Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-08-16
PLATFORM

ADOPTED BY TIE DEMOCRATIC STATE
CONVENTION OF PENNSYLVANIA AT
HARRISBURG, AUGUST 1sT, 1888.
The Democracy of tennSylvania, true TO the
fundamental faith } their party, reasSert their
belief in strict construction and rigid enforce
ment of the federal constitution /; they uphold
the sanctity of personal liberty and the rights
of local selt-government they believe in that
genuine and deep reaching civil service reform
which consists in the election TO office of honest,
intelligent, capabla and courageous public SER
wants, who will faithfully administer their trust
and who will be held to strict accountability for
such discharge of it, and who will re lcem and
purge the departments of the general Govern
ment from that corruption and fraul with
which they have been permeated under the Re-
publican rule, and which that party has shown
itself unable and unwilling to eradicate they
believe in such taxation of the people as is re-
qIisite for the necessities of the Government e.
economically administered, and that import du-
ties should be so adjusted in their application as
to prevent unequal burdens, en- courage produc-
tive industI les at home and a ord just compen-
sation to labor, but not to create or forster
monopcs they denounce the proposition of
the hepublican party til ut the people shoI!d be
taxed to raise surplus fund for the federal gov
ernment to dstribate amCug the States the
people should only be taxed so much as is alb
solurcly Indispensable for the frugal conduct
of their affairs-nOt one cent for surplus and no
unnecessary taXat ION. The existing surplus in
the treasury shoul be faithfully applied to the
PAYNE mt of the public debt. The money not
needed for The expenoeS of the Government
should remain in the pockets of the people. To
this end we favor the entire abolition OF the
present system OF internal taxation rs Il meas
ure of relief emanded by the people from an
unnecessary and unequal burden they de-
manded that the Government should redeem
all its express and implied obligations as to the
coinage THAT it shall maintain and defend the
dignity of American labor and the rights of A
merican citizens at home and abroad they in
sist on reserving the public lands for actual set
tIerS-not another acre for corporation and
they further declare that,
l. The administration OF Governor Patti
son has vindicated the pledges OF reform uDon
which he was elected and his upright, intelli-
gent and courageous exercise OF the executive
power deserves the unqualified appreciation OF
bis party and OF the people OF the common
wealth.
2. rhe economies enforced by the Democrat
ic House Of Representatives and in the depart
ment of State Government which have passed
| under Democratic control, and the abolition OF
useless officers that were n burden to the people
give assurance that the extension of the con-
tract to other departments Of the State Govern
ment will be accompanied by real reforms OF
the extravaganza and irregularities which have
prevailed under the Republican Administration.
5. Public moneys are for public uses and all
appropriations should be the subjects of rigid
scrutiny, TO the end that these uses may be
served without personal or local favoritism,
waste or speculation.
4. The long continued abuses and spOilation
of the State Treasury, and the defiance Of the
law by its management make essential radi-
cal reform, so that large funds shall not be ac-
cumuated by taxation OF the people. to be dis
tributed among the favored repositories OF
State officials but that all surplus i'll excess of
the immediate necessities OF the State Govern
ment shall be invested in interests bearing
State or federal securities until it may he ap.
pied to the extinguishment of the State debt.
THE GOVERNOR ENDORSED.
5. The demand of the Democratic Senators
and Representatives for an honest, Just and
true dppOrtionInentiS is in accord With the rights
and interests of every section, and of all the
people of the State. The shameless determine
ton of the Republicans of the Legislature to
maintain the present dishonest. unjust and un-
true apportionment of the State, by their refus-
al to accede to any fair proposition, is denial
to the people of their right to fair and equal rep
resentation, which Is the foundation of free
government We commend the Governor for
cOnvening the extra session to enforce Obedi-
ence to the law. We counsel the Democratic
members of the Legislature to continue to in
sist upon that obedience. The cost in money is
not to be weighed against the cost of a broken
constitution violated dut and the denial of the
rights of people.