The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-09-26
Democratic Platform.
The Democratic State Convention, on the
III inst declarad as fnllnws.


The Democratic State Convention, on the
10th inst, declared as follows:
The Democratic party of Maryland, in State Con-
ventiOn assembled, resolves as follows:
1t records the lasting gratitude of the people Of
this state to the National Democratic Committee, TO
all the Democratic committees of the several states
and to the hosts of good men who, under the lead
ership of these committees, achieved glorious
Democratic victory in the hard-ought Presidential
campaign of 1884.
The good people of the United States when COM
pairing the two candidates for the Presidential Office
would if left to themselves have quickly recognized
the infexible integrity and sterling worth of Grover
Cleveland, and have elected him by an oyerwhelm-
ing majority of electoral votes.
They were resisted and divided by an opposition
managed in every state by the efforts and money of
subordinate Republican Ofiiceholders
The larger part of these men obtained theirplaces
before the passage of the civiservice act of 1888
rewards for partisan services to particular Republic
year. owed their places their selection for poiti
cal reasons by Republican superior officers from
lists of candidates supplied by Republican examin
ers examining boards and special examining boards.
They would not have been appointed TO or Kept in
office under any or ~ 1
lowed to remain parts of a Democratic administra-
ton. A ciyil-service system which permitted such
appointments, or which can be SO managed as TO
secure the retention of such incumbents, requires
speedy and radical reform.
The existence of great army of subordinate fed
eral offce-holders each holding his place by per-
manent tenure, is not to be desired. When changes
of administration occur these fixed shpendiaries OBJ
with whom they do not sym pathiZe in opinion, and
prove gre at obstacles to administrative reforms
position to the letter and spirit of our federal const
luton and to the settled convictions of people
loving Democratic institution.
The fitness of men to serve their country as subor
dinate public officers ought to be tested in such
manner and ualer such regulations as Congress
NAV deem best adapted to ascertain it, Their tenure
Of Office ought to depend upon their actual or con-
tinued fitness to perform official duties. During
such time as they may remain public otilcers they
ought to be left free to perform the political duties
of a citizen in such manner their individual con-
victions may dictate. provided IN so doing they do
not neglect their official labor, violate the pro-
prieties of public official life They ought not to
be assessed for any political purposes but should be
left wholly free to use their means in such proper
manner as they may prefer. These fundamental
principles are the true basis of any just theory of
civil-service reform. They have, in effect, been
totally disregarded by the Republican party and
those whom it placed in power.
We commend the elevated purposes, purity of
character, unselfsh devotion to duty, courage and
patriotism of President Cleveland. He will never
forget that the rights and interests of more than
fty millions of his felow-ctizens were involved in
the effortmad in November last to gain Democratic
supremacy, and he will never cease to remember
that Democratic doctrines, rightly and fairly adj
and prosperity of the people of the United States
We reafirm the resolutions of the National Demo-
cratic Convention. adopted st Chicago in july 1884,
and we also reatfirm the resolutions of the State
Democratic Convention, adopted on September 10,
1888
We remind the laboring men of the state that the
Democratic party recorded in the resolutions of its
State Convention in 1885, purpose to afford all the
protection which statutes could supply to the health
personal safety and welfare of men, women and
children engaged in labor in this state.
1t also declared that laboring men had an equal
right with the owners of capital to make peaceable
combinations for their own protection, and that
such right ought to be recognized by statute.
Our representatives in the General Assembly have
given full effect by proper laws to these declara
tions and our party stands ready as occasion may
require to devote its energies to the promotion of
the interests of the working men of this state.
This convention declares its approval of the adj
mnistration of Gov. McLane during the period in
which he remained in Office, and approves and
commends the administration of Gov. Lloyd.
The Democratic party of this state invites the
hearty cooperation of all good citizens in the state
and local campaigns into which it is about to enter
1t points the record of its administration of state
county and municipal affairs during the past twenty
years as its warrant for invoking their support.
Confding in that record and sustained by the moral
power of the national party now in power, of which
1t is a constituent and necessary portion it Will
achieve victory the open and covert enemies of
the National Democratic Administration.
Resolved By this CORUeti0n, representing and speaking
for the Democratic Party Of Maryland, That the devo
ton to the interests of that party, shown by his
Jealous energetic and intelligent conduct chief
executive of the Democratic national organization
in the late Presidential contest entities honored
Senator the Hon. A. p German, to the hearty thanks
of his political friends ard this convention hereby
gives expression to the same.