The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1884-07-16
nEMOCRATiC PLATFORM
.son,cd By the Chicago Conven.
ton.

=. Morrison of Illinois, chairman
:. committee on resolutions, at
-. stepped to the platform to
,.sent the report of that committee.
AS appearance was greeted with
| beers. The platform was read nY
ns Of the reading clerks.
The democratic party of the union,
,Aroueh its representatives in nation
! .onrention assembled, recognize
hat as the nation grows older, new
:,..ss are born OF time and progress
..d aid issues perish, hut the funda-
mental principles of the democracy,
,,nroyed by the united voice OF the
nsonle. remain and will ever remain
&c the best and only security for the
continuance of free government. The
observation of personal rights, the
.onality of all persons before the
law. the reserved rights OF states and
he supremacy of the federal govern
,nent within the limits of the con-
rention will eyer form the true basis
of our liberties and can never be
surrendered without DESTROYING that
balance of the rights and powers
which enables a continent to be de-
vIoped in peace, and order to be
maintained by means of local self
soyernment. but it is Indispensable
for the practical application and en-
smcement of these fundamental prln-
ciples that the government should
not always be controlled by one po-
litical party. Frequent change OF
administration is as necessary as
constant recurrence to the popular
will. otherwise abuses grow, and the
government, instead OF being car
ried on Tor the general welfare, be-
comes an lnstrumentality for impos-
ING heavy burdens on the many who
are governed for the benefit of the
few who govern. Public servants
thus become arbitrary rulers. This
is now the condition of the country,
hence change is demanded. The
republican party, so lar as principle
IS concerned, Is a rerniniscence; in
practice II is an organization tor en-
rlching those who control Its machin-
cry. The frauds and iobbing which
have been brought to light in every
department of the government are
sufficient TO have called for reform
within the republican party, yet
those IN authority. made reckless by
the
LONG POSSESSION OF POWER,
have succumbed to its corruptlng IN
fiuence. and have placed in nomi-
nation ticket against which the in
dependent portion of the party are
IN open revolt. Therefore a change
is demanded. Such a change was
alike necessary in 1876, but the will
OF the people was defied by fraud
which can never be forgotten nor
condoned. Again in 1880 the
change demanded bv the people was
defeated by the lavish use of money
contributed by unscrupulcus charac-
tors and iobbers, who had bargained
TOR unlawful profits or for high Off
les. The republican party during
IS legal, its stolen and its bought
enures of power, has steadily de
,Ayed in moral character and polit'-
al capacity. Its platform promises
Ire now list of its past failures; It
lemands the restoration OF our navy.
has squandered hundreds of mil
IONS TO create navy that does not
xlst. 1t calls on congress to remove
he burdens under which the Aneri
an shipping has been depressed. 1t
imposed and has continued these
urdens. 1t processes the policy of
eserving the public lands for small
oldinss by actual settlers. 1t has
wen away the peoples heritage till
ow few railroads and non-resI-
ents, aliens, individual and co-po-
aee, possess larger area than that
! all our farms between the two
cas-. If DrOfeSSeS a ,,raforonca for free