The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-07-13

munities from determinations and the public
from unjust and unfair transportation rates.
We reafirm and endorse the principles of the
national Democratic platform adopted at Chi
cago in 1895, and we reiterate the demand OF
that platform for an American financial system
made by the American people for themselves.
which shall restore and maintain a bmetallic
price level, and as part of such system the i'm
mediate restoration of the free and unlimited
coinage Of silver and gold at the present legal
ratio of l6 to without waiting for the aid or
| consent of any other nation.
We denounce the Currency bill enacted at
the last session of Congress as q step forward
in the Republican policy which aims to dis
| credit the sovereign right of the national gov
eminent to issue all money, whether coin or
paper, and to bestow upon national
| banks the power to issue and control the
volume of paper money for their own benefit.
permanent national bsnk currency, secured
| by government bonds. must have permanent
debt to rest upon, and if the bank currency is
| to increase tine population and business, the
| debt must also increase. The Republican cur
rency scheme is, therefore, scheme for fasten-
| ing upon the taxpayers perpetual and grow.
| ing debt.
We are opposed to this private corporation
paper circulated as money, but without legal
| tender qualities, and demand the retirement OF
| the national bank notes as fast as this govern.
ment paper or silver certificates can be substi.
tuted for them.
We favor an amendment to the federal Con.
stitution providing for election of United States
| Senators by the direct vote of the people, and
we favor direct legislation wherever practica'
| BILE.
We are opposed to government by injunc.
| ton. We denounce the black list, and favor
arbitration as a means of settling disputes be.
tween corporations and their employees.
In the interest of American labor and the
| uplifting of the workingman, as the corner.
stone of prosperity of our country. we recon-.
| mend that Congress create a department OF
| labor in charge of a secretary, with Il seat in
the cabinet. believing that the elevation of the
American laborer will bring with 1t increased
protection and increased prosperity to our
country at home and TO our commerce abroad
We are proud of the courage and fidelity OF
| the American soldiers and sailors in all our
wars; we favor liberal pensions to them and
| their dependents and we reiterate the position
taken in the Chicago platform of 1896 that the
| fact of enlistment and service shall be deemed
COuCluSlVo eNlueuCe dBdIneI ulbSdsc anu uIr-
ability before enlistment.
We favor the immediate construction, owner.
| ship and control of the Nicaraguan Canal by
the United States. and we denounce the insin.
cerity of the plank in the Rep blcan platform
for an isthmian canal in face of the failure OF
| the Republican majority to pass the bill in Con.
gress.
We condemn the Hay-Pauncerote treaty as q
| surrender Of American right and interests not
to be tolerated by the American people.
We denounce the failure of the Republican
| party to carry out its pledges to grant state
and Oklahoma, and we promise the people OF
those territories immediate statehood and home
rule during their condition as territories, and
we favor home rule and territorial form Of
government for Alaska and Porto Rico.
We favor an intelligent system of improving
the arid lands of the West, storing the waters
for purposes OF irrigation and the holding OF
such lands for actual settlers.
We favor the continuance and strict enforce.
ment of the Chinese exclusion law and its sp.
pication to the same classes of all AsiatiC
races.
Jefferson said: Peace, commerce and honest
friendship with all nations; entangling ALI.
ances with none"
We approve this wholesome doctrine and
earnestly protest against the Republican de.
parture which has involved US in so-called
politics, including the diplomacy of Europe and
the intrigue and land. grabbing of Asia, and we
especially condemn the ill-concealed Republi.
can alliance with England, which must mean
discrimination against other friendly nations
and which has already stified the nations voice
tel otv, "a tn F-fn
Believing in the principles of self-govern.
ment, and rejecting, as did our forefathers, the
claim of monarchy, we view with Indignation
he purpose of England to overwhelm with
force the South African republics. Speaking
as we do for the entire American nation. ex.
cept its Republican ofice-holders and for all
free men everywhere, we extend our symathies
to the heroic burghers in their unequal strug-
gle to maintain their liberty and independence.
We denounce the lavish appropriations of
recent Republican Congresses which have kept
taxes high and which threatens the perpetua-
tion Of the oppressive war levies.
We oppose the accumulation of surplus to
be squandered in such barefacsd frauds upon
the taxpayers as the shipping subsidy bill.
which. under the false pretence of prospecting
American shipbuildng, would put unearned
millions into the pockets of favorte contribu-
tors to the Republican campaign fund. We
favor the reduction and speedy repeal of the
war taxes and return to the time.honored
Democratic policy of strict economy in govern
mental expenditures.
Believing that our most cherished institutions
are in great peril, that the very existence of
our constitutional republic is at stake and
that the decision now to be rendered will de.
termine whether our children are to enjoy
the blessed privileges of free government
which have made the United States great,
prosperous and honored, we earnestly ask for
the foregoing declaration Of principles the
hearty support of the liberty-loving America
people, regardless of previous party afilia-