The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-07-02

ing declaration of principles for the bet
terment of political government and the
benefit of our fellow-citizens
FOR FREE VOTE AND HONEST COUNT.
We believe that every lawful voter ha:
the right to cast a free ballot at every
public election, and have it properly
counted and certified, and we call upon
Congress to adopt such legislation as will
prevent a suppression or Justification OF
the votes of our fellow-citizens at elec-
tions for officers OF the National Govern
ment, and end political slavery through
out the Nation.
CARE OF THE SOLDIER.
Our care for the welfare of those who,
upon the field of battle, carried triumph
antly the principles of Republican faith,
will end only when the last soldier of the
Civil War shall have entered into his
honest rest, and we ask Congress to grant
per-diem service pension to every
Union soldier and sailor who served in
and was honorably discharged from the
army or navy of the United States.
THE BORDER RAID CLAIM.
The claim which the citizens of the bor-
der counties of our Commonwealth make
upon the General Government for reim-
bursment for the loss they sustained in
their homes and property at the hands
of the Confederates during the late war
is one which National patriotism should
respect and honor, and we urge upon our
Congressman the use of every proper eff
fort TO have it quickly and completely
satisfied.
THE McKISLY TARIFF BILL Embossed.
We endorse the Tariff bill called the
Mckinley bill, in the form in which it
was passed by the House of Representa-
tives, and we denounce the criticism
passed upon that bill in the English Par
Lament as unwarranted interference by
foreign nation with the right of the
American people to protect American in
dustries.
PROTECTION FOR WORKERS AS WELL As MAN
UFAcTURERs.
We reaffirm one of the earliest princi-
ciples of our party when we declare that
American workers should, like American
manufacturers, receive National protec-
ton; and We request of the General Coy
ernment the strictest enforcement of the
laws forbidding entrance INTO this cOun-
try of the pauper and contract labor Of
foreign hations.
AGAINST oLEOMARGARINE AND ABUSE OF
THE LIQUOR LAWS.
We urge upon Congress the immediate
necessity of making such legislation as
will prevent the importation and sale of
oleomargarine and ofintoxieating liquors
liquor in this Commonwealth contrary
to our acts of Assembly regulating and
restricting the same, and to empower
every State to enforce its local laws there
to in the manner and in accordance with
the intent and purpose with which they
were enacted.
FAyoRING BALLOT REFORM.
Ballot reform is and will remain the
watch-word of our party in every State,
and We especially congratulate our breth-
ern in New York upon the fact, that al
though their Governor could defer, he
could not wholly defeat their efforts to
secure free ballot for every American
voter throughout their State. We urge
upon the members of the next General
Assembly the duty to pass such laws,
and, if necessity should arise, to provide
for such changes in the Constitution of
our Stats as will insure to every voter
perfect secrecy and freedom in exercising
his right of suffrage.
THE STATE FINANCES
For almost thirty years the finances of
this State have been under the control
of our party. During that time we de-
vised system Of taxing corporations.
which serves as a pattern for and mas
been taken as guide by many sister
States in their efforts to collect revenue
for public purposes.
RELIEF FOR AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.
We have paid of the debt which the /
Democratic party Of this State created |
Turing a time of peace. We have al |
most extinguished the debt which the /
Democratic party of the Southern States
inflicted upon us during the Civil War,
Ind years ago we lifted from the homes
If all our felIow-citizens the burdens of /
State taxation. But the depression un-
Ter which our agricultural interests are
has made the present system of
axation bear too heavily on them, and
We therefore pledge ourselves to tighten
hat burden, and as far as possible equal
re taxation.
TAXATION OF CORPORATIONS.
To that end, We recommend that the
urplus revenue derived from State taxa
ion be used to lessen the taxation now
aid upon real estate for local purposes
" applying it, 50 far as il will in legisla-
i've wisdom prevail. to the increase of
he appropriation for the support of the
ommon schools, and to making appro-
'ristlon for the care of the INDECENT in
ane, for the expenses of the jury system
nd of holding the general elections. If
hereby there should be necessity for
our surplus revenue, we favor a
1st and equitable increase in the taxa
ion Of the property of corporations
We recommend that the local system
I taxation be so reformed as to permit
he taxation Of money capital for local
to such en- extent as TO enable