San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-08-03
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Adopted at Galveston Jniy 10, 1882.


The democracy oil ToSas, in convention
assembled, reannornce the primal ee-
ments of democratic saith @ constituting tho
unchangng faith Of the democrats OF Tex.
as, and relies upon the Intelligence and in.
tervity of the people Cor their success.
/. That all men are politically equal, and
that the objects Of government aro subvert-
ed when legislation recognizes distinctions
between persons. OF iavors one class Of bus
mess pursuits at the expense of another,
and by any means impoyerishes the many to-
enrich the few.
.. We oppose oentralization and that
dangerous and growing spirit of oncroach-
mept which tends to consolidate the powers
of all tie departments of government into
one, and thus creates a real despotism, what
ever be the form Of Of government
B. That we are opposed to the present
system of national banks OF issue that we
favor the free and honest coinage of gold
and silver, and are i'll favor of paper cur
rency consisting of treasury notes OF the gov
ernment, gold and silver certificates, based
on bullion deposited, sufficient in volume
with gold and silver to answer MI of the bus
mess and commercial purposes of the peo-
pie and strict maintenance of the public
faith, state aud national.
4. We are opposed to aprotective tariff,
believing il to be unjust and detrimental to
the best interest of our people, and are in fa-
yor of a tariff for revenue only.
S. We favor the subordmation of the mil
itary TO the civil powers of the government
and a genuine and thorough reform of the
civil service.
6. We declare that the right TO full and
.~lNl ts,,a .>f oil
rights, and should be sacrcdly' maintained
in every part of the United States
Z. We favor free ships andn living chance.
for American commerce on the seas and ON
land. No discrimination in favor of trans
portetion lines or monopolies
s. The democratic party proposes to pro-
tect labor and the laboring men of our coun-
try, and pledges itself to protect them alike
against Che cormorants and the commune.
0. We declare that liberal provision
should be made to endOw with the public
lands set apart for the payment Of the pub
lie debtor the proceeds of the sales of
the same-the state university and its branch
es. but in no case should any portion of the
common school lands or fund be used for
this purpose We further declare that the
debts due the university and common school
funds of Texas, demoinated as of doubtful
validity, should be recognized and paid, with;
the interest due thereon.
10, We favor the fullest education Of tho
masses, white and colored, in separate COM
mon schools, and the advanced education
of the youth of our country in our higher
schools and state university. We fayor the
maintenance of normal schools for the in
struction of teachers.
| H.. We favor the submission to thepeo-
pie, of a constitutional amendment author.
| izing the levy and collection of o spe-
special school tax, separate from the general
revenues, to the end that an efficient system
of public free schools may be maintained,
and that the state taxes may be reduced to-
the actual necessities of the state govern
ment.
| II We favor the protection Of the public
school lands of the state from waste and sac,
rifice and pledge ourselves TO secure returns
from said lands commensurate with the real
value of the same.
| 13. We declare that the railroads and 9TH
er corporations are subordinate and subject
to the control of political power of the tastes
and of the general government in their re-
spectiye spheres of constitutional authority
by such conservative legislation as will pro-
tect the rights of the people, and enforce
the provisions, of our constitution without
injury to the just interests of those corpora
tions.
IA. We deprecate and protest against the
continuous increase of the jurisdiction of the
federal courts as srbversive of the rights of
the people, civil liberty and local self-gov-
ernment as contemplated by the founders of
our government.
Is. As heretofore, wedemand the strictest
economy in the administration of every de-.
partment of the government consistent with
the efficient and fnll execution of the laws.
16. Recognizing these as the great prin-
ciples of the democratic pGrty-principles
upon which our civil liberty and free institu-,
tons are based-we appeal to all lovers Of
the Union. the constitution aud the govern.
ment. by the people in the state of Texaa,
to assist in the maintenance and success OF
the same. as essential to the individual right
of the citizen aud general welfare of the
! aounf-.-