The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-06-30
MONROE, LOUISIANA, SATURDAY, JUNE 80. 1888

citizens and settlers, not aliens, which
the Republican party established In
1862 against the persistent opposition
of the Democrats in congress, aud
which has brought our great Western
domain into such magnificent develop.
ment. The restoration OF unearnetl
railroad land grants to the public do
main for the use Of actual settlers
tration of President Arthur should be
continued. We deny that the Demo.
cratic party has ever restored one acre
to the people, but declare that by the
joint action of Republicans and Demo-
Gratis about j0,000, 900 acres OF unearned
land originally granted for the cons
struction of railroads have been res
tored to the public domain, In pursu-
ance Of the conditions inserted by the
Republican party in the original grants.
We charge the Democratic administra.
tion with failure to execute the laws
securing to settlers titles to their home
steads and with using appropriations
made for that purpose to harass inno-
cent settlers with spies aud persecu-
tions under the false preteuse of expos
ing f.auds and vindicating the taw.
The government by congress of the
Territories Is based upon nee ,ssity only
to the end that they may become States
in the UniOn; Therefore whenever the
conditions Of pOpuln,'" III. terinl re-
sources, public intelligence and mora!,-
~ are such rs to insure u stable local
government therein, the people Of such
Territories should tie perntttet, IA "
right inherent in them, to for them
selves constitutions and States govern
ment and be permitted into the Union.
Pending the preparation for Statehood
all officers thereof should be selected
from the bona tidc residents aud citizens
of the Territories where they are to
serve. South Dakota should of right be
admitted rs a State in the Union, under
the constitution framed and adopted
by her people, and we heartily endorse
the action Of the Republican senate in
twice passing bills for her admission.
The refusal of the Democratic house OF
representatives, for partisan purposes,
to favorably consider these bills, wills
full violation of the sacred rights of
American people of local self govern
ment, and merits the condemnation OF
just men. The pending bills in the
senate for acts to enable the people OF
Washington, North Dakota Montana
Territories to form constitutions aud es-
tabltsh State governments, should be
passed without unnecessary delay.
The Republican party pledges itself to
do all in its power to facilitate the ad
mission of the Territories of New Mex
leo, Wyoming, Idaho and Arizona to
the enjoyment of self.government as
States, such of them as are now quail
fled, as soon as possible, and the others
as soon as they may become so.
The political power of the Mormon
church, in the Territories, as exercised
in the past, is II menace to FREQ institu-
tons too dangerous longer to be SUI
fered. Therefore we pledge the Hepub-
Iican party to appropriate legislation,
asserting the sovereignty of tho nation
In all Territories. where the same Is
questioned, and in furiherance of tha,
end, to place upon the statute books
legislation stringent enough to divorce
the political from the ecctcsiasticat pow.
or, and thus stamp out the at,cndan,
wfckedness of polygamy.
The Republican party is in favor OF
gold and silver as money, and con
demns the policy of the Democratic nd.
ministratiOn in itS efforts ~ drmpnc-
tjZe silver.
We demand the reduction OF letter
postage to one cent per ounce.
In Il republic like ours, where the
citizen is the sovereign, the official the
servant, where no power is exercised
except by the will OF the people, /, Is
important that the sovereign-thr peo-
p'e-should possess intelligence The
free school is the promoter OF that
intelligence which is to preserve us n
free nation; therefore the State or ma
ton, or both combined, should support [
free institutions OF learning sufficient to
afford every child growing up in the
land the opportunity of u good COM
mon school education.
Weearnestfy recommend That prompt
action be Iaken by congress in the
enactment of such legislation AS will
best secure the rehabilitation of our
American merchant marine, and We
protest against the passage by congress
of II free ship bin, rs Calculated to wor X
injustice 10 labor by lessening The wa
ges OF those engaged in preparing
materials, as We II AS those directly EN-
pioyed in our ship yards.
We demand appropriations for the
early rebuilding Of our navy for the
construction OF coast Qualifications and
modern ordinance, and other approved
modern means of defense for the pro.
lection OF our dcfenseiess hnrbors and
cities; for the payment Of just pensions
to cur soldier; for necessary works O
national importance in the improve
| tnent Ot harbOrs and channels Of inter.