The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-10-15
THE INDIANAPOLIS PLATFORM ON
WHICH PALMER AND BUOKNBR
STAND.

AS our columns are open to all, we give
space TO the platform and ticket OF the
JeHersonian Democracy. They are inserted
as an advertisement, and paid for.
The platform of principles adopted by the
National Democratic Convention at Indian.
apolis on Sept. 8, 1906 is as follows =
This convention has assembled to up.
hold the principles upon which depend the
honor and welfare Of the American people,
in order that Democrats throughout the
Union may unite their patriotism to avert
disaster from their country and ruin from
their party.
The Democratic party is pledged to
equal and exact justice to all men Of every
creed and condition to the largest freedom
of the individual consistent with good gov.
ernment to the preservation of the Federal
Government in its constitutional vigor, and
TO the support of the States in all their Just
rights to economy in the public expendi-
lures to the maintenance of the public
faith and sound money and il is opposed
to paternalsm and all class legislation.
CHICAGO PLATFORM AND TICKET sPURNED.
The declarations of the Chicago conven.
ton attack individual freedom, the right OF
private contract, the independence of the
Judiciary, and the authority of the President
TO enforce Federal laws. They advocate a
reckless attempt TO increase the price of
silver by legislation to the debasement of
our monetary standard, and threaten unimit.
ed issues of paper money 10y the Government.
They abandon for Republican allies the
Democratic cause Of tariff reform TO court
the favor of protectionisls to their financial
heresv.
" In view Of these and other grave depar-
lures from Democratic principles, we cannot
support the candidate of that convention,
nor be bound by its acts. The Democratic
party has survived many defeats, but could
not survive a victory won in behalf of the
doctrine and policy proclaimed in its name
at Chicago.
The conditions, however, which make
possible such utterances from national con-
venticn are the direct result of class legisla-
tion by the Repu blican party. 1t still pro-
claims, as it has for years, the power and
duty of government to raise and maintain
prices by law and it proposes no remedy
for existing evils except oppressive and un.
just taxation.
The National Democracy, here recon-
vened, therefore renews its declaration Of
faith in Democratic principles, especially as
applicable to the conditions of the times.
PURPOSES AND LIMITS OF TAXATION.
"Taxation, tariff, excise or direct, is right.
FULLY imposed only for public purposes, and
not for private gain. lis amounl is Justly
measured by public expenditures. which
should be limited by sciupulous economy.
The sum, derived by the Treasury from
tariff and excise levies is affected by the
state Of trade and volume of consumption.
The amount required by the Treasury is de.
termined by the appropriations made b.
Congress.
The demand of the Republican party
for an increase in tariff taxes has its pretext
in the deficiency Of revenue. viii n has its
causes in the stagnation Of trade and reiuc-
ed consumption, due entirely to the loss of
confidence that has followed the Popuist
threat of free coinage and depreciation Of
our money and the Republican practice of
eXtravagant appropriations beyond the needs
OF good government.
PorULIsTlc ALLIANCE CONDEMNED.
" We nrraign and condemn the Populislic
conventions of Chicago and St Louis for
their cooperation with the Republican party
in increasing these conditions which are
pleaded in justification of a heavy increase of
burdens of the people and further resort to
protection.
"We therefore denounce protection and
Its ally, free coinage OF silver, as schemes
tor the personal profit of few at the ex.
pense of the many and oppose the two
parties which stand for these schemes as
hostile TO the people of the Republic, whose
food and shelter comfort and property are
attacked by higher taxes and deprecated
money.
FOR TARIFF FOR REVENUE.
''In fine, we reafirm the historic Demo.
cratic doctrine of tariff for revenue only.
''We demand that henceforth modern and
liberal policies toward American shipping
shall take the place of our imitation Of the
restricted statutes of the eighteenth century,
which were abandoned by every maritime
power but the United States, and which, to
the nations humiliation, have driven Ameri-
can capital and enterprise to the use of alien
flags and alien crews, have made the Stars
and Stripes an almost unknown emblem in
foreign waters, and have virtually extinguished
the race of American seamen.
'We oppose the pretense that discriminat-
ing duties will promote shipping. That
scheme is an invitation to commercial war
fare upon the United States, un.American in
the light OF our great commercial treaties,
oierihS no gam whatever to American ship
ping, while greatly increasing ocean freiehts
on our agricultural and manufactured pro-
ducts.
RELATIVE USE OF SILVER AND GOLD.
''The experience o. mankind has show
that by reason of their natural qualities gold
is the necessary money of the large affairs of
commerce and business, while silver is con-
Veniently adapted to minor transactions, and
The most beneficial use of both together can
be ensured only by the adoption Of the form
er as standard of monetary measure, and
A "A AU