The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-08-14
THE DENoCRATIO PLATFORM.

First-The Democracy of Ohio, in Conven
tion assembled, hereby reaffirm the principle;
of the party as expressed in the previous STATE
and National platforms in regard to personal
liberty and the true functions of the Govern.
ment. and as embraced in the political creed
expounded by the great founder of the Demo
cratic party, Thomas Jefferson. The applica
tion of these principles to our present condi.
ton demands the publication of the public ser
vice; the punishment of the. robbers of the pub.
lie treasury; the equalization of all public bur.
dens; the arrest of the proAigacy and extrava.
gance that corrupt the administration of pub
lie affairs, and total change in the policy that
has SO lorg been pursued by the Republican
party, favoring individual and class interest at
the expense of the laboring and wealth produc.
ing people of the country, and we reannounoe
ourspreyious declarations for stable money, the
gradual extinction Of the public debt, and the
payment of pensions to disabled soldiers, their
widows aAd orphans. sg.t.ss,e5;
Second-We favor a tariff for revenue, limit
ed to the necessities of the Government eoonom.
ically administered, and SO adjusted in its ap-
plication as to prevent unequal burdens, en-.
courage productive industries at home. and af-
ford just compensation to labor. but not to ore
ate or foster monopoiies.
Third-The act Of the Republican Congress
reducing the tariff on wool, while at the same
time, increasing it en- wooden goods already
highly protected. was iniquitous Legislation,
discriminating ia favor Of monopoly and
against the agricultural interests of the coan>
try, and ought to be corrected. and we heartily
approve the action of the Democratic members
of the Ohio delegation in Congress in voting
against that measure.
Tha noxoon.ok;o r,,k,, e - II
ways has been opposed to sumptuary legisla-
in favor of the largest liberty of private con.
rights of others, and of regulating the liquor
traffic and providing against the evils resulting
the-efrom by a iudicious and properly graded
license system.
-Fifth-The abuses of the present contract
system in our State Penitentiary. by which the
products of the labor of convicts are brought
in competition with the products of honest la
Dor. to the great detriuent of the latter,are in.
jurious and unwise, and ought to be corrected.
and the promises of the Republican party to
abolish this system are shown to be false and
hypocritical by its failure to do so while it has
had the power. = - -
,Sixth-The protection Of the Government is
due to all American citizens,nat and foreign
born, abroad as we'll as at home.
Seventh-We reafRrm the resolutions of the
State Conventions of Ohio in 1880, 1881. and
1889, and of the Democratic National Conven-
tions of 1872. 1875 ani 1880, demanding thor
ough reform and puri6cation cf the civil SER
vice, and charge that the Republican party has
violated every pledge it has heretofore given
for the reform thereof. and has failed during
its long administration of the Government 70
correct even the most crying abuses; and we
demand. therefore. change in the executive
administration of the Government itself. as the
reform first of all necessary las made still more
manifest by the recent star route trials). there.
by ousting corrupt rings. confaderated to pro-
tedt crime and prevent the punishment of GRIM
inals, and by so doing to make it possible again
to punish frand and theft in the public service.