Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1892-06-28
The Democratic Platform.


In the platform adopted by the
Democratic convention at Chicago al
Iegience to the principals Of the par
ty as formulated by jefferson and ex-
emplified by his successors from
Madison to Cleveland is reafirmed.
Opposition is expressed to federal liz
reference in elections and the federal
elections bill is denounced. The tariff
plank reads:
we denonnce the republican protection as a
fraud. The labor of the great majority of the
American people for tho bencht of the few
We declare It to be fundamental principle of
the Democratic party that the federal
government has no constitutional power to Inn
pose and collect tariff duties except for the
purposes ofreyenue only. and we demand that
the collection of such taxes shall be limited TO
the necessities of the government when honest
ly and economically administered.
The Mckinley law is denounced as
class legislation and the efforts of
the present House of Representatives
to modify some of its features are
Endorsed. Reciprocity is claimed as
a time-honored doctrine of The Dem
ocratic faith. The reciprocity adj
vocated by the Republicans is de-
nounced as a sham. Trusts are
claimed to be the natural result OF
protective duties, preventing free
competition. The Republicans are
held to be guilty of giving away the
public lands to railroads. The sill
yer plank roads:
We denounce the Republican legislation
known ~ the Sherman act of 1880 as o cow
ardly makeshift fraught with possibilities OF
danger in the future, which should make all
of its supporters, as well as its author, anxious
for its speedy repeal. We hold TO the use oil
both gold and silver as the standard money OF
the country and to the coinage of both gold
and eilyer without discriminating against eth
er metal or charge for mintage, but the dollar
unit of coinage of both metals must be of equal
intrinsic and exchangable value or to he ad.
justed through international agreement or by
such safeguards or legislation as shall insure
the maintenance of the parity of the two met
ais, and the equal power of every dollar at al
times in the markets aud in the payment OF
debts. mud we demand that all paper currency
shall be kept at par with and redeemabIe il
such coin. Weinsist upon this policy as espec.
tally necessary for the protection of the farm
ers and lRboring classes, the first and most de.
fenscless victims of unstable money aud fiuc.
tuating currency.
The.repeal of the 10 per cent tax
on State bank issuesis recommended.
An honest civil service, free from
politics, is Endorsed. Aforeign pol,
icy free from buster and aiming at
the cultivation of friendly relations
with other nations is urged. The
national government is asked to in
terpose in protection of those sub
jects prosecuted in the dominion OF
the car. Irish home rule is given
sympathy. Rigid enforcement OF
the Chinese immigration acts
and the alien contract labor law is
demanded. Just and liberal pensions
for disabled soldiers are favored.
with an honest and impartial admin
istratton of the pension bureau. I'm
proyement of the Mississippi is
favored. Congress is asked to help
the Chicago fair. Liberal appro-
priations in the several states for the
public schools are urged. The adj
mission of New Mexico and Arizona
as States is approved, It's held that
the officials appointed to administer
the laws in the territories and the
o.. IL d.
District of Columbia should be bona
fide residents. Laws to protect rail-
way employees and others engaged in
hazardous industries are favored
The sweating" system, contract,
convict labor and the employment of
children in factories are all denounced
and sumptuary laws are opposed.