The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-09-10
INDIANAPOLIS PLATFORM.
Political Principles Laid Down By the
/, National Convention n

L
the principles upon which depend the honor
and welfare OF the American people; In order
| that Democrats throughout tho Union may
unite their patriotic efforts to avert disaster
| from their country and ruin from their
| party.
The Democratic party Is pledged to equal
I and exact justice to all men, OF every creed
and condition; 80 the largest freedom of the
individual consistent with good government;
| to the preservation of the Federal govern
ment In its constitutional vigor, and TO the
support OF the States n all their just rights;
| TO economy In the public expenditures to
the maintenance OF the public faith and
sound money; and IL Is opposed to paternai-
| ism and all class legislation.
| The declarations of the Chicago convcn-
| tion 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 q
| reckless attempt to increase the price OF sill
| yer by legislation TO the debasement of our
monetary standard, and threaten unlimited
issues OF paper money by the government
| They abandon for Republican allies the
| Democratic cause OF tariff reform, to court
the favor Of protectionists to their ilscal
| heresy.
In view OF these and other grave depar-
lures from Democratic principles. we cannot
! support the candidates of that convention,
! nor be bound by It's acts. The Democratic
party has survived many defeats. but could
not survive victory won In behalf OF the
doctrine and policy proclaimed in its name
at Chicago.
| BLAME PLACED.
The conditions, however, which make pos
| sible such utternnces from n national con-
| vention are the direct result of class legisa-
tion by the Republican party. II still pro-
claims, as 1t has for years, the power and
duty OF government to raise and maintain
| nria ~ M for
existing evils except oppressive and unjust
taxation.
The National Democracy here rcconyencd,
therefore. renews its declaration Of faith In
Democratic principles, especially rs applica'
bic TO the conditions Of the times.
Taxation--tarfY, excise or directs right.
fully imposed only for public purposes and
not for private gain. Its amount is justly
measured by public expenditures, which
should be limited by scrupulous economy.
The sum derived by the Treasury from tariff
and excise leyies T. affected by the state OF
trade and volume Of consumption. The
amount required by the Treasury Is deter
mined by the appropriations made by Con-
gress. The demand OF the Republican party
for an Increase In tariff tax has its pretext In
tho deficiency Of revenue which has its
causes In the stagnation OF trade and reduced
consumption. due entirely to the loas OF con-
tldence that has followed the Populist threat
Of free coinage and depreciation Of our
money and the Republican practice Of extra
VACANT appropriations beyond the needs Of
good government.
We arraign aud condemn the Populistic
conventions Of Chicago and st. Louis for
their cooperation with the Republican party
to Increase these conditions, which are plead
ed In justification OF heavy increase OF bur.
dens Of the people and further resort TO
protection.
PROTECTION AND SILVER coNDEMNEp.
! "
Its ally, free coinage of silver as schemes for
the personal profit Of a few at the expense OF
the many, and oppose the two parties which
stand for these schemes as hostile to the peo-
Pile of the Republic whose food and shelter,
comfort and property are attacked by higher
taxes and deprecated money. In fine, we
reafIlrm the historic Democratic doctrine OF
tariff for revenue only.
We demand that henccforth modern and
liberal policies toward American shipping
shall take the place Of our imitation OF
the restricted statutes of the 18th century
which were abandoned by every maritime
power but the United States, and which, to
the nations humiliation. have driven Amer!-
can capital and enterprise to the use OF alien
} ilags and alien crews, have made the Starf
!, and Stripes an almost unknown emblem In
l In foreign ports, and have virtually extln-
guished the race or American seamen. We
. oppose the pretcnse that discriminating du.
: ties will promote shipping. That scheme Il
4 an invitation to commercial warfare upor
D the Uisted States. un-Amerlcan in the ligh
| Of our great commercial treaties, Offering nc
gain whatever TO American shipping, whil'
: greatly increasing ocean freights on ouf az
ricultural and manufactured products.
The experience Of mankind has shown tina
by reason Of their natural qualities, gold Il
the necessary money, ofthc large affairs o
commerce and business, while silver Is con
venicntly adapted 10 minor transactions.
PARITY MUST DE MAINTAINED.
The most beneficial use Of both togethe
can be Insured only by tho adoption OF tn
former as a standard Of monetary measure
and the maintenance Of silver at a part,
Y with gold by Its limited coinage uader sucl
safeguards of law. Thus the largest pos
n sibe employment OF both metals Is gained
with value universally accepted through
cut the world, which constitutes the onl
;. practical currency assuring the most stabl
: standard, and especially the best and safes
'' money for all who earn livlihood by labo
or the product of husbandry. They canno
suffer when paid In the best money know
4 to man, but are the peculiar and most dc
:. fenseless victims OF n debased and nucuatin
~ currency, which offers continued profits /
!. the money changer mt their cost.
/ Realizing these truths demonstrated b
ia long public Inconvenience and loss. th
- Democratic party, In the interests OF th
e masses and Of equal justice to all, pratical
,r Is established by the legislation OF 1884 an
il 1853 the gold standard of monetary measur,
- ment, and likewise entirely divorced III
y Government from banking and currency I:
Y sues To this long-establishod Democrac
Z, policy we adhere and insist upon the mali
\. ienance OF the gold standard, and OF III
n parity Herewith Of every dollar issued
'" the Government, and are firmly opposed I
the free and unlimited coinage OF silv,
;" and to the compulsory purchase Of sily'
bullion,
~ THE CURRENCY MUST DE REFORMED
m But we denounco also the further mali
=. tenance OF the present costly patchwork
~ national paper currency as constant sour
OF injury and poril. We assert the necess
,u Of sucn Intelligent currency reform rs wi
coniine the Government 10 its legltima
functions, completely separated from Il
he banking business, and afford TO all section
10, OF our country q uniform. safo and elast
bank currency under governmental supe
n vision, measured In volumn by the needs
| hna