Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-11-02
PLATFORM OF PRINCIPLES
OF the Democratic Party, Adopted by the
National Convention at Chicago, June
a2, 1891.


National Convention at Chicago, June
20, 1892.
REMUNERATION OF PRINCIPLES.
''SEcrIoS I. The representatives Of the Demo.
cratic party Of the United States, in national
convention assembled, do feafirm their ale
glance to the principles OF the party as formu-
lated by Jefferson and exemplined by the long
and flustrious line VI his successors IN Demo
cratic leadership nom Madison to Cleveland;
We believe the puolic welfare demands that
these principles be applied to the conduct OF
the Federal government through accession 70
power OF the party that votes them; and we sol
EMMY declare that the need OF 3 return to these
fundamental principles Of free popular govern
ment based on home rule and individual hber-
", was never more urgent than now, when the
tendency TO centraliZe all power at the Federal
Capital has become \ menace to the reserves
rights OF The States that strikes at the very
roots OF our government under the Constitution
as framed by the fathers OF the republic.
FEDERAL CONTROL OF ELECTIONS.
"SEc. g. We warn the people of our common
country, jealous for the preservation OF their
free institutions that the policy Of Federal con-
troll OF elections to which the Republican party
has committed ITSELF is fraught with the graVest
dangers, scarcely less momentous than would
result from revolution practically establish
ing monarchy on the ruins of the republic.
IL strikes at the North as well as the South, and
Injuries the coiored citizen even more than the
every polling-p place, armed with Federal power;
returning boards appointed and controlled by
Federal authority; the outrage OF the electoral
rights OF the people in the several States; the
subJugation OF the colored people to the control
OF the party in power; the revival OF race sntag-
ontsms now happily abated, and the utmost
peril TO the safety and happiness OF all; meas
ure deliberately and justly described by lead
ing Republican Senator as the most Infamous
bill that ever crossed the threshold OF the Sem
Ates Such policy, as sanctioned by law,
would mean the dominance OF 9 self-pefpetu-
Ating oligarchy OF o1ice-holders, and the party
first entrusted with its machinery could be dis
lodged from power only by an appeal to the re-
served right Of the people to resist oppression,
which is inherent in all self-governing commu-
mites. Two years ago this revolutionary policy
was emphRtically condemned by the people ~
th0 polls; but, in contempt or shat verdict, the
Republican party has dehantly declared IN It's
latest authoritative utterance that its success
in the coming elections will mean the enact
ment OF the Force bill and the usurpatlon OF
despotic control over elections in ali the States
TIE FORCE BILL.
Believing that the preservation Of Repubh-
can government in the Unised States Is de-
pendent upon the defeat OF this policy or legal
lied force and fraud. we invite the support OF
all citizens who desire to see the Constitution
maintained in its integrity, with the laws pur-
suant thereto. which have given our country
hundred years OF unexampled prosperity, and
we pledge the Democratic party, II III be en-.
trusted with power, not only to the oeieat or
the Force bill, but also TO relentless opposition
to the Republican policy OF pronlgate expenIul-
ture, which, in the short space of two years, has
squandered an enormous surplus and emptled
an OVERLOOKING treasury, after pillng new Dur
dens OF taxation upon the already oVertaxed
labor OF the country.
THE TARIFF.
"SEc. s. We denounce Republican protection
as q fraud; robbery OF the great majority OF
- g. kha han ~
We declare it TO be fundamental priuciple OF
the Democratic party that the Federal govern
ment has no constitutional power TO impose
and collect tariff duties except Tor the purpose
OF revenue only, and we demand thss the col.
lection OF such taxes .hall be limited to the
necessities OF the government wien honestly
and economically administered.
I'VE denouncs the Mckinley tariff law en-
acted by tue Fifty first Congress as the cuIinln-
atlng atrocity OF class legis station; we endorse
the eff erts made by tine Democrats OF the pres
ent Congress to modify its most oppressive
features In the direction OF free raw materials
and cheaper manufactured goods that enter
into home consumption, and we propose It's re-
neal as one Of the benehcent results that will
follow the action OF the people In enruSune
power 10 the Democratic party Since the NC
kinley tariff went into operation there nave
been ten reductions of wages OF laoorlng men
10 one increase We deny that there has been
any increase OF prosperity to the country slnce
that tariff went into operation, aud we point 10
the dizziness and distress. the wage reductions
aud strikes in the iron trade Gs the best posi-
bic evidences that no such prosperity mas re-
suited from the Mckinley act.
FARM MORTGAGES.
ave call the attention Of thoughtful Ameri'
cans TO the fact that after thirty years or re-
strictiVe taxation against imPortations OF lorI
eign products in exchange for our agrlcuItural
surplus the homes and farms or the country
have become burdened with a real estate mort,
gage debt OF over two thousand I'VE hundred
million dollars. exclusive or all otner forms Oh
indebtedness; that in one OF the CHIEF Agrlcul-
tural st ties OF the West there appears real
estate mortgage debt averaging Sl6o per capita
Of the total population, and that similar conpl-
tons are shown to exist in other agricultural
exporting States. We denounce policy whlcn
fosters no industry so much as 1t does that OF
the sheriff
RECIPROCITY.
"SEo. 4. Trade interchange on the basis OF
reciprocal advantages to the countries partlcl-
pating is q time-honored doctrine OF the Demo
cratic faith, but we denounce the sham reel
procity which juggles with the peopie.s desire
Tor enlarged foreign markets ana freer e1-
changes by proceeding to establish closer trade
relations for q country whose articles OF export
are almost exclusively agricultural products,
with other countries that are also Agricultural,
while erecting q custom-house barrier OF pro-
hibltiye tariff taxes against the rlchest couh-
tries of the world that stand ready to take our
entire surplus OF products, ana TO eXohange
therefor commodities which are necessaries
and are comforts of life among our own people
TRUSTS.
"sEc. s. We recognize In trusts and monopo-
hes which are designed by capital to secure
more THAI their just share Of the joint product
OF capital ana labor q natural consequence OF
prohibitiye taxes, which prevent that free COM
petition whichls the life OF honest trade, and
we believe their worst evils can be abated by
law. and we demand the rigid enforcement Cf
the laws made TO prevent and control them, TO-
gether with such further legislation in restraint
OF their abuses as experience may show 10 De
necessary.
PUBLIC LANDS.
"SEc. 6. The Republican party, while pro
Tossing a policy OF reserving the public lands
for small holdings by &C ual settlers, has given
away the peoples heritage until now = rev
railroads and nonresident aliens, lndlVlaual
aud corporate, possess larger area than thal
OF All our farms between the two seas. The
last Democratic administration reversed the
imnroyident and unwlse policy OF the Republl-
can party touching the public domain, and re-
claimed from corporations and syndlcates,
alien and domestic, and restored to the people
nearly one hundred million acres OF Valuable
land 10 be sacredly held as homesteads for our
citizens, and We pledge ourselves 10 continue
this policy until every acre OF land so unlaw-
fuIly held shall be reclaimed and restored to
the people.
SILVER.
$50. z We deuounce the Republican leSis-
lation know as the Sherman act or 1890 as
cowarGly makeshift. frsught with possibilities
OF danger in the future which should make ali
Of its supporters Gs we'll as its author, anxious
for i1s speedy repeal. We hold to the use OF
both cold and silver rs the standard money OF
the country and 10 the coinage OF ooth goId