Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-06-29
THE PLATFORM.



The following platform was unanimous
~ adopted After feeling tributes t.
Abraham Lincoln, Grant, Garfield Arthur
LoGan and Conkling, and sympathies with
reference to Phil Sheridan, it says In
the spirit Of these great leaders. and OF
our own devotion 10 human liberty, with
that hostility 10 all forms of deSpotisn
and oppression which are fundamentally
opposed to the idea of the republican par
", we send traternal CONGRATULATIONS tc
our fellow Americans of Brazil upou
thelr great act of emancipation which has
completed the abolition of slavery
throughout the two American CONT
nents.
We earnestly nope we may soon con-
graduate our fellow citizens of Irish birth
upon the peaceful recovery OF home rule
for Ireland.
THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS.
We reaflirm our answering devotion to
the national constitution, ana to the ,indis-
soluble autonomy reserved to the States
under the constitution, to the personal
rights and liberties Of the citizens in all
the states and Territories inl the Union.
and especially to the supreme and SOW
erelgn RIGHT of every lawful citizen, rich
or poor, native or foreign born, white or
black, TO cast one free ballot at the public
counted. We hold the free aud honest
Xpopular ballot ju't and equal represen-
tatlou OF all the people us the foundation
OF our republican government, and de
mand effective legislation TO secure the
integrity and purity of the elections
which are the fountains OF public author,
w. We charge that the present admins
ration and democratic majority in Con
ress owe their existence TO thu. suppres
slon OF the ballot, and by criminal NULL
ncaton OF the constitution, and laws of
the United States.
PROTECTION FAVORED.
We are uncom Jromisingiy in favor of
he American system OF protection. We
protest against its destruction as pro-
posed by the preslden' and his party.
They serve the interests of Europe. we
Will support the Interests of America. We
(iccept the Issue, aud confidently appeal
% the people for their Judgment. The
protective system must he maintained Its
aoandonment mas always been followed
! by general disaster TO all interests except
those OF the usurer ami sheriff
THE MILLS BILL DENOUNCED.
We denounce the Mills bill as destruc-
i've to general business, the labor aud
farming interests OF the country, and we
heartlly endorse as cons .stent and patriotic
the action of the republican Representa-
tyeS in Congress, in opposing its passage.
we condemn the proposition of the
cemocratic party to place wool on the
Tree list, and insist that the duties thereon
shall be adjusted so rs to furnish full
ana adequate protection TO that indus
try.
HOW THE SURPLUS SHALL BE REDUCED.
The republican party wonld effect all
heedeu reduction OF the national revenue
Dy reducing the taxes upon tobacco, which
- md nttr dan,
lure, and the tax upon spirits used in the
)artS ana TOR mechanical purposes and
10y such revision Of the tariff laws as will
tend 10 check the import of such articles
as are produced by our people, the pro
ductlOn of which gives employment m
our labor, and release FROM import duties
tnose articles of foreign production, ex-
cept luXurles, the like of which cannot be
produced at home. If there shall still re-
main larger revenue than is requisite
Tor these wants of the government, we
favor the entire repeal Of the internal
taxes, rather than the surrender of anv
part OF our protective system at the Joint
Denest OF the Whiskey trusts and the agents |
OF foreign manufacturers
FOREIGN CONTRACT LABOR AND TRUSTS |
CONDEMNED.
we declare hostility to the introduction
INTO the country of foreign contract labor |
ana OF Chinese labor alien to our ciyiliZa- |
tion ana our constitution, and demand |
Inc rigid enforcement of the existing laws
against 1t, and favor such immediate leg |
ISL tlon MS VIII exclude such labor from
our shores.
we declare opposition to all combina-
lions or capital, organized in trusts or 9th. |
erWlse, TO control arbitrarily the condi |
llon or trade an rag our citizens and we |
recommend to Congress and the State |
Legislatures in their respective iurisdic-
lions, such legislation rs will prevent the |
execution of all schemes to Cypress the |
people by undue charges on their supplies |
OF by unjust rates tor the transportation
OF their products to market
we favor legislation by Congress to |
prevent alike the unjust burdens and un |
IalI determinations between the States.
THE LAND QUESTION.
We re.-aflirm the ppncy of fbpropriating
tne public lands If n" United states TO be |
inoihesleads Tor American cItizens and SET |
tleIs, not aliens, Wnlch the republican |
party established Ia 1862 against the per-
Ssisleht opposition OF the democrats in
oohyresH, and which has brought our
Ered' western domain into such maQni6-
en- deVelopment The restoration of the
|ihearned railroad land grants to the Dub
t. .uinHlh Tor the use OF actual settlers !
EShlch was begun in the administration nf
| resident Arthur, should be continued
ueuy that the dcmLLi.iC marty has
| "a DuHa.