The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1896-07-18
DEMOCRATIC PLATFoRM
Full Text Of the Last Declaration or
Principles Free Coinage No Bonds
d Time Of Pence, Etc.

affirm our allegiance to these great es
sential principles of justice and libert,
upon which our institutions are found
ed, and which the Democratic party hal
advocated from Jefferson's time TO ou
OWn-freedom of speech, freedom o.
press, freedom of conscience, the pres
erYation of personal rights, the equality
of all citizens before the law. and tn,
faithful observance Of constitutions
limitations.
During all these years the Demo
cratic party has resisted the tendency
of selfish interests to the Capitalization
of governmental power, and steadfastly
maIltained the integrity of the dual
scheme of government, as established
by the founder of this republic of re-
publics. Under its guidance and teach
ings the great principle of self.goyern-
meRt has found its best expression in
the maintenance of the rights Of the
states and its assertion of the necessity
OF combining the general government to
the exercise of the powers granted by
the constitution Of the United States.
Recognizing that the money ques-
ton Is paramount to all others at this
time, we invite attention to the fact
that the Federal constitution named
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 silver
dollar the monetary unit and admitted
gold to free coinage at a ratio based
upon tho silver dollar unit.
I'VE declare that the act of 1873, de.
monetizlng silver without the knowl.
edge or approval of the American PEG.
pie, has resulted in the appreciation of
gold and 4 corresponding fall in the
price Of commodities produced by the
people; heavy increase in the burden
OflaEation and Of all debts, public and
private; the enrichment of the money.
lending class at home and abroad:
Psos'EasioH OF industry and impoyer.
tshing of the people.
I'VE are unalterably opposed to mon.
ometalllsm, which has locked fast the
prosperity Of an industrial people in the
paralysis Of hard times.
"Gold recommendation is a British
policy, and its adoption has brought
other nations into servitude to London.
1t is not only un-American, but anti
American, and it can be fastened on
the United States only by the sinking
OF that spirit and love of liberty which
proclaimed our political Independence
IN 1915, and won 1t in the war of the |
revolution.
I'VE demand the free and unlimited
coinage Of both gold and silver at the
present legal ratio of 16 to 1, without
waiting for the aid or consent of snv
other nation. We demand that the
silver dollar shall be full legal tender
equally with gold for all debts, public
and private, and we favor such legisla-
tlon as will prevent for the future the
demonetization of any kind of legal
tender money by private contract.
I'VE are opposed TO the policy and
practice of surrendering to the holders
OF the obligations of the United States
the option reserved by law to the gov
eminent of redeeming such obligations
In silver or In gold coin. We are Oh.
posed to the issuance of interest bear
Ing bonds of the United States in time
Of peace, and condemn the traficking
with banking syndicates which, in ex.
change for bonds at an enormous
profit to themselves, supply the Fed.
sral treasury with gold to maintain the
policy Of gold monometallism. {
Congress alone has the power to coin {
and issue money, and President Jackson !
declared that this power could not be {
delegated to corporations or individuals {
We, therefore, demand that the power s
% issue notes to circulate as money be c
AIKEN from the national banks, and I
hat all paper money shall be issued di.
eetly by the treasury department., DO +
edeemable In coin and receivable for il
vi deOtS, public and private. t
I'VE hold that the tariff duties sbon,d
% levied for the purpose of revenue r
UGH duties to be SO adjusted as TO a
Perate equally throughout the country h
nd not discriminate between class or n
ectiOn, and that taxation should he Il
United by the needs of government Ii
onestlyand economically administered r,
te denOnnce as disturbing to business W
10 Republican threat to restore the 7
lckinlsy law, which has been twice II
ondemned by the people in national U
ections, and which, enacted under the Il
Use plea OF protection to home indus. A
y, proved a prolific breeder of trusts
ID monopolies, enriched the few at the A
Ipense Of the many, restricted trade Of
I'd deprived the producers of the great M
meriean staples of their natural az
arkets.
until the money question is settled pl
ara nFanneaa 20