The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-06-10
Democratic Principles.


The Democratic State committee Invites all
voters who endorse the following principles to
nnite in choosing delegates to the State Con-
vention at Lewiston.
l. Elections by the people, free from fraud, fsrce
or bribery.
from party politics.
s. genuine reform in the civil service in order
that free institutions shall be longer threat
ened by the "spoils system
A. non-partisan Judiciary incorruptible and
uninhuenced by PARTY exigencies.
b. Perfect equality under the law to aii-speciai
privileges to none.
6. Gold and silver the constitutional standard of
value, with paper money issued and controlled by
government.
4 No Reputation of public debts, and no read
justpent thereof, with ut the consent of creditors
8. Such immediate reform in the tariff system as
will relieve tie aboring class from unjust burdens
of taxation, imposed for the protection of moropo-
lies enable varied industries to secure foreign
as we'll as home markets. and our commercial ma
rine to its just share of the carrying TRADE
of the world.
s. A Just recognition of tie rights of capital and
labor but especial for the latter, requiring
protection from the aggressions OF wealth and
graspng monopoly.
State to exercise his own Judgment in making nom
nations for public offices, and no right ON the part
opposition to him into the adoption of their
choice, inSte td of his own.
H. The three coordinate branches of our gov
efnnleQI- executive, legislative atu JuuiSitl--uO
usurpation by either, of the powers functions and
duties of the Others
The Democratic State committee must have
INDUCED in hearty laughter whom they agreed
to announce the above as the summary Of
Democratic principles. For tho most part
they are the very opposite OF the principles
which Democrat, members OF Congress and
Democratic leaders are striving to carry out,
and especially he opposite 10 the policy Of the
Democracy wherever they have been 10 power
during the pact few years
l. The very men who signed this call tried
to overturn the vote Of the people of Maine in
1880 by the most bare-faced frand. Nearly ev-
cry Democrat in Congress tried by flihustering
to prevent the seating of Mackey (Rep.) who
was clearly elected BY 5000 majority, and was
cheated out of his certificate By tissue ballots
and deliberate fraud
2. The Republican party may have some men
who assume to be ''bosses." but whenever any
one undertakes to improperly control the party
he finds it difficult job to do. But the
"bosses" of the Democratic party have always
controlled it in such manner as is impossible
in the Republican ranks.
8. The idea of the party which inaugurated
and always supported the ''spoils system,
when in power, shouting for civil service re-
form, is enough TO make horse laugh. 1t Is
doubtful if there are three Democrats in Con-
gress really in favor of elevating public offices
above partisanship. Nearly all the earnest,
sincere, civil service reformoTs, are Republic
cans
4. IA non-partisan judiciary is the last
thing that is wanted by men who are trying to
punish Judge Libbey because he gave an indie
pendent opinion in the contingent opera
tons. 1t is well understood that one of the
purposes of the men who are engineering the
Fusion movement, is to drop Justices Walton,
Libbey, Danforth and Appleton, Whose terms
expire this year and next,) in case of Fusion
success, and to put Fusion partisans in their
piece.
B. "Perfect equality under the law" to all
men is the fundamental idea OF Repubiicanism
and it was the denial of this principle BY the
Democracy which precipitated the rebellion
upon us.
6. "Gold and silver the constitutional stand
ard of value, sounds well, but hardly accords
with the Greenback principle Of paper legal
tender, which every Greenback candidate sus-
tains.
7. mo Reputation of public debts" comes
rather late for party which has repudiated
public debts in eleven States
s. "Reform in the tariff system sounds
we'll, but the country would like to know
whether it is to be reform on the protective
or the "tariff-for-reyenue only" principle
8. "A just recognition OF the right OF capI-
tai and labor would have sounded better ii
the Democratic party had not for years OPP
posed a tariff for the protection OF home indus
try and labor.
10 No one ever questioned the right of the
Governor to nominate as he sees fit; but the
right of the council to reject a nomin alton for
public cause, is as clear as the right of the for
mer to nominate. In the case of Judge Libbey,
the council would fail in their duty TO the
people and to the GAUGE of good government, if
they did not refuse to allow Gov. Plaisted to
carry out the fusion plan to punish Judge Lib
hey for his honorable and independent course.
IL. This is intended to be a reflection on
the Supreme Court for the opinions which it
gave in the counting out in 1879 and 1880
opinions which were given in accordance with
questionably saved the State from serious
troubles.