Sharp County record., 1888-06-14
The Platform. .

glance 10 the DemOCraUo party ri tne uni
ted States. and its firm belief in, and f.
deity to its time honored principles, to-
gether with the following specific declara,
tions:
Flrst-We congratulate the Democratic
party and the people upon the absolute
snrcess Of the administration of President
Cleveland, under whose wise and patriotic
policy the public debt has been so largely
diminished; so vast an area Of the public
lands, which had been squandered by the
Repul lican party upon corporations, re-
covered to the people; the pension list so
greatly enlarged upon a just and equita-
bic basis of merit, and not as a reward for
partisan s, rvices; The mail service so large.
ly extended at diminished expense; the
department of justice made such in fact
and not an instrument Of inquisition and
oppression, the public service purified and
made eticient; the honor of the nation
mainta; ned at home and abroad; the false
and slanderous idea which had be per-
sistently instiled into the minds of a large
element of the citizenship of the Southern
States that Democratic supremacy meant
their reinstatement, utterly refuted and
the personal liberty of all classes of socie-
ty extended and secured upon constitu-
| tiOnal basic.
Second-Belng fully impressed with the
urgent necessity for prompt relief of the
people from the burdens of an indirect
axation far exceeding the necessities Of
the government, honestly and economical
ly administered, we give the hearty en-
dorsement to the bold, manly and states
man-like message cf President Cleveland,
communicated to congress at the begin
ming of it's present session, and commend
the M lority report of the committee on
WAYS and means, known az "the Mills
bill" as q proper move in the direction Of
this much needed relief
Third-Balieving that ian indissouble
union of indistructible States" can be
maintained only by strict adherence to
the constitution, We are unaltera5ly op-
posed to any interference in local or State
affairs by the federal government through
any of ts departments.
Fourth-We favor liberal appropria-
tions, by congress, for the improvement of
our water ways, to the end that commerce
may be fnc litated and rates of Transport
tation regulated and cheapencd, by bring
ing them into competition with those ar
tifcial avenues Of traffic, whose natural
tendeacy is toward monopoly and extOr-
tiOn.
Fifth-With spirit ofpride we rcmem-
ber that the Arkansas delegation in the
Democratic national convention, of 1884,
was the first 70 support Grover Cleveland
for nomination, and continued steadfass in
their support lLr ughout the contest, and
realizing that their jutgment had been
fully vindica el by his administration we
hereby instruct our delegation, to the con-
yention to meet in ST Louis on the 5sh
instant, to cast the undivided vote of Ar,
kansas for his denomination
S,xth-We point with pride to the SUI
cessful admin straton of State aft irs by
the democratic party AID the results that
prove its wisdom and patriotism, tO-wit:
The rate OF taxation reduc d from : to
mills; the mar, elous increase of mat
rial wealth of the State, which was great
ly enhanced by the passtg of laws which
Subjected the property of athy corp
rations to the payment o. an equitable
proportion of the cost of their own pro;ec
tivn, on basis OF fairness to themselves
and justice TO the people; the liberal en-
couragem.nt and fostering care extcnied
to the cause Of public education; the found
ing and sustaining, on basis Of broad
liberalty the various cha:it.ble instilu.
on1 OF the Safe, and the payment of 80
much of the just debt Of the Stute as has
already been accomplished with the prom.
i>e its entire satisfaction at no distant
dry.
Seventh-We endorse the action of the
legislature of 1881 in providing for ge.
olOgical survey OF the State, and favor the
establishment, by the next legislature, Of
a bureau of agriculture, manufacture, mi
ming and immi grafton,
E,gh,h-Wc favor system Of liberal
enactment for the encouragement of rail-
roads and manufacturing establishments,
but are opposed to any exemption in their
favor from the burdens of taxation which
cannot be extended alike to all tax payers
and citizens.
Ninlh-We endorse the united Efforts Of
liberal minded cities of the State, regard
less of political utilization, to organize
and build up State bureau OF immiera.
ton, and hereby second their invitation
extended to all earnest, honest and intel
ligeut people everywhere, regardless OF
political opinion or religious belief, TO
make their homes in Arkansas, where
cordial welcome from the people will lie
extended to them, and variety of unde.
veoped resources, unexcelled by any equal
area on the globe, promises a general re-
| ward for Industrious labor.
Tenth-The financial embarrassment of
the State having been safely and certain
ly relieved, we favor such notifications
OF the convict system Of the State as can
be effected, to the end that the State shall
assume the complete control and respon-
sibility for their maintenance, that their
( labor may not be brought into open and
direct competition with the honest and
voluntary labor Of the people. and on such
q reformatory basis, that novices in crime
may not be subjected to the baneiul in
huences of contact and association with
hardened criminals.