Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1896-09-19
A MODEL PLATFORM.

Adopted by the Democrats In National
Convention.
The following is the full and COM
plete platform as adopted by the
National Democratic convention:
We, the Democrats of the United
States In national convention asSemb-
led, do reatfirm our allegiance to those
great essential principles of Justice
and liberty upon which our institu-
tions are founded, and which the
Democratic party has advocated from
Jefferson's time to our own-freedom
of speech, freedom of the press, free
dom of conscience, the preservation of
personal rights, the equality of all
citizens before the law, and the faith
full observance of constitutional limi-
tations.
During all these years the Demo-
cratic party has resisted the tendency
of selfish interests to the centraliz-
alton of governmental power, and
steadfastly maintained the integrity
of the dual scheme of government
established by the founders of this
republic of republics. Under its.
guidance and teachings the great
principle of local self-government has
found its best expression in the main
tenance Of the rights of the states
and in its assertion Of the necessity
of contining the general government
to the exercise of powers granted by
| the constitution of the United States.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
The constitution of the United
States guarantees to every citizen the
rights of civil and religious liberty.
The democratic party has always been
the exponent of political liberty and
religious freedom and 1t renews its
obligations and reafirms its devotion
to these fundamental principles of
the constitution.
| FINANCE.
Recognizing that the money ques-
tion is paramount to all Others at this
time, we invite attention to the fact
that the constitution names silver
and gold together as the money metals
of the United States, and that the
first coinage law passed by congress
under the constitution made the sill
yer dollar the money unit, and adj
mitted gold to free coinage at ratio
based upon the silver dollar unit.
We declare that the act OF 1873 de-
monetiZing silver without the knoWl-
edge or approval of the American peo-
pie has resulted in the appreciation
of gold, and corresponding fall in
the price of commodities produced by
the people,; heavy increase in the
burden of taxation and Of all debts,
Ipublic and private; the enrichment OF
the money lending class at home and
abroad, the prOstratiOn of industry,
land impoverishment of the people.
We are unalterably opposed to mon'
ometalliSm, which has lock ked fast the
prosperity of an industrial people in
paralysis of hard times, Gold mono
metallism is a British policy, and its
adoption has brought other nations
Into financial servitude to London.
1t is not only un-American, but anti
American, and it can be fastened on
the United States only by the sitting
of that spirit and love Of liberty
which proclaimed our political inde-
pendence in 1776 and won in the wal
of the revolution.
FREE COINAGE.
We demand the free and unlimited
Icoinage of both silver and gold at the
present legal ratio Of l6 to l, without
waiting for the aid or consent OF any
other nation. We demand that the
standard silver dollar shall be a full
legal tender, equally with gold, for all
debts, public and private, and we
favor such legislation as will prevent
for the future the demonetization OF
any kind of legal tender money by
private contract.
BoNDs.
We are opposed to the policy and
practice Of suTrendering TO the h0ld,
ers of the obligations, OF the United
States, the option reserved by law u
the government of redeeming such OBJ
Legations in either silver coin or golo
coin.
| We are opposed TO the issuing OF In,
terest-bearing bonds OF the Unitec
States in time Of peace, and condemn
the tratficking with banking ssyndl
Gates which, in exchange for bonds
and at an enormous .proht 10 them
selves, supply the federal treasury
with gold TO maintain the policy ol
gold mOnometallism.
ISSUE OF MONEY.
Congress alone has the power u
lcoin and issue money, and Prerideni
Jackson declared that this powel
could not be delegated TO corporation
ar indIyiduals. We therefore de
nounce the Issuance Of notes INTENDED
10 circulate as money by nationa
hanks as In derogation OF the consti
| tuition. and we demand that all pape
which Is made a legal tender 10
public and private debts or which !
receivable for duties TO the Unitet
Estates shall be be issued by the gov
Ierpment OF the United states and
shall be redeemable In coin.
TARIFF.
We hold that tariff duties should b
LEVIED for purpose OF revenue, such du
ties 10 be so adjusted as 70 operat
equally throughout the country AM
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