The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1892-07-16

,'f ~ va 'hA 49, ha'
between the two seas. The last demo.
cratic administration reversed the i'm
pfoyident and unwise policy of the re-
publican party touching the public do
main, and reclaimed from corporations
and syndicates, alien and domestic. and
restored to the people nearly 100, 900 ,000
acresof valuable land to be sacredly held
as h0mesteads for our citizens, and we
pledge ourselves to continue this policy
until every acre of land so unlawfuIly
held shall be reclaimed and restored Ia
the people.
COINAGE,
We denounce the republican legisla-
ton known as the Sherman act of 1890
as a cowardly makeshift fraught with
possibilities of danger III the future,
which should make all of its supporters,
as well as its author, anxious for its re-
peal. We hold to the use of both gold
n silver as the standard money of the
country, and to the coinage of both gold
II dsilverwithOut discriminating against
either metal or charge for mintage, but
the dollar unit of coinage of both metals
must be of equal intrinsic and exchang-
able value or be adjusted through inter
national agreement or by such safe
guards of legislation as shall insure the
maintenance of the parity of the two
metals and the equal power of every dol
lar at all times in the markets and i'm
the payment of debts; and we demand
that all paper currency shall be kept at
par with and redeemable in such coin.
We insist upon this policy as especially
necessary for the protection of II far
mers and laboring classes, the first and
most d~efenseless victims of a fluctuating
currency.
We recommend that the prohibitory
10 per cent tax on state bank issues be
repealed.
Public Office is a public trust. We re-
affirm the declaration of the democratic
national convention of 1876 for the re-
form of the civil service, and call for the
honest enforcement of all laws regula-
ting the same. The nomination of u
President, as in the recent republican
convention, by delegates composed
largely of his appointees, holding Office
at his pleasure, is a scandalous satire
upon free popular institutions and n
startling illustration of the methods by
which a President may crafty his m
bition. We denounce a policy under
which the federal ~oficeholders usurp
control of party conventions in the states
and we pledge the democratic party to
reform these and all other abuses which
threaten individual liberty and local self
government.
The democratic party is the only par
ty that has ever given the country a for
eign policy consistent and vigorous,
compelling respect abroad and inspiring
at home. While avoiding en-
tangling alliances, it has aimed to cult
vate friendly relations with other ma
lions, and especially with our neighbors
the American continent whose desti-
ny is closely linked with II own, and
we view with alarm the tendency to a
policy of irritation and buster 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 purposes of nation
al defense and to properly maintain the
honor and dignity of the country abroad.
This country has always been the ref
uge of the oppressed from every land
exiles for conscience sake-and in the
spirit Of the founders of our government
we condemn the oppression practised by
the Russian government upon its l-uth-
eran and Jewish subjects, and we call
upon our national government, in the
interest of justice and humanity, by all
just and proper means to use its prompt
and best efforts to bring about "a cessa-
ton of these cruel prosecutions in the
dominions of the Car and to secure to
the oppressed equal rights.
We tender u profound and earnest
sympathy to those lovers of freedom
who are struggling for home rule and
the great cause of local self-government
in Ireland.
We heartily approve all legitimate ef-
forts to prevent the United States from
being used as the dumping ground for
the known criminals and professional
paupers of Europe; and we demand the
rigid enforcement of the laws against
Chinese immigration and the importa-
ton of foreign workmen under contract
to degrade American labor and lessen
its wages, but we condemn and de-
nounco any and all attempts to restrict
the immigration of the worthy and in
dustrious of foreign lands.
This convention hereby renews the
expression of appreciation of the pat
riotism of the soldiers and sailors of the
Union in the war for it's preservation,
and we favor just and liberal pensions
for all disabled Union soldiers, their
widows and dependents, but we demand
that the work of Pension Office shall be
done industriously, impartially and hon
estly. We denounce the present ad-
ministration of that office as incompe-
tent, corrupt, ~disgraceful and dishonest
The federal government should care
for and improve the Mississippi river
and other great waterways of the Re
public, SO as to secure for the interior
states easy and cheap transportation to
tidewater. When any waterway of the
Republic is of sufficient Importance to
demand aid of the Government, such
aid should be extended upon a definite
plan of continuous work until perma-
nant improvement is secured.
For purposes of national defense and
the promotion of commerce between the
states, we recognize the early construc-
ton of the Nicaragua Canal and its pro-
lection against foreign control as of
great Importance to the United States.
Recognizing the Worlds Columbian
Exposition as a national Undertaking of
vast Importance, inewhich the General
Government has invited the co-opera-
ton of all the Powers of the world, and
approaching the acceptance by many
of such Powers of the invitation so eX-
tended and of the broad and liberal eff
being made by them to contribute
to the grandeur of the undertaking. we
are of the opinion that Congress should
make such financial provision as shall
be requisite to the maintenance of the
national honor and public faith.
Popular education being the only safe