The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1892-08-19
STATE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM

STATE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM
Below we publish the plain m,
adopted by the democracy of Ten
nes-ee, at Nashville, on the 9Th of
August. 1t is concIae and full of
meaning. No high-aounding or
empty words are used. Read it
carefully and then stand upon it:
The democracy of Tennessee, in
stale convention assembled, reaf-
frming an abiding faith in the
great truths of human liberty and
constitutional government announ-
ced by the author of the declaration
of American independence, .lllustra-
ted by him in his administration of
the federal government, and incul-
Gated by his state papers and by
his wise teachings, and since, in the
varying conditions of our national
life, promulgated and enfOl ced in
national democratic Platforms and
administrations, hereby endorse
the latest utterances of the national
democracy as embraced in the
platform as adopted at Chicago,
Employing therein the funda-
mental and unchanglng truths OF
constitutional representative free
dom, the national democracy placed
thereon as candidates for president
and vice president Grover Cleve>
land and AdIai E. Stephenson, men
worthy of the faith of the party;
fully qualified to be its eXponenis
before free people, and thorough
ly equipped to exercise the sacred
functions of the high Offices for
which they have been nominated.
This convention of Tennessee de-
mocracy heartily and nngrudging-
ly indOrse their nomination and
candidacy, because freemen can
trust men who believe that "pub-
lie Office is public trust;" that
cons titutional government is an
agency of the people; that taxation
in ever form or guIse, beyond the
plain needs OF government ecOnOm-
icallY administered, is robbery of
the people; that the terror of bayo>
nets and the lnfamy of force bills
around the ballot boxes of freemen
are not the safeguards of honest
elections and independent states;
that class Legislation, however
framed, and paterDalism, however
yelled, are the source of monopoly,
and its entrenched fortress, whence,
either boldly or secretly, come the
menace to pure government and the
corrupting poison that emascuIates
individual manhood; and who,
believing these eternal truths, will
exemplIfY their virtues in the per-
formance of their administrative
duties and ia the exercise of their
official powers.
With respect to state affairs, the
democracy has no wish or purpose
inconsistent 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 that economy
shall rule in so far as our party can
secure it, in all departments and
subdivisions of our state govern
ment, so that the product OF labor
may remain for those who made it.
1. Labor in its various forms is
the source of individual wealth and
the basis of a vigorous statehood,
and that labor may receive It's own
it must not be under duress from
convict labor and Its corporate or
ganization. We, therefore favor
the abolition of the penitentiarY
lease system at the earliest date
legally permissible, and the erection
at proper place, of a prison OF
sufficient dimensions to hold our
convicts, and constructed with ref
erence to their classification. so that
youths and those convicted of the
lesser offenses shall not be subject
ed to the association and influences
of the abandoned and hardened
criminals. While our penal insti-
tutions and their management should
be founded in humanity and
prompted by the aid of reformation
still their support should come from
the labor of those legally confined
in them, and not from a tax upon
the honest people aud industries OF
the state.
2. Taxation, to be just and in ac-
cordance with the constitution,