The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-09-12

le-ies is affected by the state OF trade and
volume OF consumption. The amount required
by the treasury IS determined by the appro-
p~riations made by congress. The de-
mand Of the republican party for
an increase in tariff taxation has
its pretext in the deficiency OF revenue. which
has its causes in the stagnation Of trade and
reduced consumption. due entirely TO the loss
of confidence that has followed the popullSt
| threat of free coinage and depreciation OF our
| money and the republican practice OF cXtraNa-
| giant appropriations beyond the needs Of good
government. We arraign and condemn
the populistic conventions of Chicago
and St. Louis for their cooperation
with the republican party in creating these
conditions which are 0leaded in Justification or
4 heavy increase o: the burdens of the people
by a further resort to protection. We there
fore denOunce protection and its ally, Tree
coinage OF silver, as schemes for the personal
profit Of 4 few at the expense OF the masses,
and oppose the two parties which stand for
these schemes as hostile to the people Of the
republic whose food and shelter, comfort
( and prosperity are attacked by higher taxes
and deprecated money. In fine, we reatiirm
the historic democratic 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 re-
stricted statutes Of the eighteenth century,
which were long ago abandoned by every mari
time power but the United States, and which,
to the natIQn'S hupiUaticn, have driven Amer
lean capital and enterprise TO the use OF alien
flags and alien crews. have made the Stars and
! Stripes an almost unknown emblem in foreign
ports and have virtually eXtinguiShed the race
Of American seamen.
We oppose the pretense that discriminating
duties will promote shipping: that the scheme
IS an invitation to commercial warfare upon
the United States, un-American IN the
light Of our great commercial treaties, Offering
no gain whatever to American shipping, while
greatly increasing ocean freightS On our aGri-
cultural and manufactured products.
The experience OF mankind has shown that
by reason OF their natural qualities. gold is the
necessary money OF the large affairs Of COM
merCe and business, while silver is con-
veniently adapted TO minor transactions. and
the most beneficial use Of both together can be
insured only by the adoption Of the former as
n standard OF monetary measuse, and the
maintenance Of silver at a parity with gold by
its limited coinage under suitable safeguards
OF law. Thus the largest possible enjoyment
OF both metals is gained with o value univer-
sally accepted throughout the world, which
constitutes the only practical bimetallic cur
rency. assuring the most stable standard and
especially the best and safest money for all
who earn their livlihood by labor or the pro-
duce Of susbandry. They can not suffer when
paid in the best money known to man, but are
the peculiar and most defenSeless victims of
a debased and fuctuating currency, which Of
feS continual profits to the money changer al
their cost.
Realizing these truths, demonstrated by long
! public Inconvenience and loss, the democratic