Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-10-26
OUR PLATFORM.

OUR PLATFORM
Resolred, That we, the Democratic part,
of Pennsylvania, in Convention assembled
declare:
fst For the preservation of the Constitu
tiOn of the United States, home rule, freedom
of elections; for resistance to revolutionar,
changes, tending TO consultations or empire
against the election of any person to the
Presidencya third time; against the presence
Of troops at the polls against the appropria.
tiOn of public money for any purpose but the
support of government against class legisla-
tion, which despoils labor to build up mo
noply.
I'd. That the Democratic party. as of old.
iavOrs a constitutional currency of gold and
silver, and Of paper convertible into coin
Reputation in all forms, and coalition with
repudiators, merit the condemnation of hon
est people The refusal of a Republican adj
ministration to accede to the Democratic de-
mand for a further reduction in the rate OF
interest on the National debt subjects the
| Government to needless expense of millions
of dollars annually.
3d. That in view of the exposure of cX-
tensive frauds in the Postal and Treasury De
partments under the last Federal administra-
| tion, the people demand prompt and unialter-
! ing prosecution of the thieves their success
| ful opcrntiOns proyc that thcre win be M
reform in the management of the Depart-
ments of the Federal government without
swecpipr change therein Sincere civil service
reform will begin with return 10 the Jefler-
sonian test for oflice-holders Of honesty, capa-
bility and iaithulncss to the Constitution.
4th. That in decentralization of the poy-
ernment of Pennsylyania the Republicon
party has encouraged. practiccd and shielded
spoiintion of the State Treasury and misuse
of the public funds. bribery of the lepisla-
tors. undue favor TO corporations and monopo-
lies, an unnecessarily high rate of interest on
the State loans. a shameless prostitution
of the hardening mower a system of
wholesale waste and neculotion i'm the ordi-
nary expenditures of the Government, and a
harrassing and plundcring exercise of munici-
pal franchises and abuses of local trust.
5h. That the arrogant corrupt and per-
s0nal domination controlling the Republicnn
PARTY in this State. and supprcssinp honesty
and indcpendence in that organization. dicto-
ted the policy. the platform and the candi-
date of It's last State Convention. In view of
these facts we hereby re-afirm the following
resolution of the Democratic State Conyen-
ton of 1879: "That the recent attempt under
the personal direction of ruling Republican
leaders to debauch the Legislature by whole
sale bribery and corruption, and take from
the Commonwealth four millions of dollars,
for which its liability had never been ascer-
tained is fresh and alarming evidence Of
the aggressiveness of corporate power in col
fusion with political rings and should receive
the signal condemnation of the people at the
pollsn
9th. That the Democratic party of Penn
sylvania, regardful of the States honor and
its interests, pledges itself to the Just appl-
cation of the public moneys to the public ser
vice to economy in governmental expendi.
lures, that the people may he lightly burdened
and the purity of the administration pre-
served TO the abolition of all useless offices
and the looping off of all supemumerary
officials to the lowest practicable rate of in
terest on State loans, without regard for the
advantage of syndicates or speculators to
sleepless vigilance against the growth and
eXactions of monopolies to watchful guard
of the public interest against the prctensions
of the great transportation companies to the
abuse of the fundamental law governing all
classes within the borders of the State to a
vigorous collection of all taxes lawfully laid
upon corporations chartered or doing business
in Pennsylvania; to investigation into, cor
rection of and punishment for the frauds and
wastes which have for years pemeated the
various departments of the State government
under Republican control
7h That no monopoly has exclusive right
in the force of nature in grants of eminent
domain; in the diffusion of information
among the people by teleuaph and associa-
tions for furnishing dispatches to the press
or by the grant of privileges affecting the
daily business of the citizens, can. or ought
riphtfullv. toexist under our form of govern
ment These are nj all times TO be subject
TO such legislative. regulation and control as
the rights and interests of the pcoplo demand
That the delegated power of Congress to
regulate Commerce among the States. and the
reserved power of the State 10 regulate the
same within the borders. should be forthwith
exercised to prevent unjust determinations
by common carriers apainst individuals
and localities: and all the provisions of the
Constitution of Pennsylvania. relative TO the
exercise and abuse OF corporate franchises
and the duties ofcommon carrierst tothe public
should be enforced, without DELAY. by appro-
pirate legislation. That all governmental
power should be used In restraint of monopo-
lies and not in aid Of them and simple and
speedy remedies should be provided by lepis-
latiye enactment BY which any citizen injured
in his business, may. in state and Federal
courts. by due process of law have quick. !
certain and ADEQUATE redress for corporate
yyron0s That vested rigbts must bp nrotcct- /