The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1892-09-22
Democratic Platform.

State convention assem- lied reaflirm |
ing an abiding faith in the great truths
OF human liberty and constitutional
government announced 10y the author
of the declaration of American indie
pendence, illustrated by him in his
administration OF the Federal Govern
ment, and iucucated by his State pa
pers and by his wise teachings, and
since, in the varying conditions of our
natiouallile, promulgated and enforc-
ed in national Democratic platforms
and administrations, hereby indUrse
the latest utterances of the national
Democracy as embraced in the plat.
form adopted at Chicago.
Embodying therein the fundamen-
tai and unchanging truths of constitu-
tional representative freedom, the ma
tional Democracy placed thereon as
candidate for President and Vice Pres
ident Grover Cleveland and Adlai E.
Stevenson, men worthy Of the faith OF
the party fully qualified to be its eX-
ponents before free people, and
thoroughly equipped to exercise the
sacred functions of the high offices for
which they have been nominated.
This convention of Tennessee De-
mocracy heartily and ungrudgingly
indorse their nomination and candi-
dacy, because freemen can trust men
who believe that public Office is pub
lie trust )" that constitutional govern
ment is an agency OF the people; that
taxation in whatever form or guise,
beyond the plain needs of goyernmen t
economically administered, is robbery
of the people; that the terror of bayo-
nets and the infamy of force bills
around the ballot-boxes of freemen are
not the e-guards of honest elections
and independent States that class leg
islation, however framed, and paternal-
ism, however yelled, are the source Of
monopoly, and its entrenched fortress,
whence, either boldly or secretly, come
the menace to pure government and
: the corruption poison that emasculates
individual manhood and who, believ-
l ing these eternal truths, will exempli-
} fly their virtues in the performance Of
4 their administrative duties and in the
e exercise of their official powers.
| With respect to State affairs, the
Democracy has no wish or purpose in
consistent with the rights of the people
and the highest welfare of our State.
1t has no secrets and will conceal no
: aim in vague words or behind indirect
: methods. We, therefore, declare for
|. an economical State Government, and
4 that economy Shall rule in so far as
our party can sCcuri 1t, in all depart
ments and subdivisions of our State
n Government so that the product OF
lobor may remain for those who made
it.
/. Labor in its various forms IS the
source of individual wealth and the
basis of vigorous statehood, and that
labor may receive its own it must not
. be under duress from convict labor
e and its corporate organization. We
v therefore, favor the addition OF the pen
itentlary lease system at the earliest
date legally permissible, and the cree
ton, at proper place, of prison Of
sufficient dimensions to hold our con
victs, and constructed with reference
to their classification, so that youths
and those convicted OF the lesser Of
lenses shall not be subjected to the as
:, ISOLATION and il fuences of the aban
doned and hardened criminals While
1t our penal institutions and their mana
It ment should be founded in humanity
;. aud prompted by the aim OF reforma
ton, still their support should CONF
from the labor of those legally confined
in them, and not fIom tax upon the
honest people and industries of the
State.
2. Taxation, to be just and in accor
dance with the Constitution. should
= be equal and uniform. We therefore
r demand that our revenue system shall
r be regulated in conformity to this
l. plain dictate of justice and equally
= plain provision of the Constitution
" Double taxation is obnoxious to sound
principle, and the valuation OF prop
erty should not determine the emolu
ments of its assessors. We pledge our
party to the reduction of the rate Of
taxation and the retrenchmento of State
, expenses rather than to exercise the
> powers of Government in searching
out new and unfounded sources OF tax.
a alton upon the people to meet extrav.
=, agant expenditures.
| 4 All public and quasi,public agen.
cies and corporations owe duties to
!" the public, and plain one is that they
s. shall render equal service and accom-.
modations for equal pay to all persons
and sections alike. We therefore con
denim all unjust destinations by such
= agencies or corporations.
5. The Democratic party is the
friend Of all classes, because it is Of
the people. 1t has no grievance
" against any class except the enemies
e of individual liberty and constitution
= al government. No nah has any just
"a I L