The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-07-30

This Is the platform that the convention
adopted:
We, the delegated representatives Of the de-
mocracy Of Missouri, IN state convention as
sembled, do hereby ratify and indorse the
nomination Of Grover Cleveland and Adlai Ste
venson, for president and vice president Of the
United Stat s. and we accept as our own the
declaration Of democratic principles placed be-
fore the country by the convention recently as
sembled at Chicago.
We especially commend to the attention of
all who desire to see our free institutions pre-
served unimpaired the declaration OF the Chi
danger with which 1t menaces the country.
The democrats of Missouri have known what 1t
was to live under a government based on fed
eral coercion and returning board methods.
and they have learned by bitter experience that
its legitimate fruits are fraud and usurpation,
prostitution Of the ballot, contempt for the
peoples will a. expressed at the polls, robbery
OF the tax payers, profigate expenditure Of the
public money, dishonored officials, betrayal of
trusts and weakening OF the respect for law
which is the basis Of civilized government.
We congratulate the people Of Missouri on
the progress Of the state. on its increase OF
wealth and on the wisdom Of its democratic
constitution, through the operation OF which,
with the democratic party continuously in ad-
liberty, life and property have been protected,
the increased demand for schools and elee-
mosynary institutions complied with, while at
the same time the rate OF taxation has been
steadily reduced. We point TO the record OF
the democratic party under that constitution
as q conclusive reason for its continuance in
voters When the democratic party assumed
isss s ths bonded debt et S o S the ,ssto Was s
$500; on a ss5H J0lg !; lss2i Il had been cen
period the rate Of interest on the state debt
was and per cent; 1t is now but 3la per cent.
on Ave -sixths Of the outstanding debt. During
the last year Of republican control the rate Of
IA far q mn Wi a. ha sim
valuation Of property. II has now been re-
duced to &c on the sl00 or one-hslf. lie of
which reduction has taken place duI ing the in
cumbency Of the present state administration,
which reduction alone will save to the tax
payers Of the state 81 ,5OO.0O0 this year.
In lse2. the year preceding the one in which
the democratic party gained control. the total
state for the support of the public schools was
SsS5, ,6sl; the amount distributed in July, Is92,
for the same purpose. soOO3o6. The endowment
so, 20; on July l, 1892. il was 81, ,l9l.95s
Under the same suspicious conditions the
population Of the state, which was III rs in
1870, had increased to 2.61e, ,ls4 in 1890.
We pledge the party SO long as it is intrusted
with power to a continuance Of the wise, eco
nomicaI and progressive policy that has brought
about these magnificent results.
We favor liberal appropriations for free pub
lie schools, open to every child in the state, but
we oppose any interference by ths state with
the inalienable right OF the parent to direct
and control the method Of the child's educa-
ton, rs well as all interference by the state
with liberty Of conscience.
We denource the protective tariff under
which trusts and combinations for limiting the
supply and raising the price Of commodities in
general use have been formed in unprecedented
numbers
We commend the legislation enacted by the
last democratic general assemblies for the pur-
pose Of stamping out all combinations to con-
troll prices. and the thorough and fearless man
ner In which 1t has been enforced; and we nd
yocate such further wise laws viii finally
eradicate this evil from our body polite.
The safety Of life and property can be best
secured by the prompt enforcement Of ths law
through its constituted authorities, and we op-
pose the employment and use Of domestic OF
tons for the purpose of enforcing their sup
posed legal riehts, a. being dangerous alike tc
life, liberty and properly.
We congratulate the negro voters OF the
country on their manifest tendency to think
and vote independently on matters Of public
policy, rather than to be guided by the passion.
and prejudices Of bygonc days.
We favor all legislation that tends to ams-
liorate the condition Of the workingman. and
heartily recommend such measures are
needed to remedy the abuses under which they
labor.
We declare 1t to be the duty of the STATE
legislature and Of the national congress to en-
act laws which will compel railway companies
70 adopt some efficient system Of safety ap,
pliances for the protection Of the lives and
limbs of that large class Of citizsns who arc
engaged in the service Of tho railroad COM
panies OF Missouri and other states
We recommend to the next state legislature
effective and economical plan for the perma.
nent Improvement f country roads. so tna,
TRANSFORMATION from the farms to depots and
trade centers may b nsds sasy and rapid ~ ~
ssassss Of the ysss.