Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-09-22

tion within constitutional limits and the integrity
of the state Undesirable union of inde struc-
tible states, the constitution and all its amend
ments strictly construed and loyally obeyed form
the basis and safeguard alike, and equally Of
the just authority of the federal government and
the legitimate exercise of local government in
the several states of the union by which we form
sovereign nation of inyiolate and inviolable
states.
Second-Equal rights, equal powers, equal bur
oons. equal privileges and equal protection by
law nnder the government for every citizen in the
republic, without limitation of race sex or prop
erty qualification whether it be by tax on proper
ty or poll tax on persons.
Third-The impartial freedom of the BALLOT
north south, east and west and the abolition of
all laws, whether on the statute books of Massa-
chusetts or Mississippi aimed at UNEQUAL imita-
tion of suffrage, and the partial Withholding of
the sacred and fundamental right of representa-
ton.
Fourth-Honest and economical expenditure
of the public money, and in such ways and for
such purposes only as are manifeStly essential to
the public welfare, demanded by public necessity
and clearly sanctioned by the constitutional ao-
thority.
FItth-A thorough reform of the civil service.
The use of federal patronage to reward personal
friends or party favorites and punish personal
or political enemies, in payment for rendering
partisan or personal services in punishment for
is one of the most debauching influences of
the period. 1t robs the people of that
efficient and honest service which is their due.
because the pay for it, corrupts parties and
craftsmanship alike in all their spheres of action
from the ward room of the caucus to the chamber
of the senate and council room of the cabinet 1t
is standing menace to personal independence
of one hundred thousand citizens in federal EN-
ploy, and unless it is speedy stopped will under
mine our institutions, and sap the very tounda-
tons of popular government.
Sixth-Fitness not favor should be the pass
port to public service. There should be no re-
movals of government employees before the ex-
piration of their terms of service except for cause
and no assessments on salaries paid then, by the
whole people should be levied for the perpetua-
ton OF the party In power. We therefore de-
mand system of civil servics consistent and har-
monious with the nature of the American govern
ment established by law and protected by law.
that, like the government itself, it may be the
agent oflaw and not of men, to the end that it
may be kept free from all corrupting dependence
upon political favor and patronage. We favor
the principles of the Pendleton bill in regard to
appointments in civil service and the Willis bill
in regard to the assessment of federal office hold
erS.
Seventh-A thorough and immediate reform
of the tariff. The constitution of tn, United
States sanctions taxation whether by excise i'm
port or customs to an amount necessary to the ex-
pendltureS of the government, whether in war or
peace; to which all its revenues must be limited
The national expenditures are now so great that
all proper protection cannot be given American
labor within those limits. Therefore, We call up
on congress to reform the present war taxes that
hundreds OF millions may not be, as now be need
lessy extracted from the earnings of our people to
lie IN the treasury temptation
to wicked and reckless appropriations
for extrayagant public buildings, and useless and
wastetul river and harbor bills That no taxes
shall be levied upon the necessities of life or upon
raw material, which Is not und or produced in
our country. That the tariff shall be so udicious-
ly adjusted that American commerce shall be
foStered, and above all that American labor shall
be.elevated and amply rewarded. That we affirm
that all those results can be fully
realized by tariff limited IN amount
to the sum necessary and adequate for
revenue.
Eighth-The reduction of extravagant state
expenditures with direct taxation necessary to
sustain them. Further that all taxation shall be
So levied that a large proportion of the property
OF the commonwealth shall not escape taxation
for the benefit of few and wrong of the many
and that all taxation shall be an equal burden
upon all men.
Ninth-No sumptuary laws infringing the
sacred rights of perSoeal liberty no double or un-
equal taxation; partial enforcement OF laws; no
class legislation; these are the axioms of demo-
cracy, dominant alway in its faith and practice
In this day of giant monOpolies, powerful cor
porations and concentrated wealth seeking to ap-
propriate every function of the government
to their own exclusive benefit. The democrats of
Massachusetts proclaim their principles anew in
behalf of labor and all its interests, in behalf of
laborers and all their rights to the end that this
government may be and may continue to be the
peoples government, as the fathers of the repub-
lie designed and intended.