The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-06-09


had taken their seats they hoisted the red
bandana on the top of their banner, and the
throng above gave the first cheer of the
morning Then in turn Michigan, Wiscon-
sin, Virginia, West Virginia, Oregon, Cali
fornia and Pennsylvania followed suit, and
each was recognized with a shout and a
cheer. This encouraged Maine and Ili-
nois, and they, too, fell into line
Meanwhile good many of the delegates had
divested themselves of coats and vests, and
in some instances of neckties and collars, and
were playing their fans with all the vigor
that remained in them. The first act of the
Indiana delegation was to hoist gray hat
with streamers of the same color. The
audience greeted their favorites as they
strolled in with bursts of applause, and it
was evident that so far as the day could be
made more enthusiastic and inspiring than
other days by the efforts of the audience,
they intended to contribute to that end in
dustriously and with sincerity.
Upon the convention being called to order
at 10:25 prayer was offered by Rev. DIR.
Brank. The chair announced that the COM
mittee on resolutions was ready to report,
and Chairman Collins said: Al present Mr..
Henry Watterson, of Kentucky"
The Kentucky editor took his place at the
right of the chairman, waved his hand and
said: "These resolutions have been agreed
upon unanimously"
He was Justify cheered as he had been by
the simple announcement of his name. Clerk
Petit, in q voice that everybody could hear,
read the platform, interrupted now and then
by respectful but irrepressible applause. The
platform is as follows:
The Democratic party of the United States in
national convention assembled renews the pledge
Of its fidelity to Democratic faith and reafirms
the platform adopted by its representatives in the
convention of 1884, and endorses the views ex-
pressed by President Cleveland in his last annual
message to congress as the correct Interpretation
of that platform upon the question of tariff reduc
ton; and also endorses the efforts Of our Demo
cratic reprepresentatives in congress to secure q
reduction of taxation. Chief among its principles
of party faith are the maintenance of an indis-
soluble union of free and indestructible states,
now about to enter upon its second century Of I'M
exampled progress and renown; devotion to a
plan of government, regulated by written con-
stitution strictly specifying every granted power
and expressly reserving to the states or people,
the entire ungranted residue of. power; the en-
couragement of jealous popular vigilance, di-
rected to all who have been chosen for brief terms
to enact and execute the laws, and are charged
with the duty of preserving peace, ensuring
equality and establishing justice. The Democratic
party welcome an eXacting scrutiny OF the ad-
ministration of the executive power, which four
years ago was committed to its trust in the eec-
ton of Grover Cleveland, president of the United
States, and it challenges the most searching in
quiry concerning its fidelity and devotion to the
pledges which then invited the suffrages of the
people.
During most critical period of our financial
affairs, resulting from over-taxation, the anoma-
GUS condition of our currency, and public debt
unmatured, it has, by the adoption Of wise
and conservative course, not only averted dis
aster, but greatly promoted the prosperity Of the
people. 1t has reversed the improvident andEun-
wise policy of the Republican party touching the
public domain, and has reclaimed from corpora
tions and syndicates, alien and domestic, and re-
stored to the people, nearly 900 of acres of
valuable land to be sacredly held as homesteads
for our citizens.
While carefully guarding the interests of the
taxpayers and conforming strictly to the princi-
pies of justice and equity, 1t has paid out more
for pensions and bounties TO the soldiers and sail
ors of the republic than was paid before dur
ing an equal period
BY intelligent management and judcious and
economical expenditure of the public money, it
has set on foot the reconstruction OF the American
navy upon system that forbds the recurrence
of scandal and insures successful results.
It has adopted and consistently pursued firm
and prudent foreign policy, preserving peace with
all nations while scrupuously maintaining all
the rights and interests of our own government
and people at home and abroad. The exclusion
from our shores of Chinese laborers has been cf-
fectually secured under the provisions of q
treaty, the operation of which has been postponed
by the action of Republican majority in the
senate.
Honest reform in tho civil service has been
inaugurated and maintained by President Cleve-
land, and he has brought the public service to the
highest standard of efficiency, not only by rule
and precept, but by the example OF his own un-
firing and unseliish administration of public af.
fairs
In every branch and department of the gov
ernment under Democratic control. the rights
and the welfare of oil the people have been
guarded and defended every public interest has
been protected, and the equality Of all our citi-
zens before the law without regard to rnce or
color has been steadfastly maintained.
Upon its record thus exhibited and upon the
pledge of a continuance TO the people of the ben
efits of good government, the national Demo-
reelection of a chief magistrate who has been
faithful, able and prudent. They invoke In addi
tion TO that trust the transfer to the Democracy
of the entire legislative power.
The Republican party, controlling the senate,
and resisting In both houses of congress q refor-
nation of unjust and unequal tax laws, which
have outlasted the necessities of war and are now
undermining the abundance of a long peace, deny
TO the people equality before the law and the
fairness ard the justice which ere their right.
Thus the cry OF American labor for a better share
of the rewards of industry is stihed with false
preteuses. enterprise is fettered and bound down
to home markets. Capital is disturbed without
doubt, and unequal unjust laws can neither be-
properly amended nor appealed.
The Democratic party WIN continue with all
the power confided to IL to struggle to reform