The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-08-21
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

First-The Democracy of Ohio, in Conven.
tion assembled, hereby reafirm the principles
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
cxpounded by the great founder of the Demo-
cratic party, Thomas Jefferson. The appliua.
tion of these principles to our present condi.
tion 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 proaigscy 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 reannounce
our previous declarations for stable money. the
gradual extinction Of the public debt. and the
payment of pensions to disabled soldiers, their
widows and orphans.
Second-We favor tariff for revenue. limit.
ed to the necessities Of the Government econom.
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.
reducing the tariff on wool, while at the same
time increasing it on woolen goods, already
highly protected. was iniquitous legislation,
discriminating in favor Of monopoly and
against the agricultural interests of the coun.
try, and ough. to be corrected. and we heartily
approve the action of tie Democratic members
of the Ohio delegation in Congress in voting
against that measure.
Fourth-The Democratic party Is, as it al.
ways has been opposed to sumptuary legisla.
ton and unequal taxation in any form. and is
in favor of the largest liberty of private con.
duct consistent with the public welfare and the
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 eonviots are brought
in competition with the products of honest la.
Dor. to the great detriment of the latter.are in.
furious and ifnwise. and ought to be cor, ected.
and the promises of the Republican party to
abolish this system are shown to be falaa and
hypocritical by its failure to do so while it has
had the power.
SiAth-The protection Of the Government Is
due to all American citizens.native and foreign
born, abroad as well as at home.
Seventh-We reafirm the resolutions of the
State Conventions of Ohio in 1880, 1891. and
1881, and of the Democratic National Couven.
tions of 1872. 1876 and 1886, demanding a thor.
ough reform and publication CT 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. confederated to pro-
tect crime and prevent The punishment Of Grim.
inals, and by so doing to make it possible again
to punish fratd and theft in the public service