The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1880-12-30
DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES.

Since the close = Ehe war, the Re-
pnblicans hans charged that the Demo
Gratis were irrniefy obstrp onists, whose
sole aim and object seems to be to
throw obstacles in the way of the
party of progress" as they boastfully
style themselves. They say the Demo
Gratis oppose every new idea and prin-
ciple which they advance. and after
wards approve them, always keeping
From eight to dozen years in the wake
of the progressive spirit of the Repub-
lican party. That these assertions are
true to some extent, viii hardly be dis
puted. Tire Republicans have con-
trolled national affairs and shaped leg
islation for twenty years, and there was
nothing for Democrats to do but grace
fully submit to the inevitable. In 1876
che popular majority was on the Demo
cratic side, but owing to, the refusal of
the Electoral Commission, by MAORI
fy of one, to comply with the letter
and spirit OF the Act which created it,
q President whom, Republicans as well
rs Democrats believe was not constitu-
tionally elected, was placed at the head
of the Government. This President
vetoed several bills which embodied
ideas and principles which had not been
advanced by the Republican party,
though mambers of that party support
ed them Among cheese bills were one
for the restriction of Chinese immigra-
ton, one to remonetize silver, by max
ing its coinage like that of gold, free alb
the mint, and one providing that cleo.
ton marshals should be men of good
2 moral character, to be selected from all
parties. In consequence of the vetoes,
these ideas did not become laws, and
. the Democrats, who conceived them,
were of necessity compelled to- again
fall into, the wake of the Republicans
Now, both parties are very nearly
equally divided, but the Republicans
hold the veto power, and approve only
such measures as are sanctioned by the
leaders Of theparty.
That the Democrats are not without
principles, and principles, too, which a
majority of the people of the United
States will soonen or later approve, is
shown by an article by Senator Wal
lace, in the North American Review,
in which he lays down the. following
platform:
dominated labor must be taught its
nights and its interests. Capital must
see its safety Ill the intelligence and
justice of the peoples rule, and not in
the exercise of arbitrary will. Honest
performance Of. every governmental
contract now in existence, but change
OF policy BY which, the debt shall be
managed in the interest OF the people
and rot of the creditor; equal taxation
On every form of property; thorough
inquiry into taxation for revenue, and
its readjustment upon a basis just to
every interest and to all the people; no
I monopolies; the forfeitures OF the fran
chises of corporations, and punishment
OF aggregated wealth or individuals, for
coercion of employers or the use of
money in elections; our own carrying
trade made to be our own preserve, and
= divorce between Government and
banks declared.1
These principles, though just and
progressive, can not be carried out by
the Democrats, because they do not
control the Administration, but if the
Republicans adopt them as their own
and put them into effect by legislation,
the people will have no cause to COM
u ( ~