The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-10-07

lhl lnti lf'luCllpll Ill lIlt ldlt . W lIlltItNl
on the national debt subjects the govern
ment to n needless expense of half a
million dollars annually.
TuiRp-In view of the exposure OF
extensive frauds in the postal and treas
nry departments under the last federal
administration, the people demand
prompt and unfaltering prosecution of
the thieves their successful operations
provo that there will be no real reform
in the management of the departments
of the federal government without
sweeping change therein. Sincere civil
service reform will begin with a return
to the Jeftcrsonian tests for Office holders
of honesty, capability and faithtulncss
to the constitution.
FoURrn-That in the administration
of the government of Pennsylvania the
republican party has encouraged, prac
ticed and shielded spoliation of the state
treasury and misuse of the public funds,
bribery of legislators, undue favor
to corporations aud monopolies, an IN
necessarily high rate of interest on the
state loans. a shameless prostitution of
the pardouing power, system OF whole
sale waste and peculation in the ordinary
expenditures of the government, and an
harrassing and plundering exercise OF
municipal franchises and abuse of local
trusts.
FIFrH--That the arrogant, corrupt
and personal domination controlling the
republican party in this state, and sup
pressing honesty and independence IN
that organization, dictated the policy,
the platform and the candidate OF its
last state convention. In view OF these
facts we hereby reatiirm the following
resolution of the democratic state con
vention of 1879: "That the recent at
tempt under the personal direction OF
ruling republican leaders to dcbauch the
legislature by wholesale bribery and cor
ruption, and take from the common
wealth four millions of dollars, for which
its liability had never been ascertained,
is fresh and alarming evidence of the
aggressiveness of corporate power in
collision with political rings, and should
receive the signal condemnation OF the
people AT the polls.
SlXTIl--That the democratic party OF
Pennsylvania, rcgardful of the states
honor and It's interests, pledges itself TO
the Just application of the public moneys
to the public service to economy in
governmental expenditures, that the peo-
pie may be lightly burdened and the
purity of the administration preserved
to the abolition of ail useless offices and
the looping off of all supernumerary off
cials to the lowest practicable rate OF
interest on state loans, without rcgart
for the advantage Of syndicates or spec
ulators to slccplcss vigilance agains
the growth and eXactions of moEobolcS
to watchful guard of the public Interests
against the pretcnsions of the great trans
portatiou companies TO he above the fun
damental law governing all else within TIN
borders of the state to a vigorous col
lection of all the taxes lawfully laid upol
corporations chartered or doing busi
ness in Pennsylvania and to investiga
ton into, correction of and punishment
: for the frauds and wastes which hav
for years permeated various department
of the state government under republ
can control.
SnvENrII-That no monopoles or eN
elusive right in the forces of nature, i
grants of eminent domain, in the diff
sion of information among the people b
telegraph and associations for furnishin
dispatches TO the press, or grant OF pri,
leges affecting the daily business of tn
citizen can or ought rightfully to exi'
d under our form of government. Tncs
! are at all times to be subject to such les
isatve regulation and control as tn
rights and interests of the people d
mand.
EIGnrII-That the delegated pow,
of congress to regulate commerce anon
r the states and the reserved power of ii
states to regulate the same within the
t borders should be forthwith exercised {
S prevent unjust discrimination by cor
- mon carriers against individuals and |
I calities, and all provisions of the const
G tuition of Pennsylvania relative to Il
] exercise and abuse of corporate franchi
= and duties of common carriers to Il
public should be enforced without deli
$ by appropriate Legislation.
NINrI-That all governmental po,
l er should be used in restraint of mon
i poles and not in aid of them and si,np
5 and speedy remedies should be provid,
: by Legislative enactment by which al
citizen injured in his business may,
IS the state and federal courts, by one pr
/ cess of law, have quick, certain and a
IL equate redress for corporate wrongs.
l. TENTm-That vested rights must
u protected and respected, and great C,
IL porations warning between themselves
Is the injury of the public interest a
70 their own shareholders must be regulat
$ and controlled by wise and effecti
'e laws,
J. ELEvENTn.--That franchises proper
:, of the people shall be granted and ex
a cised solely for the public benefit, n
+ subject TO immediate and absolute 4
feiture by due process of law when us
< for oppression or extortion, or WI
" otherwise abused, No corporation c
F. be above the people or the law.
thus reailirm the ancient doctrines of {
= democratic party, and most cordially
G vite our fellow citizens of whatever pa
IN to join with US in carrying out tho pl
n ciples and policy we hereby announ
It. and to the advocacy of which we pleG
no ourselves until the right shall prevail.
TwELrTn-That all good citizens
ct gardless of party affiliations SINGER
III mourn the death of President Carrie
II and that we, as representatives of m
TO than four hundred thousand democr,
IN voters, express their individual and
ry lectiye grief at the calamity which
bofallen the republic their sorrow /