Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-09-08

tant to create the speediest means OF rid
ding the country of these enormous oppres-
sioSs, but every democratic platformshould
tend 10 raise higher and higher the public
credit, and to satisfy the people Of Europe
that the democratic is the last party IN the
United States that proposes to whine or
act reluctantly about paying the public
debt, even though present holders should
have bought it below its fair value.
2. An irredeemable paper currency, or
one perpetually huctuating in valae, is q
gigantic fraud on the people-a concentra-
ton of the evils of false weights, false
measures, and worse, injurious to all
classes, but especially to those who live by
labor.
The Democracy should assert, with re-
newed vigor and determination, its old dec
larAtion in favor of specie basis and q
paper currency, convertible at par into coin
at the will of the holder, and should take
prompt and efIiCacious measures TO raise
our bonds to where the security they offer
and the interest they bear ought to place
them, so as to draw greenbncks after them
| to par, with the least possible delay. This
will relieve all classes, especially the labor
ing, and augmenting the value of our circu-
lation 25 per cent give Il healthy and vigor'
ous impulse to every department OF busi-
ness and industry.
g. The fundamental principle OF free
trade and that of all taxation should fail as
directly as possible on all members OF soci-
ETY. in proportion to their ability to pay,
have always been held by the Democracy.
The aim of its legislation must, therefore,
be as much as possible to reduce the
amount and diminish the number OF indi-
rect taxes, and levy such as are necessary
for revenue, having due regard to the prln-
ciple that the wealth of nation, consisting
In its productive industry, whatever taVoIs
the greatest amount of this in the masses is
to be favored, and whatever fosters special
kinds and classes to its detriment Is TO be
opposed by the Democracy.
4. Democracy opposed all kinds OF class
legislation; refusing to rob the rich for the
poor on the poor for the benefit OF the
rich, and views with equal adherence the
partisan of unjust claims, and the advocate
of the reputation of just ones. But,
knowing that legal provisions for the secur-
ity of private property generally suffice for
the protection of The rich, Democracy,
without violating individual rights, will oil
ways aim to educate and elevate the masses
of the people.
5. Offices should be created only when
clearly demanded by necessary public busl-
ness, and such salaries be paid as the ma
ture and importance o. the business require,
leaving no Just grounds of complaint or
excuse for peculation.
A policy that leads to or requires the null
tiplication of offices is anti-democratic, un-
Just and dangerous to freedom. A policy
which changes men in Office for individual
profit instead of public good is pervsion
of the principles of business, anti-demo-
cratic, corrupting and perilous to the liber-
ties of the people.
Official power is trust for the common
good which no public officer has right to
use for his private benefit, and whosoever
does SO is greater scoundrel than lie who
misappies funds in his trust, because the
official trust is more sacred and the wrong
more difficult to deteCtand measure.
Whosoever obtains votes under false pre-.
tanses is baser knave than he who OBJ
tains goods under false pretenses, and on
account of the greater difficulty of detect
ing and measuring the evil done, deserves
severer punishment and reprobation.
Regarding all officers as servants Of the
people and trustees of power for the COM
mon veal, democracy favors such modes
of appointment and tenures Of Office as
reason and experience show best calculat-
ed to secure good conduct and efficiency in
the public service, without regard to pri-
vate interest, public customs or individual
pretensions.
Reason and experience alike condemn
| freduent and needless changes of public
officers, and the generally prevailing prac-
tiee of making them for personal benefit
instead of the public good, is acting in
| great matters of hesitate and Nation on a
principle which would ruin any private
business, and, unless corrected, will bring
the administration of free government
into deserved contempt. 1t is essentially
opposed to the principles of democratic
government, and 1t behooves the Democra-
cy of tue United States to make war on the
practice, withouttruce or delay, returning
to the Jetersonian standard of official
qualification: SIS he honest, capable and
faithful"
O. The immense increase OF National
Executive patronage, placing upward Of
one hundred thousand Offices besides nu'
merous minor positions of emolument, al
his disposal, and the habit of changing the
! incumbents to secure or reward Executive
partisanship, have become dangerous to
the liberties Of the country, and demand @
prompt and efficacious remedy
That remedy, at least in part, and nu
merous important national advantages,
may be found by providing that no Presi
dent shall be eligible for more than one
term, without q jointresolution of Congress
passed bya two.thirds vote in each House
previous to the election declaring the same
and q further provision that the Presiden.
tial term shall be extended to six years.
7. Tho Democratic doctrine of suffrage
requires distinct reaflirmation.
Democracy has always held that suffrage
is not natural right of every human being,
nor of particular sex or race, but politi-
cal privilege, and who should exercise it 0
question to be decided by what will produce
the greatest good to the greatest mum
'ber," and therefore, as far as possible tC
bo determined locally, where lays the grea
body of the rights of the people.
But in these local discussions the Demo
cratic idea favors broad rather than
narrow basis of suffrage 1t is not un
mindful on regardless Of the rights of wo
| ul6uI VI pIUpoltyB uhu iHloIiOE IdC6b, Du
seeing other effective and advantageous
ways in which these can have their in
Auence on all legislation effecting their in
terests, at present it prefers giving the
right of voting TO manhood and qualiflca
tons which will tend to create bonds O
political brotherhood between the rich ant
poor, based on mutual interests and tc
avert conflicts between capital and labor
The Caucus system, invented by the De
mocrncy, as practical way of finding ou'
who is a proper person to be voted for
where q constituency is too large TO know
each other personally, and in spite of i'll
glaring imperlecLions and corTuptions nov
adopted by all parties should be improved
by the Democracy and carefully regulated
by wise provisions of law.
These views believe to be explicitly o.
implicitly held by three.fourths of ou
voting population, and only require distinc