Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-08-16
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Adopted by the State Convention at Topeka
July 8, 1894.

The Democratic party of Kansas in convention
assembled declares its abiding faith in the eternal
principles of Democracy, among whch are:
Strict construction of public powers to the end
erty menaced by constant assumption of unauthor-
lied powers by public functionaries.
Local self government, the largest personal lib
erty consistent with the protection OF rights
unyiedng hostility to all forms of centralization,
constant distrust OF power rigid economy in public
affairs.
We endorse the wise and patriotic action of Presi
dent Cleveland and the efforts of all true Democrats
in executive and legislative stations in all that they
have done to carry out the principles OF the last
Chicago platform. The administration assumed
control of the government at a time when Republic
can extravaganza, profiigacy and dishonesty had
left the public treasury exposed to bankruptcy,
beset with trials and perplexities rarely experienced
by statesmen the dreet results OF the WasteLu
extravaganza and infamous legislation OF the
Republican party. But it has met every response
bilty, braved every peril and risen equal to every
emergency.
ciples announced by the Democratic national con-
vention the ed OF June, 1892 at Chicago, espec-
tally the provisions OF the platform which declare
fraud, robbery of the great majority OF the Amer
lean people for the beneht OF the few We declare
it to be fundamental principle of the Democratic
party that the federal government has no constitu-
uonal right TO impose and collect tariff duties ex-
cept for the purpose of revenue only, and demand
that the collection OF such taxes shall be limited to
the necessities of the government when honestly
and economically administered, and we demand
such speedy legislation along the line of tariff re-
duction expressed in the Wilson bill and the
last national Democratic platform as will lift the
load now burdening the industries of the land,
lend new life to business and open new avenues to
labor.
Believing that wealth should bear fair share of
the public taxation favor the income tax as
opposed to the indirect burdens OF tariff taxation,
and hail with delight the action of Democratic
congress in adopting that feature as part oil our
system OF taxation.
We again declare in favor of a bi-metallic cur
rency and the free coinage of both gold and silver
upon equal terms at a fair ratio and without dis
elimination, to the end that the growth of the
rency may keep pace with the growth of business,
and that the debtor may not be met with con-
stantly reducing values for the products OF labor:
We favor, however, of 10 to /, and that all
currency be kept at parity, and OF equal value.
We favor a sufficient appropriation by congress
to thoroughly test the question OF irrigation in
western Kansas.
We recommend the establishment by our govern
ment of nOn-partisan national commission on
immigration, to examine into the cause and effect
of foreign pauper immigration, and to devise some
efficient means OF securing 10 American wage-eafn-
ers some of the protection that has in years past
been SO lavishIy bestowed by the Republican party
upon party benehciaries.
Recognizing that fundamental principle of our
government is religious liberty, We denounee any
party association which attempts to make relg-
ious convictions a test or qualification for office.
Total separation Of church and state must ever be
maintained
Recognizing as we do, the legal rights of capital
and labor, of porations and individuals we ap-
prove OF such legslatlon-natfonaI and state-as
pensation for labor; both must be in harmony and
each must respect the rights OF the other and the
law must protect them both.
We affirm the natural and legal right of all wage
earners to organize themselves peaceabiy together
ment OF their special vocations and condemn as
autocfstic tyrannical and vicious the spirit that
would deny that right
:, We congratulate the Democrats of Kansas upon
the election of Hon. John Martin to the senate oi
ine United States, commend his ndeilty 10 the
States senate
Inc Democratic party in the future as in the
past ilpera pensions TO loyal and deserving
eS-soldiers IN recognition of the loyalty and de-
votlon 10 their country. and the present commits
sioner of pensions is entitled to the thanks of all
deserving soldiers for his efforts make deserved
pension badge of honor.
We favor the Improvement of public roads, and
the passage of reasonable laws necessary to accom-
piish such results.
We demand the repeal of all laws authorizing the
issue of bonds for any purpose other than public
buildings and free bridges upon public roads.
Owing to the vastly changed condition OF oul
people since the adoption of our state constitution
we are in favor of constitutional convention, Z
the end that many evils may be abolished ant
many wants provided for. Pending the meeting o
constitutions convention and considering the fac
that the shameful delay in the administration o
pubiic justic in the supreme judicial tribunal o
the state by reason of the tremendous accun1ia
ton of business therein is a denial of justice,
in favor OF just legislative action in the way Q