Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-06-30
NO. 25.
of foreign lands.

OF foreign lands.
I3. This convention hereby renews
the expression of appreciation of the
patriotism of the soldiers and sailors
of the Union in the war for its pre-
seryation. aud we favor Just and liber-
al pensions for all disabled Union sol
diers, their widows aud dependents;
but we demand that the work of the
pension office shall be done industri-
Ously, impartially and honestly. We
denounce the present administration
of that Office as incompetent, corrupt
and dishonest.
II. The Federal government should
care for and improve
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
and other great waterways of the re-
public, so as to secure for the interior
States easy and cheap transportation
to tide water. When any waterway
of the republic is of sufficient import
ance to demand aid of the govern
ment, such aid should be extended in
a definite plan of continuous work
until permanent improvement is Sc
cured.
-. For purposes of national de-
| fense and the promotion of commerce
between the States, we recognize the
! early construction of the Nicaraguan
canal and its protection against for
eign control as of great Importance to
the United States.
16 Recognizing the Worlds Colum-
bian Exposition as a national under
taking of vast Importance, III which
the general government has invited
The co-op"ratinu If a' ta,s I.n et-a
tlae world. and tnpree,ttia- tite e
g-Flausr bt IIaltE al sue. powers 81
the invitation extended and the broad
est, liberal efforts being made by
them tn contribute to the grandeur OF
the undertaking, we are of the opin-
ion that Congress should make such
necessary financial provision as shall
be required for the maintenance of
the national honor and public faith.
Il. PUBLIC EDUCATION
being the only safe basis ot popular
suffrage, we recommend to the several
States mast liberal appropriations to
! the public SchoulS Free common
schools are the nursery of good govern
ment. aud they have always received
| the fostering care of the Democratic
party, which favorS every means of
increasing intelligence. Freedom and
education being an essential of civil
aud religious Liberty, as well as
necessity for the development of in
| telligencr, must not bp intrIfefred
with under any pretext whatever.
We are opposed to State interference
with parental rights and rights of
conscience in the education of child
ren, as an infringement of the funda-
mental Democratic doctrine that the
largest individual liberty consistent
with the rights of others insures the
highest type of American citizenship
and the best government.
Is. 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 the
Territories having necessary pOpula-
tion sufficient to entitle them to State
hood, and while they remain Terrific
ries we hold that the officials appoint
ed to administer the government of
any Territory, together with the Dis
trict 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
believes in home rule and the control
of their own affairs by the people OF
the vicinage.
10. We favor legislation by Con-
gress and State legislation
/
RAILWAY EMPLOYEES
and those of other hazardous trans
pOrtatiOn companies, and denounce
the inactivity of the Republican party,
and particularly the Republican Sen
ate, for causing the defeat of meas
ures beneficial and protective to this
class of wage workers.
20. We are in favor of the enact
ment by the States of laws for abol-
ishing the notorious sweating system,
for abolishing contract convict labor,
and for prohibiting the employment
i'm factories of children under fifteen
years of age.
81. We are opposed to all sumptu-
ary laws and interference with the in
dividual rights of the citizen.
%. Upon this statement of princi-
Piles and policies the Democratic party
asks the intelligent judgment of the
American people. 1t asks a change
of administration and change of
party, in order that there may be a
change of system and change of
. methods, thus assuring the mainten-
ance, unimpaired, of Institutions un-
der which the republic has grown
great and powerful.
The denunciation of measures like
the force bill Vas loudly cheered. APP
plause also greeted the portion of the
silver plank denouncing the Sherman
act. The reference to Federal officers
in national conventions elected a
terrific yell. The foreign policy
T plank, the navy, the Jews in Russia,
home rule for Ireland, were all hber-
ally applauded. The school law
plank was carefully listened to-and
was punctuated at the end of nearly
every sentence by shouts of approval.
The only features of the platform
which seemed to call forth u divided
sentiment was the tariff aud silver