The Daily Texarkanian., 1896-09-08
THE PLATFORM
Adopted by the National Democratic
ConVention. at CHICAGO. July, 1896.

We. the Democrats of the United
States, in national convention assembled,
do reaffirm our allegiance to those great
essential principles Of justice and liberty
uDOn which our institutions are founded,
and which the Democratic party has ad-
vOcated from JetfersOn's time to our own
freedom Of speech. freedom Of press,
freedom of conscience the preservation
Of personal rights. the eQua ity Of all citi-
ze1s before the law. and the faithful OBJ
servation of constitutional limitations.
During all these years the Democratic
party has resisted the tendencies OF selfish
interests to the CentriizatiOn OF govern
mental power. and stead dfaStly maintain
ed the integrity Of the dual scheme OF
of government established by the found
ers of this republic OF republics. Under
its guidance and teachings the great prin-
ciple of local self-gOvernment has found
its best expression in the maintenance OF
the rights of the States and its assertion
of the necessity Of cOn6ning the general
government to the exercise of the powers
granted bv the constitution Of the United
States.
Recognizing that the money question is
paramount to ali Others at this time, we
invite attention TO the fact that the Fed
pral constitution names silver and gold
together as the money metals Of the Unit
ed States, and that the lirt coinage law
passed by Congress under the constitution
made the silver dollar the unit Of value
and admitted gold 10 free coinage at a
ratio measured by the free silver dollar
unit.
we declare that the act Of 1873 demone
/ tiZing silver without the knowledge OF
approval Of the American people has re.
suited in the appreciation Of gold and d
corresponding fall in the prices OF com
modities produced by the people; heavy
| increase I'm the burden OF taxation and O
| all debts, public and private; the enrich
ment Of the mOuey-lendng class ~
home and abroad; prostratOn Of Industry
| and impoverishment Of the people.
We are unalterabIy opposed to mono
metalism. which has locked fast The
prosperity Of an industrious people ia The
| paralysis Of hard times cold mOnomet-
| allism is a British policy, and its adOp.
| tiOn has brought other nations into tinan'
cfal servitude to London. 1t is not only
American, but anti American, and Il
/ can he fastened on the United states only
bv the sitting Of that indomi!able spirit
/ and love OF liberty which proclaimed Oul
political Independence In lIl6, and won II
/ In the war Of the revolution.
| We demand the free and unlimited
coinage Of both gold and silver NO th,
present legal ratio Of l6 TO !, without
waiting for the consent or aid Of any 9th
| err 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 legisla.
i tion as will prevent for the future the de.
mOnetZatiOn Of any Kind Of legal tender
money by private contract
| We are opposed TO the policy and prac'
| tice OF surrendering 20 the holders OF the
obligations Of the United States the opiu'
| ion reserved by law 90 the Government o
| redeemng such obligations IN either sill
yer coin or gold coin.
| We are opposed To- the issuing Of inter
| est bearing bonds Of the United States Id
| time of peace and condemn the traHcinl
withdrawing syndicates whlchln exchange
| for bonds and at an enormous profit Il
themselves, supply the Federal Treasury
with gold TO maintain the policy Of gold
monometalllsm.
Congress alone has the power 10 coin
aud issue mon y, and President Jackson
/ declared that this power could not be del.
egated 20 corporations or individuals W.
! therefore demand that the power 60 issue
notes TO circulate rs money be taken from
/ the national banks and that all pen
money shall be issued directly by The
Treasury Department, be redeomablo In
coin and received for oil debts, public and
| private,
We hold that tariff duties should be- lew
| led for purposes OF revenue, such duties
10 be so adjusted as % operate equally
| throughout The country and not dtscrml,
nate between class or section, aud that
| taxation should be limited by tho needs ot
| the Government honestly and economic
ally administered We denUunce az dis
turbing to business the Republican threat
TO restore the Mckinley law, which has
been twice condemned by the people I'm
national electious and which, enacted
under the false plea Of protection 10 homo
| Industry, proved prolific breeder Of
trusts aud monop0llos, enriched the few
at the expense OF the many restricted
trade and deprived The producers OF the
great American staples OF access to their
natural markets
Until the money question Is settled Wo
are opposed 90 any agitation Tor further
changes IN our tarln laws, except such as
are necessary To MAKE up che dohclt la
the revcnur caused bs the adverse decls.
ion NJ the Supnme Court on the income
tax. llut for this decision hy the Su4
premo Court there would ho nn doiclt In
the revenue under the law passed by "A
Dtm0cratlc Congress IN strict pursuance
of the uniform decisions VI that court tor
nearly one hundred years that court
having sustained constitutional obiec
tlons 90 lte enactment, which have hoou