The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-27
THE REPUBLICAN STATE PLATFORM.

whatever form, whereby the right of every
man to cast one vote, and have that vote
counted and returned, is imperiled or
abridged. We especially protest against the
fragrant crime of the Democratic party of In
diana against free suffrage in the passage Of
an infamous gerrymander. We demand that,
man for man, the votes of members of all par
ties shall be given equal force and effect.
Freedom of labor is essential to the con-
tentment and prosperity of the people, Work.
ingmen should be protected against the op
pressions OF corporate combinations and mo-
nopoleS. We are opposed to the importation
of contracted and ill-paid labor from abroad
the unfair competition of convict labor with
free labor; the competition of assisted" emf
grants and the vicious classes of Europe with
American workingmen: the employment d
young children in factories and mines; ani
we recommend to the next General Assembly
the passage of such laws as will guarantee to
workingmen the most favorable conditions for
their labor-especially in the proper ventila-
ton and safeguards for life and health in
mines and factories-and the sure and prompt
payment of wages We favor the reduction
of the legal number of working hours
wherever practicable, and the submission of
all matters of controversy between employe
and employer, under just regulation. to i'm
partial arbitration. The right of all men to
associate for the promotion of their mutual
good and protection without interfering with
the rights of others, cannot be questioned.
We favor the maintenance OF the principle
OF protection, under which the resources of
the State and Nation have been and are be-
ing developed, and whereby the wages Of
workingmen are from ID to 80 per cent. higher
than under the revenue tariff in force before
the Republican party came into power. Fa-
voring the reduction and readjustment of the
tariff from time to time circumstances may
require, upon the basis of affording protection ia
the products and results of American skill and
industry, In our opinion the duties should be re-
duced as low as will be allowed by wise obsery-
ance of the necessity to protect that
portion of our manufacturers and labor
whose prosperity is essential to our national
safety and independence. We at the same time
condemn the declaration of the Democratic party
of Indiana in favor of practical free trade a
menace to the prosperity of the State and TO the
welfare and advancement of workingmen.
The wisdom and honesty of the Republican
party secured sound money TO the people. Gold
and silver should be maintained in friendly re-
lation in the coin circulation of the country, and
all the circulating medium--coiu and paper alike
should be kept of equal and permanent value.
The surplus in the Treasury should be steadily
applied 70 the redemption Of the national debt
We favor a thorough and honest enforcement
OF the civilservice law, and the extension of its
principles to the State administration wherever
it can be made practicable, to the end that the
corruption and fragrant abuses that exist In the
management OF our public institutions may be
done away with and they be liberated from par
tisan control
The Republican party carried into effect the
homestead policy, under which the Western
States and Territories have been made populous
and prosperous. We favor the reservation ce
public lands for small holdings by actual settlers
and are opposed to the acquisition of large tracts
of the public domain by corporations and nom
resident aliens American lands should 10 pre-.
served for American settlers.
The watering of corporate stock should be pre-
vented by law. Railway and other public cor
porations should be subjected to the control OK
the people, through the legislative power that
created them. and their undue influence in leg
islation and in courts should be summarily pre-
vented. We favor the creation of bureau OF
labor and statistics. whereby the interests of
both labor and capital may De protected and the
welfare of the State promoted.
The constitutional provision that all taxation
shall be equal and uniform should be made eff
fective by such revision of the assessment and
taxation laws as will remedy the injustice
whereby certain localities have been made TO
bear more than their due share of the public
burdens.
The strict and impartial enforcement Of Law Ia
the only safeguard of society; and we demand of
State and local authorities the vigorous execu-
ton of legal penalties against all criminals. We
congratulate the people on the unanimous oppo-
sition of all classes to the imported crime of an
archism. which is the enemy of social order and
an attack upon the safety of life and property.
1t is the special foe of honorable workingmen,
and is justly condemned by intelligent and pa
trotic labor everywhere
Lapse of time does not weaken the gratitude
due the soldiers and sailors of the Unicn. We
favor such changes in the pension laws as will
make proof of enlistment conclusive evidence of
the physical soundness of the applicant; that
will equalize allowances, and will simplify the
methods by which just claims can be adjudicated
in the Pension Office We favor the granting of
pension to every honorably discharged Union
soldier and sailor suffering from unavoidable dis
ability. The Legislature should make liberal
appropriation for the erection of soldiers and
sailors monument at the capital of the State.
We favor the granting of pensions TO the sur
vivors of the Mexican who are not laboring
under political disability We favor the sepa-
ration of the Soldiers Orphans Home from the
Home for the Predetermined Children.
We renew the pledge of our devotion to the
free, unsectarian school SYSTEM and favor meas
ures tending to increase its practical value ia
the people. We are opposed to any movement
however lnsidious, whether local or State
whereby a sacred fund may be diverted from It'll
legitimate use, or the administration OF the
schools made less impartial or efficient
| The amendment TO the Constitution OF the
State providing for the equalization of fees and
salaries ought not to remain dead letter, and
| we favor the enactment of just law for the
| compensation of all public officials.
we favor the pending constitutional amend
| ment making the terms Of county officers foul
| wears and striking ont the word white from
Section l. Article y, of the Constitution, so tina
| colored men may become part of the regula
| militia force for the defense of the State
| The attempted domination by the Lquo
League of political parties and IL cslation is
| menace to free institutions which must be me-
and defeated. The traffic in Intoxicating liquors
| has always been under Legislative restraint; and
believing that the evils resulting therefron
should be rieidly repressed, we favor such law,
| "a will permit the people in their several local
/ ties to invoke such measures of restriction az
| thew NAV deem wise. and to compel the traffic
| TO compensate for the burdens it imposes on So
ciety and relieve the oppressfsns OF local taxa
| ton
The party of freedom to all. irrespective ei
the accidents of birth or condition, the Repub
lican party welcomes every advance of the peo
pie to higher standard Of political rights. The
peaceful revolution in Great Britain, whereby
| ireland is sure to receive the benefits of local
self-government after centuries of oppression,
has our sympaty. and should command every
/ proper and legitimate assistance.
Hon. Benjamin Harrison, United States Sena-
| tor for Indiana. has worthily won 'front.' rank
| among the trusted and honored statesmen OF
| the Nation and, by his signal abilities and devo-
ton to the highest public interests. has brought
| credit upon the State and country. His course
| in the Senate of the United States meets with