Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-01-17

at-large. and the convention ex-
pressed the feeling of Democrats in
the platform, as follows:
Recognizing the issues involved
in the nomination made to-day to
be directly and especially related to
federal legislation, the Democracy
of Pennsylvania declare that:
/. The present disturbed condi-
ton of the business and finances of
the country is of natural and inev-
table consequences of long years of
Republican maladministration and
vicious legislation. Inequitable
and oppressive tariff laws, wasteful-
ness and prohigacy in public expen-
ditures and cowardly financial make
shifts are responsible for the pros
tration of American industries; the
arrangement of the currency, and
the deficit in the federal revenue.
2. The extravaganza of Repub-
lican congress, tolerated and abetted
by Republican administration of
the executive departments, wasted
surplus of more than $100,000,000,
which had been gathered into the
public treasury by a Democratic
administration; and left a deficit of
over $30,000,000 in its stead.
3 Evasive legislation on the cur
rency by successive congresses de-
based the public money, rendered
the standard of values shifting and
uncertain, disturbed confidence and
wrought financial disaster, from
which the slow but sure recovery Of
the country is mainly due to the
courage, fidelity and consistency of
Democratic president.
A Three years experience of the
Mckinley Republican high tariff
bill has resulted in general business
depression and in wreck and rum to
manufacturing and commercial in
terests. This result has fully JUS
titled the Democratic opposition to
that measure and the demand for
its repeal which found expression
in the overwhelming Democratic
victory in 1892.
5 Every consideration of politi-
cal honor, fidelity and expediency
demands that the pledges upon
which that victory was won shall
be faithfully and fully kept and
that the Democratic congress shall
revise the tariff by promptly pass
ing the Wilson bill reported by
the ways and means committee; to
the end that the raw materials nee
essary to American industries shall
be admitted free of duty; that tariff
taxes shall be lowered on the nee
essities of life, and that import du-
ties shall be distributed with a view
of tightening the burdens of the
many instead of protecting the in
terests of a favored few.
6 We denounce as a crime
against the business interests of the
country, against the prosperity of
the people, against the welfare of
the workingmen, the efforts of the
Republican minority in congress
to delay and prevent the settlement
of the tariff question. We call upon
our representatives in congress so
to act and vote as to promptly de-
termine this issue in accordance
with Democratic promises and DEM
ocratic professions.
7 A speedy and thorough revis-
ion of the tariff, on the lines of
Democratic policy enunciated by the
last Democratic national conven-
ton and adopted by the Democratic
president, will revive industries Of
the American manufacturer, en-
nance the profits of the American
farmer, increase the wages of the
American mechanic and enlarge
their purchasing power, stimulate
our export trade and restore our
supremacy in the commerce of the
seas.
8 TO these principles and poll