The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-06-26
A GRAND PLATFORM
Adopted by the Democracy of Ohio
at Columbus, June 81, 1883.

The Democracy of Ohio, in Conve :
tion assembled, hereby reaffirm the prin-
ciples of the party as expressed in pre-
vious State and National Platforms in
regard to personal liberty, the true
functions of government, and as en-
braced in the political creed expouudsd
by the great founder of the Democratic
party, Thomas Jefferson. The applica
tion of these principles 10 our present
conGi ion demands the purifca'ion of
the public service, the punishmel of the
robbers Of the public Treasury, rhs equa-
lization of all public burdens, the arrest
OF profiga,y and ex ravagance that cor
rupts the administration of public affairs
and total change in the policy that has
SO long been pursued by the Republican
party, favoring individual and class in.
terests at the expense of the laboring
and wealth producing people of the
country, and We reanuounce our previous
declarations for stable money, the grad
ual ex inction of the public deb. and the
payment of pensions to disabled soldiers,
their widows and orphans.
Second, we favor a tariff for revenue
limi'ed to the necessities of govern
-ment, economically administered, and
so adjus cd in its application as TO pre-
vent unequal burdens, encourage pro-
ductive industries a. home aud afford Just
compensation 10 labor, but not to create or
foster r1onopolies.
Third, the act of the Republican Con-
,gress reducing, the tariff On wool while at
,the same time increasing it on woolen
goods, already highly protected, was ini-
quitous legislation discriminating in fa-
vor of monopoly and agains: the agri-
cultural interests of the country, and
ought 10 be corrected and we hear lily ap-
prove the action of the Democratic MON.
bers of the Ohio delegation in Congress
10, voting against that measure.
Fourth, The Democratic party is. as
railways has been, opposed to sump.uary
legislation and unequal taxation in any
form, and is in favor of the larges, liberty
of private conduct consistent with the
public welfare and rights Of others, and Of
regulating the liquor traffic and providing
against the evils resulting therefrom by a
judicious and properly graded license
system.
Fifth, The abuses of the present con-
tract system in our State peni'en iary, by
which the products Of the labor of con.
vie's are broughiin competition with the
products of honest labor. to the great
detriment of the latter, are injurious and
unwi.e and ought to be correc ed, aud the
promises of The Republican party to
abolish this system are shown to be false
and by pocritical by its failure to do so
while it has had the power.
Sixth, The protection Of the govern
menl is due 20 American ci izens, ma
tive and foreign born, abroad as we'll as
at'home.
Seventh, We reaff1rm the rssolu ions
Of the State convention of Ohio in 1880,
1881, and 1882, and of the Democratic
national conventions of 1872, 1876, and
1889, demanding a thorough reform and
publication Of the civil service, and
charge that the Republican par y has vic
la ed every pledge has here ofore Civ
ed for the reform hereof. and has failed
during is long admins ra ion of he gov.
ernmen TO correc even he mos crying
abuses, and we demand, therefore, q
change in he execu i've admins ra ion Of
the government self as he reform frs Of
all necessary Gas made sill more manifes,
by he recent s ar rou trials), hereby
ous'ing corrup' rings confedera ed tc
pro'ecs crime and prevent he punishmea
of criminals, and by SO doing make i
possible again 70 punish fraud aud ,bef
inY'he public service.