The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-03-21
THE PLATFORM
was then presented BY Mr Bellinger:

THE PLATFORM
Was then presented by Mr. Bellinger:
Resolved, Ist, We declare our unfaltering
| devotion to the Constitution ofthe United
States and to the Union OF the States there
by established, and we affirm that the peo-
pie of the several States have the sole and
exclusive right of governing themselves
as free, sovereign and independent States,
subject only to the limitations of the Con-
| stitution and that all powers not herein
expressly granted 10 the national govern
| ment, are reserved to the States respect
| lively and we deny the right of the Fed
| eral Government, through the treaty pow
| er, to permanently domicil MoHgoIians
| within any State, without the consent of
| the Legislature thereof
I'd, We affirm that the greatest danger
with which we are now threatened is the
corruption and extravaganza which exists
in high official places; and we do declare,
as the cardinal principle Of our future pO-
| litical action that trotrenchment, economy,
and reform are imperatively demanded in
all the Governments of the people, FEEDER
| al, as well as State and municipal; and we
here proclaim ourselves theuncompromis-
ing foes of ring politicians, and land mo
nop0liStS, whoever they may be, and wher-
ever they may be found, whether they are
in Office or out, and we appeal to honest
men everywhere, without regard TO past
political Affiliations, to join us in branding
as they deserve these corrupt leeehes on
the body polite, and assisting us to purge
official stations of their unwholesOmeness
and haneful presence.
Sd, The present Federal administration,
by its utter Inability to comprehend the
dignity or responsibilities Of the duties
with which 1t Is charged; by its devotion
1 to personal and partisan interests; by its
| weak and incompetent management of the
national finances by its unwarmnted in
| reference with the local self government
of the people, by i.s support of the corrupt
governments which 1t has imposed by Its
power upon several of the States of the
| Union, by its completely with corrupt
practices and scandals in various quarters,
and by its appointment of nOtoriously in
competent men to high official positions
has justly brought upon itself the condem-
nation of the American people.
4th, That the persistent interference by
Federal officials in local elections in the use
| of large sums of money TO defeat the vote
of the people through the ballot deserves
and receives our severest condemnation.
5th, That corporations are the creations
oflaw that their franchise and privileges
are granted tc subserye the public interest;
and when these are used to subvert the
objects of their creation and for purposes
ofoppressi0n and ext0rtion we declare 1t
to he the right and duty of the Legislature
to regulate and control such corporations
in their dealings with the people, and es-
pecially those engaged In the business of
common carriers.
9Th, That we favor speedy return
| to specie payment, and favor a lust and
equal taxation for the support Of the Fed
eral and State Governments, and that we
are opposed to all determinations In the
assessment Of Federal revenue for the pur-
pose of protection.
7th, That the free navigation and i'm
prOyement ofthe Columbia River, the con-
structiOn Of breakwater at Port Oxford,
| the improvement of the COquille and Will
| the Portland, Dalles and Salt Lake Rail-
road, are fmpeTatively demanded by the
commercial interests of this State, and
| that the Federal Government ought by all
proper means to assist those measures I;
| that we are In favor Of the bill now before
| Congress generally known as the Portland,
| Dalles and Salt Lake Railroad Bill; and
that we also favor the early completion of
the Oregon and California Railroad to the
southern boundary Of the State.
6th, That we deprecate oil measures in
the interest OF capitalists and lnOnopOlists
against labor, believing that distinctions,
If distinctions should be made, should be
made in favor of the lab0ring class, who
| constitute tine mass of our citizens and the
producers Of the wealth and property of
our country. We tleref0reapprove of the
declared principles and sympathiZe with
the ayowed object Of the organization
known as the Patrons OF Husbandry, and
with those OF all other orders having for
their objects retrenchment and reform In
public affairs and the social advancement
of the people
9th, That we are opposed to monopoly
In the publication and saie Of books used
In the common schOOls0f this State, and
we are In favor Ofamending the existing
law In relation To such books. so as to take
away from the publishers Of the Pacific
Coast Series OF Readers and Spoilers the
privileges In relation thereto, which they
now enjoy.
10th, That the act relating to the fees OF
SherifEs and Clerks 0tght 10 BE- No amend
ed--either by making such officers salarled
or by reducing the fees now attached to
the same ~ shall redfce the cOmpensa,
| lions fecea aped BIZ such officers 70 fair Ne.
mRhetAticn, nud nothing more, for the
services fe4uir66 Of them; that the Con.
stitsitiDtI 0TigAs 70 be 30 amended that ali
| printing for the State, after the expiration
| iUf he eyaH N tl1A State Printer now IN Of.
asre 70 che lD&est responsible bidder; that
Tire gaDt aRigting Should be-
i1ednged e0as to correspond aa nearly as
.,S %S esses fos pFtvqts
govern sent a tii5 pit IA afits n Hzens
d tleir lives, liberty, property and fhe