Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-06-29

grants to the public domain for the use
of actual settlers, which was begun UNI
der the administration of President Ar
thur, should be continued.
We deny that the Democratic party
has ever restored one acre to the people.
but declare that by the joint action of
the Republicans and Democrats in Con-
gress about 50,000,000 of acres of I'M
earned lands originally granted for the
construction of railroads have been re-
stored to the public domain in pursuance
of the conditions inserted by the Repub-
licau party in the original grants.
We charge the Democratic administra-
ton with failure to execute the laws Sc
curing to settlers title to their homesteads
and with using appropriations made for
that purpose to harass innocent settlers
with spies and prosecutions under the
false pretence of exposing frauds and
vndicating the law.
The government by Congress of Terri
tories is based upon necessity only to the
end that they may become States in the
Union; therefore, whenever the condi-
tons of population, material resources,
public intelligence and morality are such
as insure stable local government there
in, the people in such Territories should
be permitted, as a right inherent in them,
to form for themselves constitutions and
State governments and be admitted into
the Union.
Pending the preparations for State
hood all officers thereof should be selec-
ted from the bona fide residents and citi-
zens of the Territory wherein they are
to serve.
South Dakota should, of right, be i'm
mediately admitted As State in the
Union under the constitution framed and
adopted by her people, and we heartily
indorse the action of the Republican Sem
ate in twice passing bills for her admis-
sion.
The refusal of the Democratic House
of Representatives, for partisan purposes,
to favorably consider these bills is a
wilful violation of the sacred American
principle of local self-government and
merits the condemnation of all just men.
The pending bills in the Senate to en-
able the people of Washington, North
Dakota and Montana Territories to form
constitutions and establish State govern
ments should be passed without unneces-
sary delay.
The Republican party pledges itself to
do all in its power to facilitate the admis-
sion of the Territories of New Mexico,
Wyoming. Idaho and Arizona to the ell
joyment of the self-government of States,
such as are now qualified as soon as pos
sible, and the others as soon as they be-
come so.
The political power of the Mormon
church in the Territories, as exercised in
the past, is menace to such institutions
too dangerous longer to be suffered.
Therefore we pledge the Republican
party to appropriate legislation asserting
the sovereignty of the nation in all Ter
ritores where the same is questioned,
and, in furtherance of that end, to place
upon the statute books legislation strin-
gent enough to divorce the political from
the ecclesiastical power, and thus stamp
out the attendant wickedness of poly
gamy.
The Republican party Is in favor of the
use of both gold and silver as money and
condemns the policy of the Democratic
administration in its efforts to demone-
tie silver.
We demand the reduction of letter post
age to one cent per ounce.
In republic like ours, where the cti-
zen is the sovereign and the official the
servant, where no power is exercised eX-
cept by the will of the people, it is i'm.
portant that the sovereign-the people
should possess intelligence. The free
school is the promoter of that intelli
gence which is to prescribe Us a free ma
ton; therefore the State or nation OIL
both combined should support free insti
buttons of learning sufficient to afford
every child growing up in the land the
opportunity of good common school edu
cation.
We earnestly recommend that promp
action be taken by Congress in the en-
actment of such legislation as will bes
secure the rehabilitation Of our American
merchant marine, and we protest agains
the passage by Congress of a ship bill
calculated to work injustice to labor b,
lessening the wages of those engaged il
preparing materials as well as those di
rectly employed in our shipyards.
We demand appropriations for the re
building of our navy; for the construc
ton of coast Notifications and nioderl
ordnance and other approved moderl
means of defence for the protection o
our defenceless harbors and cities; TO
the payment of just pensions to our sol
diers; for necessary works of natona
Importance in the Improvement of har