steadfastly maintained the integrity Of the
dual sehsme Of government established b. the
foanders Of this rep Iblie OF republics Under
It's guidaRoe and teachings the greA, prlaelple
Of local self government has found It's best ex-
preston IN the maintenance % the rights Of
the states and IN Us assertion Of the necessity
Of eonnniag the general government to the ex-
ercise Of the p0wers granted BY the eonstita-
tioH Of the Uaited States
The Money Question.
Recognizing that the money question is
paramount 10 all others at this time We invite
attention to the fact that the federal eonstitu-
tion names silver and gold together as the
money metals OF the united States, AMI that
the FIRST coinage law passed by congress under
the constitution made the silver dollar the
monetary unit OF value and admitted gold to
tree coinage az a ratio basel upoa the silver
dollar unit
We declare that the act OF 1873, demonetlElng
silver without the knowledge or approval OF the
American people. has resulted In the apprecla-
tion OF gold and 4 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 enrich
ment Of the money-lendlnz class at home and
abroad the prostrstion OF industry and i'm
poyerlshment Of the people.
We are unalterably opposed TO mono
metalism, viii has locked fast the PROS
perity Of an Industrial people In the paralysis
OF hard times Gold m0nometalllsm Is O Brit
lsh policy. and It's adoption has brought other
nations into financial seryitude to London II
is not only un-American. but anti-American.
and It can be fastened on the United States
only BY the stlning OF that spirit and love OF
liberty which proclaimed our political inde-
pendence Ia lTTs, and won II In the war Of
the revolution
Free and Unlimited Coinage.
We demand the free and unlimited coinage
Of both gold and silver at the present legal
ratio Of 10 TO I, without waiting for the aid or
eonseat of any other nation.
We demand that the standard silver dollar
shall be full legal tender, equally with gold
for all debts, public and private. and we favor
such legislation a. will prevent for the future
the demonetiratlon Of any kind OF legal-ten-
der money by private contract.
We are opposed to the policy and practice Of
surrendering TO the holders Of the obligation,
OF the United States, the option reserved BY
law to tho government OF rcdeeming such obli.
cations In either silver coin or gold coin.
Bond Issues and Circulating Medium.
We are opposed to the issuing Of interest.
bearing bonds OF the United states IN time ol
peace, and condemn the trahicking with bank.
Ing syndicates which, in exchange for bond,
and at an enormous profit to themselves sup
ply the federal treasury with gold to maintain
the policy OF gold mouometallism.
Congress alone has the power to coin and is
sue 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 to circu
late as money be taken from the natlona
banks, and that all paper money shall be Is
sued directly by the treasury department
be rcdeemable 10 coin and receivable for al
debts public and private. We hold that tarll
duties should be levied for purposes OF reve
nue., such duties to be so adjusted as to oper
ate equally throughout the country, an
not discriminate between class or sec
tion, and that taxation should b
limited by the needs OF the govern
ment honestly and economically administered
Tarif for Revenue.
We denounce as disturbing to business the re
publican threat to restore the Mckinley Law
which has been twice condemned by the peo
pie In national elections and when. enacte
under the false plea Of protection to home in
dustry, proved prolific breeder OF trusts an
monopolles, enriched the few at the erpens
Of the many, restricted trade and deprived Il.
producers Of the great Anne rlcan staples OF nc
cess to their natural markets. Until the none
| question is settled we are opposed 10 any agI
| tatiOn for further changes in our tariff law
except such as are necessary to meet the dc
| bcit In revenue caused by the adverse dccisio
OF the supreme court on the income tax Bu
for this decision by the supreme court tner
would be no deficit In the revenue under the la
passed by democratic congress in strict pur
suance OF the uniform decisions OF that coul
| for nearly one hundred years, that court hay
| ing in that decision sustained constitution,
| objections to Its enactment which had pre-
viously been overruled by the ablest Judge
| who have ever sat on that bench. We declar
| that II Is the duty OF congress 10 use all III
1 ronstifutInnaI al h t,L
decision, or which NAV come from its reverse
by the court as It may hereafter be cor
stituted, SO that the burdens OF taxation ma
be equally and impartlaly laid, to the end this
wealth may bear its due proportion Of the e,
penscs OF the government
Protection Of American Labor.
We hold that the most eflcient way Of pro
tcctng American labor is to prevent the In
portation OF foreign pauper labor to compel
with II In the home market and that the valu
OF the home market to our American farmer
and artisans Is greatly reduced by viclou
monetary system which depresses the price
Of their products below the cost OF production
and thus depryes them OF the means Of pui
chasing the products OF our home manuiactol
| les.
The absorption Of wealth by the few. tn
tens and the formation OF trusts and pool
require stricter control by the federal gov
eminent Of those arteries Of commerce. W
demand the enlargement Of the powers OF III
Interstate commerce commission, and sue
restrictions and guarantees I'm the control ,
railroads as will protect the people from rot
berry and oppression.
Oppressive Taxation.
We denounce the prohigate waste OF tn
money wrung from the people by oppressiy
taxation and the lavish appropriations Of re
cent republican congresses which have ket
taxes high, while the labor that pays them
unemployed and the products OF the people
toll are depressed in price till they no longc
repay the cost OF production.
We demand a return 10 that simplicity an
economy which BELTS 9 democratic govern
ment and reduction In the number Of use
less Offices, the salaries of which drain tn
substance OF the people.
Federal Interference.
We denounce arbitrary interference b
federal authorities In local affairs as viola
tion Of the constitution of the United State
and crime against free institutions and W
especially object TO government by injunctio