The advocate., 1892-06-29

the states, we recognize the early Construc-
tion of the Nicaragua canal and its proteC-
ton against foreign control of great i'm
pOrtance to the United States.
Sec. 16. Recognizing the Worlds Column
bian exposition as a national undertaking
Of vast importance, in which the general
government has invited the cooperation of
all the powers of the world, and appreCiat-
ing the acceptance by many of such powers
of the invitation 90 extended and the broad
and liberal efforts being made by them to
contribute to the grandeur of che undertak-
ing, we are of the opinion that congress
should make such necessary financial pro-
visions as should be requisite to the main
tenance of the national honor and public
faith.
Sec. IL. Popular education being the only
safe basis of popular suffrage, we recon-
mend to the several states most liberal ap-
preparations for public schools. Free COM
mon schools are the nursery of good
government, and they have always received
the fostering care Of the Democratic party,
which favors every method of increasing
intelligence. Freedom of education, being
an essential Of civil and religious liberty as
well as a necessity for the development of
intelligence, must not be interfered with
under any pretext whatever.
We are opposed to state interference with
parental rights and rights of conscience in
the education of children, as an infringe
ment of the fundamental Democratic doc
trine, that the largest individual liberty con-
sistent with the rights of others insures the
highest type of American citizenship and
the best government.
SEQ. 18. We approve the action of the
present house of representatives in passing
bills for the admission into the Union as
states of the territories of New Mexico and
Arizona, and we favor the early admission
of all territories having the necessary popu-
lation and resources to entitle them to
statehood, and while they remain territories
we hold that the officials appointed to ad-
minister the government Of any territory,
together with the District of Columbia and
Alaska, should be bona ide residents of the
territory or districts in which their duties
are to be performed. The Democratic
party believes in home rule and the control
of their own affairs by the people of the
vicinage.
Sec. 10. We favor legislation by congress
and state legislatures to protect the lives
and limbs of railway employees and those
of other hazardous transportation compa-
MES, and denounoe the inactivity of the Re-
publican party, and particularly the Repub-
ioan senate, for causing the defeat of
measures benfcisl and protective to this
class of wage workers.
Sec. 20. We are in favor of the enactment
by the states of laws for abolishing the
notorious sweating system, for abolishing
contract convict labor, and for the prohib-
iting of the employment in factories of
children under Is years of age.
Sec. q. We are opposed to all sumptuary
laws as an interference with the individual
rights of the citizen.
Sec. %. Upon this statement of priciples
and policies the Democratic party asks the
intelligent judgment of the American peo-
pie. It asks change of administration
and change of party, in order that there
may be change of system and a change of
methods, thus assuring the maintenance
unimpaired of constitutions under which
the republic has grown great and powerful.