The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1892-06-30

tuo DciuOCTdIlC udLlCudl COuVeuttOu VI
1876 for the reform of the civil service
and we call for the honest enforce.
ment of all laws regulating the same.
The nomination of president, as in the
recent Republican convention, by |
delegations composed largely of his |
appointees holding Office at his pleas
ure, is scandalous satire upon free |
popular institutions and and start |
ling illustration of the methods by |
which a president may crafty his
ambition. We denounce the policy
under which federal Office holders |
usurp control of party conventions in
the states, and we pledge the Demo
cratic party to the reform of these
and all other abuses which threaten
individual liberty and local selfgov-
ernment.
Sec. 10. The Democratic party is
the only party that has ever given the
country a foreign policy, consistent
and vigorongs, compelling respect
abroad and inspiring confidence at
home. While avoiding entangling
alliances it has aimed to cultivate
friendly relations with other nations,
and especially with our neighbors On
the American continent whose des-
tiny is closely linked with our own
and we view with alarm the tendency
to policy of irritation and bluster,
which is liable at any time to confront
us with the alternative of humiliation
or war. We favor the maintenance
of a navy strong enough for all pur-
poses of national defense and to prop
erly maintain the honor and dignity
of the country abroad.
Sec. II. This country has always
been the refuge of the oppressed from
every land-exilies for conscience
sake--and in the spirit of the found
ers of our government we condemn
the oppression practiced by the Rus
sian government upon its Lutheran
and Jewish subjects and we call upon
our national government in the inter-
est of justice and humanity, by all just
and proper means, to use its prompt
and best efforts to bring about ces-
sation of these cruel prosecutions Of
the czar and to secure to the oppress-
ed equal rights. We tender our pro-
found and earnest sympathy to those
lovers of freedom who are struggling
for home rule and the great cause of
self government in Ireland.
Sec. II. We heartily approve all
legitimate efforts to prevent the Unit
ed States from being used as the dump
ing ground for known criminals and
professional paupers of Europe, and
we demand rigid enforcement of the
law against Chinese immigration or
the importation of foreign workmen
under contract to degrade American
labor and lessen its wages; but we con-
denim and denounce any and all at
temps to restrict the immigration of
the industrious and worthy of foreign
lands.
Sec. 13. This convention hereby
renews its expression of appreciation
Of the patriotism of the soldiers and
sailors of the union in the war for its
preservation and we favor just and
liberal pensions for all disabled union
soldiers, their widows and dependents,
but we demand that the work of the
pension Office shall be done industri-
ously, impartially and honestly. We
denounce the present administration
of that Office as incompetent, corrupt
disgraceful and dishonest.
Sec. IA The federal government
should care for and improve the Mis-
sissippi river and other great water
ways of the republic, so as to secure
for the interior states easy and cheap
transportation to tidewater. When
any waterway of the public is of suf-
icent Importance to demand the aid
of the government that such aid
should be extended to defnate plan
of continuous work until permanent
Improvement is secured.
Sec. 15. For purposes of national
defense the promotion of commerce
between the states, we recognize the
early construction of the Nicaragua
canal and its protection against foreign
control as of great Importance to the
United States.
Sec. 16. Recognizing the worlds
Columbian exposition as a national
undertaking of vast Importance, in
the general government has invited
the co operation of all the powers of
the world, and appreciating the ac
ceptance by many of such powers of
the invitation extended, and the broad
est liberal efforts being made by them
to contribute to the grandeur OF the
Undertaking, we are of the opinion that
congress should make such necessary
financial provision as shall be requis-
ite to the maintenance of national
honor and public faith.
Sec. II. Popular education being
the only safe basis of popular suffrage,
we recommend to the several states
the most liberal appropriations for
public schools. Free common schools
are the nursery Of good government,
and they have always received the fos
tering care of the Democratic party,
which favors every means of increas-
ing intelligence. The freedom of ed
ucation, being an essential of civil and
religious liberty as we'll as necessity
for the development of intelligence,
must not be interfered with under any
pretext whatever. We are opposed
to state interference with parental
rights and the rights of conscience in
the education of children as an in
fringement of the fundamental Demo
cratic doctrine that the largest indi-
vidual liberty consistent with the
rights of others insures the highest
type of American citizenship and best
government.
Sec. 10. We approve the action Of