The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-10-03
VIGOROUS PLATFORM.
MASSACHUSETTS, DEMOCRATS
PUT UP A GOOD TICKET,
And Announce Principles Upon
Which They Propose to Fight
Harrison Condemned and CleNe-
land warmly Commended.

DCIlOCTdllC SldlC convention WHICH iS'
sembled here to-day nominated Hon
Wm. f. Russett, Of Cambridge, toI gov,
ernor by acclamatiOn. The remainder OF
the ticket is as follows:
For lieutenant governor, John w. Cor
coran, of Clinton.
For secretary of State, William M. Os,
good, of Boston.
For treasurer and receiver, General +.
B. Mum, of Holyokc.
For auditor, D. 7. Tretfy, of Marble
head.
For attorney general, Elisha b. May
nard, of Springfield.
The platform as adopted reads: Meet
ing for the first time since the defeat OF
last year, we declare our continued and
hearty support OF the cause OF tariff re-
form for which we then Contcndcd, and
our firm conviction of its success i'll the
near future. We reattirm our demands
lor free raw material and lower duties
upon the necessities of life. We believe
that free wool as provided for in the bill
passed by the Democratic majority Of the
last house ut representatives is essential
20 the prosperity OF the wooden industry,
upon which that Of the wool grower Is
dependent, while it will afford rclici to all
consumers Of wooden goods. We call the
particular attention OF the farmers OF
this State who have borne the heavy
burden OF high tariff taxation without
any of the prosperity promised them, to
the relief they will receive through the
reduction OF customs taxes upon the
articles which they use or consume, We
give our hearty support to the petition
OF the present Republican governor OF
this State, and other leading iron and
steel manufacturers OF both political par
ties addressed to New England members
of Congress asking for free coal and iron
ore, and lower duties upon pig iron; and
we recommend the efforts to save
this important industry, threatened with
extinction i'll our section of the country
the failure to adopt tariff duties
to the changed conditions of the iron
market. We believe that New England
railroads should be restrained by law, ii
necessary, from entering upon any tariff
which secure to manutaC-
turerS of other States arbitrary and un-
fair advantages over our own manutaC-
turers in transportation rates. We de
mand that all materials tor ship building
whether of metal or wood, he relieved
from the heavy taxation now imposed
on the most of them and made duty free
to the end that American ship builders
may be placed i'll a better position to
construct ships capable OF competing
upon the ocean with those OF foreign
countries. We heartily favor the continu-
ance ofthe sound and progressive policy i'll
the administration Oinaval affairs eStaD-
IiShed with such eminent success by Sec
retary Whitney under the last admins
tration, to the end that we may be pro-
vided at the earliest possible date with a
navy able to defend our Seaboard and
uphold the dignity Of our flag. We give
our earnest support to the demand OF
our Massachusetts business interests for
such removal of trade restrictions as
will bring about closer commercial rela-
tionS between the United States and
Canada, as Il measure winch was favored
by the Democratic party OF this State i'll
its platform OF twelve years ago; andsDe
express our conviction that a practical
and immediate method OF securing such
closer relations through treaty or partial
or entire reciprocity OF trade between
the two countries, the machinery for the
OF which is now in Rcpubli-
can hands. We also favor close com
merCial relation with Mexico, and con-
demn the arbitrary action OF the treasury
i'll respect to the importation
OF Mexican ores which has already led to
retaliatory measures, disastrous to inn
pOrtant American interests i'll Mexico.
While condemnlng frauds III elections,
wherever practiCcd, we are firmly OPP
posed to the scheme of national cleo
ton law, placing the local election ma
chinerv OF all States under the control OF
Congress. We believe that such measure
is proposed from motives of narrow and
partisanship; and that it
will he an unjustlhaDle extension OF tunC-
lions of the general government, opposed
20 the spirit of the constitution and dan
gcrouS to the liberties of the several
States.
We condemn the present administration
for its narrow partlSanShlp, and the low
standard of public duty, standing i'll con-
SpiCuOuS contrast to the character OF the
recent Democratic administration under
President Cleveland. We condemn it for
its surrender to the dictation OF unSCrup-
uluus political bosses, such as Malone,
QUAY and Platt, representing the worst
clements of the Republican party; tor its
utter betrayal OF the cause OF civil service
reform outside OF classified service, i'll
violation alike of the solemn pledges OF
the party at its last nationalCOnvcntion,
and of the President himself; for its per
version of the pension machinery, for the
distribution OF the nations bounty into a
means of influencing votes; tor its un-
warrantable acts, increasing the duties
through treasury rulings and the usurpa-
ton oflegislative power of Congress; and
for the purpose OF paving political debts
by increasing the burdens of the people
Tor it's sale OF high political offices
for large contributions of money
by which it was placed III
power, and for its shameless
nepotism clearly indicative of Il concep
ton OF public office, not as public trust
but as a private perquisite. Pension leg
islation for the benefit of invalid sailors
and soldiers who fought for theircountry
should be Just and liberal. 1t should bt
administered i'll spirit OF fairness ano
equity, and in accordance with the laws
of Congress. but not ill the interest o
gaudy claim agents, nor with the object
OF cmptying The treasury; nor should
the purpose of this legislation be per
verted by the unjust discrimination o
making favored eases special, nor by tn,
granting of thousands of dollars OF ar
rears through re-rating by officers of tn,
pension bureau to United States scna
tor, while needy applicants without po
litical influence are kept waiting TO
their Just dues. We condemn the ruling
by which this administration, in the re
verSal of former decisions. has throwI
open the pension list to persons dishonor
ably discharged, as an outrage upor