Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-08-30
OUR PLATFORM.

The Democracy Of Ohio in Convention assembled
hereby reanirm the principles OF the party, as ex.
pressed 10 primaries, state and National platforms,
IN regard 70 personal liberty, the true functions OF
government and as embraced In the political creed
expounded by the great founder of the Democrats
party, Thomas Jefferson. The application OF these
principles TO our present condition, demands the
purhc.tion Of the public service the punishment of
the robbers Of the public Treasury the equalization
OF all public burdens, the arrest OF profigacy aud
extrayAgance that corrupt the administration Of
public affAirs and total change 10 the policy that
has so long beea pursued by the Republican party;
fAyoring individual and class interests at the ex-
Pense OF thelAborng and dweathproducingp people Of
ne country; and we re-Announce previous dec
arations 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
istered and adjusted in its application TO pre-
vent unequal burdens, encourage productive indus
t1es at home, afford just compensation to labor,
but not to create or foster m0nopolies.
Thtrd-The act Of the Republican Congress reduc-
ing the tariff on wool, while at the same time in
ereasing It ON woolen goods, already highly pro-
tected was iniqutous 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 aciiOn 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 aud unequta
taxation in any form, and is In favor OF the largest
liberty of private conduct consistent with the public
welfare and the rights Of Others and Of regulating
the liquor traffic and providing against the evils re-
sultng therefrom, by 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 composition
with products of honest labor, TO the great detrt-
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 aud hypocritical, by its failure to do so
whilo It has had the power.
Sixth-The protection of the Govern nent is due
to all American citizens, native and foreign born,
abroad well as at home.
Seventh-We reaffirm the resolutions of the State
Conventions Of Ohio in $780, s1 and 'S2, and Of the
Democratic National Conventions of 1872, 'T6 and
80, demanding a thorough reform and purihcation
OF the Civil SERVICE and charge that the Republican
party has violated every pledge 1t has heretofore
given for the reform thereof, and has failed during
its 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 hec-
essary (as made still more manifest by the recent
star route trias) hereby ousting corrupt rings con-
federated to protect crime and prevent the punish
ment of criminals and by so doing to make 1t pos
sible again to punish fraud and theft in the public
service.