The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-09-01


erences Of the people. The gold stand
ard is a monetary fact which canno.
be changed by any act of congress. In
the face of the long continued exist
ence of the Bland act in the United
States and tn unmistakable worldwide
selection Of gold n preference to silver,
as monetary standard. any attempt
10 tamper with the standard is vicious
in principle, dishonest in practice, de-
structive Of confidence and thoroughly
un-Democratic. We are, therefore, in
favor Of firm and unvarying mainte-
nance Of the present gold standard of
value so long as that standard sontin-
ues TO be monetary fact.
GOVERNMENT BANKING.
1--WE believe that the federal govern
ment should be entirely divorced from
the business of banking, and, therefore,
demand the repeal of all laws author
izing the issue of legal tender treas
ury notes by the government or the re-
issuing Of such notes when they have
once been redeemed in gold. We IA
for the enactment by congress of such
legislation as Will permit the establish
ment Of a banking currency ample in
volume for the needs Of business, read
lily adjusting itself TO such needs, alb
solutely secure in every CONTINGENCY
and at all times redeemabie in gold.
I'VE are opposed TO Republican protec
ton. We recognize in protection, by
which the federal power of taxation on
imports is exercised for the benefit OF
a class, the mainstay of trusts, the par
ent OF monopoly, andw the fruitful
source OF the present political dangers
which theaten the nation. The silver
agitation began in the efforts OF the pro-
ducers of silver to obtain higher price
for their products, and they have as
much right 20 seek the interference
OF the government in their behalf, how
ever fruitless it may be, as have the
manufacturers of steel or cotton. The
Bland-Allison act of 1878, and the So
called Sherman act of 1890, were meas
ures largely designed to aord protection
to the producers of silver; and the latter
act, under which, from 1890 to 1898, the
government OF the United States pur-
chased monthly Of silver, nearly six
tons daily, and issued treasury notes
therefor, so threatened the national
credit and produced such distrust of
the power of the government to main
tain the standard of value, that to ii.
far more than TO any other influence,
is due the business depression of the
last three years and the consequent
free silver agitation, which finds in that
depression it's only hope of success.
CIVIL SERVICE AND TARIFF.
1--WE believe the enforcement of the
civil service aaws is essential to an eff
ficient administration of the public bus
mess, and we commend the extension
of those laws by President Cleveland
TO the remainder of the unclassified ser
vice.
"As Democrats. loyal to the mainte-
nance Of the constitution and jealous
in our support to the credit and honor
Of our country, we cannot endorse the
candidates nominated at Chicago or the
champion of the Republican prohibitory
protection nominated at St Louis.
1--WE declare, therefore, that the ap-
preaching convention at Indianapolis
should nominate on a Democratic plat
form, Democratic candidates, to whom
we pledge our hearty support, and We
instruct our delegates to that conven-
ton to use every effort to bring abou'
such nominations