The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-22
THE REPUBLICAN STATE PLATFORM.

The security of government rests upon an
equal, intelligent and honest ballot, and we
renew our declaration against crimes of fraud
and violence wherever practiced and .under
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
hagrant 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 OPP
pressions of corporate combinations and mo-
nopolies. We are opposed to the importation
of contracted and il-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 of
young children In factories and mines; and
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
ali matters of controversy between employe
and employer, under just regulation, to inn
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 Is to 30 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 as circumstances may
require, upon the basis of affording protection to
the products and results of American skill and
industry, in our opinion the duties should be
duced as low as will be allowed by wise ohsery-
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 as 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-
latlon In the coin circulation of the country and
all the circulating medium-coih and paper alike
should be kept OF equal and permanent value.
The surplus in the Treasury should be steadily
applied to the redemption Of the national debt.
We favor thorough and honest enforcement
of the civil 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 of
public lands for small holdings by actual settlers
and are opposed to the acquisition of large tracts
of the public domain by corporations and
resident aliens. American lands should be pre-
served Cor American settlers.
The watering of corporate stock should be pre-
vented by law. Railway and other public cor
porations should be subjectedeto the control of
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 be protected and the
welfare of the State promoted
The constitutional provision that all taxation
shall be equal and uniform should be made ef
fective by such revision of the assessment and
whereby certain localities have been made to
bear more than their due share of the public
burdens.
The strict and impartial enforcement of law is
State and local authorities the vigorous execu-
ton of legal penalties against al criminals We
congratulate the people on the unanimous oppo
sition of all classes to the imported crime of
archism. which is the enemy of social order and
attack upon the safety of life and property.
1t is the special foe of honorable workingmen,
and is Justly condemned by intelligent aud pa
triotic labor everywhere.
Lapse of time does not weaken the gratitude
due the soldiers and sailors of the Union. We
ga hnhnv IN %hA 1Axr
make proof of enlistment conclusive evidence OF
the physical soundness of the applicant; that
will equaize 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 war who are not laboring
under political disability. We favor the sepa-
ration of the Soldiers Orphans Home from the
Home for the Feeble minded Children.
We renew the pledge Of our devotion to the
free, unsectarian school system, and favor meas.
ures tending to increase its practical valIe to
the people. We are opposed to any movement,
however insidious, whether local or State,
whereby sacred fund may be diverted from its
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 four
years, and striking out the word "white" from
Section /, Article IL. of the Constitution, so that
colored men may become part of the regular
militia force for the defense of the State
The attempted domination by the Liquor
League of political parties and legislation is a
menace to free institutions which must be met
and defeated. The traffic in intoxicating liquors
has always been under legislative restraint; and;
believing that the evils resulting therefrom
should be rigidly repressed We favor such laws
AS will permit the people in their several ocali-
ties to invoke such measures of restriction az
they may deem wise, and to compel the traffic
to compensate for the burdens it imposes on So
ciety and relieve the expressions OF local taxa
ton.