Daily Texarkana Democrat. (Texarkana, Ark.) 1890-1894, 1892-09-22
Rational Democratic Platform
ADOPTED ny the National Democratic
convention at Chicago, June
21sI, 1882.

Section !. The representatives of the
Democratic party Of the United States, in
National Convention assembled, do reafIirm
their allegiance to the principles of the par
ty as formulated by Jefferson and ezempli-
fed by a long and illustrious line of his sue
cessors in Democratic leadership from Mad
ison TO Cleveland. We believe that the pub
lie welfare demands that these principles be
applied TO the conduct OF the Federal Gov
eminent through the accession to power of
the party that advocates them; and we sol.
EMMY declare that the need of return to
these fundamental principles of free pop
ular government based on home rule and
individual liberty was never more than now,
when the tendency to centralize all power
at the Federal Capital has become a menace
to the reserved rights ofthe States that strike
at the very roots of our Government under
the Constitution as framed by the Republic
AS TO THE FORCE BILL.
Sec 2, We warn the people of cur com
nlon country, jealous for the preservation OF
their free institutions, that the policy OF Fed
eral control of elections, to which the Re-
publican party has committed itself, is
fraught with the gravest dangers, scarcely
less monentous that would result from a
revolution, practically establishing monar-
chy en- the ruins OF the Republic.
1t strikes at the North as well as the South
and Injuries the colored citizens even more
than the whites. 1t means horde of dep
uty marsbals at every polling place, armed
with Federal power, returning boards ap-
pointed and controlled by Federal author
ity, the outrage OF the electoral rights OF the
people in the several States, the subjugation
OF the eolored people to toe control of the
parry in power aud tie reyiving of race an
taeonnm, now happily abated, Of the utmost
peril to the safety and happiness of all; a
measure deliberately and Justly described by
a leading Republican Senator "as the most
infamous bill that ever crossed the thresh
old of the Senate" such policy, if sane
toned BY law, would mean the dominance
Of sell perpetuating oligarehy of Office
holders, and the party first entrusted with
its machinery could be dlslodged from pow
or only by an appeal to the reserved right
Of the people to resist oppression which is
inherent in all self-governing communities.
Two years ago this revolutionary power
was cmphatically condemned by the people
~ VIC AtAts3 Dlb III "a el4tte N4St
be Republican party has defantly declared
in its latest authoritative utte!ance that its
suoeo sio the coming election will mean
the enac nlent OF toe force bill and heusur-
patton Of desootic control over elections in
al the states.
believing that the preser alton OF lepub-
licsn government in the United States is
dependent upon tho defeat OF this policy Of
egal;zed force ana fraud, We invite the
support Of Il citizens who desire to see the
Constitution maintained in its integrity With
he lnes pursuant thereto which have given
3ul country q hundred years Of unexampled
prosperity; we pledge the Democratic
1..t y, it it be init listed with power, not
,e5 to the defeat of the force bill, hut also
cseati5ss opposition to the Republican
",cy Of pIofigate expenditure, which in
the short space OF two years has squandered
an enormous surp US and empled an over
lowing treasury after pling new burdens OF
taxation upon the already oyertaxed labor
Of the country