The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-20
vigorously Denounces the Action of
Republicans on the Porto
Rfcan Tariff Measure.
CONDEMNS FINANCIAL LAW
WANTS DRASTIC LEGISLATION FOR
ALL GREAT COMBINATIONS.
Opposes Militarism and BewaiIs the
Lot of the FilfpinO-Speech That
Contains the Usual Benalities.

| LINCOLN, Neb., March BIN effect
William j. Bryan announced tonight to
| the Democratic party and to the Nation at
| large the platform which he considers best
| for the Democratic party, and practically
on which he desires to stand If nominated
| at the Kansas City convention. The plat
| form which was adopted by the Nebraska
| Democracy with the greatest enthusiasm
| reafhrms the Chicago platform. declares
| for "l6 to l." opposes large standing
| army, denounces the action of the Repub-
/ lican party on the Porto Rico tariff bill,
| declares against trusts and ''imperialism'
| and favors the choice of United States sen
ators by popular vote. The platform is prac-
tically the creation of Mr.. Bryan He did
not write it personally, but he was con-
suited concerning 1t, ana before 1t was read
to the convention he had approved it
| throughout.
| The platform adopted by the Populist
convention was substantially the same as
| that adopted by the Democrats 1t differs
| somewhat i'm form. but conflicts in no es-
sential point Both conventions to-day were
| enthusiastic for Bryan to the last degree
| and every mention of his name was greeted
with cheers of delight and approval. In
1
| to stand for Mr.. Bryan in the Kansas City
and Sioux Falls conventions. The more inn
portant planks Of the Democratic platform
| are here given:
eve welcome the opportunity offered
| this year to take the federal government
out of the hands of the Republican party.
which has abandoned American ideas and
American ideals. and, at the command OF
| corporate wealth, has plotted against the
| financial independence of the Nation, has
menaced the industrial independence of the
individual and now contemplates the nuli-
fication of the Declaration of American In
| dependence.
I'VE pledge ourselves to wage an .unceas-
| ing warfare against all the trusts-the
| money trust, the industrial trust and the
international land-grabbing trust.
| Instead of system which would chain
our Nation to the gold standard and COM
pei it to participate i'm all the disturbances
| which come to European nations, we de-
| mand an American financial system, made
by the American people for themselves. to
| be secured by the immediate restoration of
| the free and unlimited coinage of gold and
| silver at the present legal ratio of 16 to ],
| without waiting for the aid or consent of
| any other nation.
""The Republican administration has ad-
| mitted the gold standard to be unsatisfac-
| tory by appointing a commission to solicit
| foreign aid in restoring the double stand
| ard. and Republican Congress, even
| while trying 10 make the gold standard
permanent, has confessed judgment against
| the standard by attempting to revive the
| delusive hope of international bimetallism
DEMAND GREENBACKS.
Instead of the system favored by the
| Republican party, under which national
banks are to be permitted to issue and
control the volume of paper money for
their own profit, we reiterate our demands
for that financial system which recognizes
the governments sovereign right to
issue all money, whether coin or paper,
and we demand the retention of the green
backs as they now exist and the retire.
ment of national bank notes as rapidly as
greenbacks can be substituted for them.
1--WE believe that private monopolies are
indefensible and intolerable and we con-
denim the national administration for its
failure to enforce the present law against
the trusts or to recommend a more and
more effective law.
1--WE favor a State constitution which will
prohibit the organization of a monopoly
within the State and also prevent monop-
oily organized elsewhere from doing bus
mess within the State; but we further
believe that Congress should supplement
the efforts Of the State by legislation which
will require every corporation, before en-
gaging In Interstate commerce, to show
that 1t has no water in its stock and that
it has neither attempted in the past, nor
Is attempting, TO monopoliZe any branch
| of business or the production of any
article of merchandise.
I'm its platform Of 1860 the Republican
| party declared that the maintenance of
the principles promulgated in the Declar-
alton of Independence and embodied in
| the federal Constitution, (viz.: that all men
are created equal; that they are endowed
| with inalienable rights; that governments
| are instituted to secure their rights; and
that governments derive their just powers
from the consent of the governed) is es-
| sential TO the preservation of our republic
an institutions, but the Republican party
| under its present leadership, is endanger-
| ing the preservation OF republican insti-
tutions by placing the dollar above the
man in the construction of government
and of violating the principles that it once
declared to be essential.
THE PORTO RICO BILL.
1--WE condemn the Porto Rico tariff bill
recently passed by Republican House OF
Representatives bold and open viola
tion of the Nations organic law and a
fragrant breach of good faith. We assert
that the Constitution follows the flag. and
, denounce the doctrine that an executive OF
a Congress created and limited by the Con
stitution can exercise lawful authority
| beyond that Constitution in violation
| of It, Believing that nation cannot long
| endure half republic and half empire we
| oppose wars OF conquest and colonial pos
| sessions.
1 Ele fllpsuOS Cdllflot De ClliZenS WIFI
out endangering our civilization; they can
not be subjects without endangering ouI
form OF government. and as we are not
| willing to surrender our civilization or to
convert a republic into an empire we favor
| an immediate declaration of the Nations
| purpose to give to the Filipinos, first. a
stable form of government. second. inde-
pendence. and third protection from out
| side interference, as IL has for nearly a
century given protection to the republics
Of central and South America.
> g. h. IT IL L.
oycrv legitimate and Deaceful me htaj