Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-09-06
OUR PLATFORM.

The Democracy OF Ohio in Convention assembled,
hereby reaffrm the principles OF the party As ex-
pressed ln primaries, State and National platforms,
In regard 10 personal liberty, the true functions OF
government and as embraced IN the political creed
expounded by the great founder OF the Democratic
party, Thomas Jefferson. The application Of these
principles to our present condition, demands the
purhcation of the public service, the punishment Of
the robbers Of the public tire -sur the equalization
OF all public burdens; the arrest of prohgacy and
extrayAgance that corrupt the administration Of
public affairs and total change in the policy that
has so long beea pursued by the Republican party;
fayoring individual and class interests, at the
pense OF thelaboring and dweathproducingp people Of
the country; and we re-announce our previous dec
larations 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 limited to
the necessities OF Government economically admin
tstered, and adjusted in Its application to pre-
vent unequal burdens, encourage productive indus
tries at home, afford just compensation to labor,
but not to create or foster monopolies.
Third-The act of the Republican Congress reduc-
ing the tariff ON wool, while at the time in
creasing 1t on woolen goods, already highly pro
teced, was iniquitous legislation, discriminating in
favor Of monopoly and against the agricultural in
terests OF the country, and ought to be corrected
and we heartily approve the action OF the Demo-
cratic members OF the Ohio delegation In Congress
in voting against that increase.
Fourth-The Democratic party is as 1t always has
been, opposed to sumptuary legislation and unequta
taxation in any form, and is In favor OF the largest
OF private COuuuCI COuSbteut Win tle puDiC
welfare and the rights OF Others aud Of regulating
the liquor trac and providing against the evils re-
sulting therefrom, by a judicious 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 products of honest labor, to the great detri-
ment Of the latter, are injurious and unwise and
ought to be corrected and the promises of the Re-
publican party to abolish this system are shown to
be false and hypocritica by its failure to do so
while 1t has had the power.
Sixth-rhe protection Of the Govern nment is due
to all American citizens, native and foreign born,
abroad as well as at home.
Seventh-We reaffirm the resolutions of the State
Conventions of Ohio in $780, '5l and S2, and OF the
Democratic National Conventions of 1872, '16 and
80, demanding thorough reform and publication
of the Civil service, and charge that the Republican
party has violated every pledge it has heretofore
given for the reform thereof, and has failed during
It's long administration of the Government to correct
even the most crying abuses, and we demand, there
fore change In the Executive administration OF
the Government ITSELF the reform first of all nee
essary (as made still more manifest by the recent
star route trals) hereby ousng corrupt rings con-
federated to protect crime and prevent the punish
ment of criminals and by 20 doing to make 1t pos
sible again to punish fraud and theft in the public
service.