Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1892-07-08

pers of Europe. and demand the rigid en-
forcement of the laws against Chinese
immigration and the importation of for
eIgn workmen under contract to degrade
American labor and lessen Its wages, but
we condemn and dcnounce any and all
attempts to restrict the Immigration of
the industrious aud worthy of foreign
lands.
PENSIONS,
/ This convention hereby renews its eX-
pi esSiOu OF appreciation of the patriotism
! of the soldiers and sailors of the L Dion IN
the war for its preservation, and iavors
Just and liberal pensions for all disabled
Union soldiers, their widows and all de-
pendents: but we demand that the work
of the pension office shall be done indus
triously. impartially and honestly. We
denounce its present administration as
incompetent, corrupt, disgraceful and dis
honest.
WATERWAYS.
The federal government should care for
and improve the Mississippi river and
other great waterways of the Republic,
so as to secure for the interior States easy
and cheap transportation. When any
waterway is of sufficient public import
ance to demand the aid of the govern
ment, such aid should be extended on
definite plan continuously until the per-
manent Improvement is secured.
promotion of commerce between the
States we recognize the early construction
of the Nicaragua canal and its protection
against foreign control as of great I'M
portance to the United States.
THE WORLDS FAIR.
Recognizing the Worlds Columbian
EXPOSE ion as a national undertaking of
vast importance, in which the general
government has invoked the co-opera-
ton of all the powers of the world, and
appreciating the acceptance by many
such powers of the invitations so extend
ed and the broad and liberal efforts being
made by them to contribute to the grand
eur of the undertaking, we are of the
opinion that congress should make such
necessary financial provisions rs shall be
requisite to the mai teuance of national
honor and public faith.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Popular education being the only safe
basis of popular suffrage, we recommend
to the several States the most liberal APP
preparations for public schools. Free
common schools are the nursery of good
government and have always received the
fostering care of the Democratic party,
"a 9e
essential to civil and religious liberty as
we'll as a necessity for the development of
intelligence, must not be interfared with
under any pretext whatever. We oppose
state interference with parental rights
and the rights of conscience in the educa-
ton of children as an infringement of the
fundamental Democratic doctriue that
the largest individual liberty consistent
with the rights of others inSureS the high
est type of American citizenship and the
best government.
THE TERRITORIES.
We approve the action of the present
House of Representatives in passing bills
of the Territories of New Mexico and
and Arizona, and favor the early admis-
sion of all the Territories having the ne.
ceSSary population and resources to en-
title them to statehood, and while they
remain Territories we hold that the offi-
Gals appointed to administer the govern
ment of any Territory, together with the
District of Columbia and Alaska, should
be bona fide residents of the Territory or
district in which their duties are to be
performed. The Democratic party be-
lieves in home rule and the control OF
their own affairs by the people of the
vicinage.
MISCELLANEOUS.
We favor legislation by congress and
State legislation to protect the lives and
limbs OF railway employees and those i'll
other occupations, and denOunce the in
activity of the Republican party, and
particularly the Republicans Of the Sen
ate, for causing the defeat of measures
beneficial and protective to this class Of
wage workers.
We are in favor of the enactment by
States OF laws for abolshing the motor
ious sweating system, for abolishing con-
tract convict labor and prohibiting the
employment in factories of children
under Is years of age.
We oppose all sumptuary laws as an
interference with the individual rights OF
citizens
Upon this statement of principles and
policy the Democratic party asks the in
telligent judgment of the American peo-
pie. 1t asks change of administration
and change of party. in order that there
may he a change of system and a charge
of methods. thus assuring the mainte-
nance unimpaired of the institutions IN
der which the republic has grown great
and powerful.