Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1894-07-14
Democratic Platform.

Democratic Platform.
The democratic party of Kansas in convention
assembled declares its abiding faith in the eter-
nal principles of democracy. among which are:
Strict construction of public powers to the
end that the government may not be subYerred
and liberty mcnaCed by constant assumption OF
unauthorized powers by public functionares.
Local self government, the largest personal
liberty consistent with the protection of rights,
unyieldinc hostility to all forms of centraliza-
ton constant distrust of power rigid economy
in public affairs.
action Of President Cleveland and the efforts
of all true democrats in executive and IeglSla-
tive stations in all that they have done to carry
out the principles of the last Chicago platform
The administration assumed control of the gov
ernment at a time when republican extraya-
gance, protliGacy and dishonesty had leIU the
pbulic treasury exposed to bankruptcy, beset
with trials and perpleXities rarely experienced
by statesmen. the direct results of the waste
ful eytraVagauca and infamous legislation of
the republican party. But it has met every re,
sponsibility, braved every peril and risen equal
Third-We endorse and reafffrn the declara-
tion of principles as announced by the demo-
cratic national convention on the End OF June,
1892, at Chicago, especially the provision or the
platform which declares that We denounce re-
publican protection as a fraud, robbery of a
great majority of the American people Ior the
benefit of the few. We declare it to be tunda,
mental principle of the party that the federal
government has no constitutional rights to I'M
pose and collect tariff duties except for the pur-
pose of revenue only and demand that the col
lection of such taxes shall be limited 10 t4e
and economically administered; and we de.
rnand such speedy legislation along the lines Of
tariff reduction as expressed in the wilson OIL
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 a fair share
of the public taxation we favor an income tax
as opposed to the indirect burdens of tariff tax
alton, and hail with delight the action OF a
democratic congress in adopting that feature as
a part of our system of taxation.
For ~ h No hold tot tba I1Sn ff hot
silver as the standard money of the country ana
70 the coinage of both gold and silver without
discriminating against either metal
but the dollar unit of coinage of both metals
must be of equal intrinsic and eXChangeaDle
agreement or by such safeguards OF leglsIatloL
as shall insure the maintenance of the parity or
the two metals, and the equal power OF every
dollar at ali times IN the market and IN the pay
ment of debts; and demand that a paper
currency shall be kept at par with and redeem
able in such coin: VIC insist upon this policy as
especially necessary for the protection of the
farmer and labOring classes the first and most
defcnseless victims Of unstable money and
Fifth-We favor a sufficient appropriation by
congress to thoroughly test the question OF lrrl-
cation IN western Kansas.
Sixth-Wo recommend the establishment by
our government of a non-paTtlsan national com
mission on immigration to examine into the
cause and effect of foreign pauper Immigration
and to devise some efficient means of securing
TO American wage-earners some of the protec-
ton that has IN years past, been so lavlshIy be-
slowed by the republican party upon tariff ben
etciaries.
Seventh-Recognizing that a fundamental
principle of our government is religious liberty,
we denOunce any Tty or association which at
tempts to make religious convictions test or
qualification for office. Total separation OF
church and state must ever be maintained.
notwithstanding as we do, the legal rights
OF capital and labor of corporations and lndl-
Tlduals, we approve of such proper legislation
national and state-as will preserve the Just
rights OF capital and fair compensation for la
bor both must be IN harmony and each must re-
spect the rights of the other and the law must
protect both.
We affirm the natural and legal right of all
wage earners to organize themselves pcaCeably
together for tire protection of their rights and
tile advancement of their special vocatious. and
condemn as autOcratic, tyrannical and vicious
the spirit that would deny that right.
Nnth-Ne congratulate the democrats of
Kansas upon the election of Hon. John Martin
TO the senate of the United States, commend
has fidelity TO the interests of the people and his
course In the United States senate.
Ienth-Ihe democratic party in the future
rs IN the past favors liberal pensions to all
loyal and deserving ex-soldiers in recognition
FOR their loyalty and devotion to their country
and the present commissioner of pensions is en-
titled to the thanks of all deserving soldiers for
hi- efforts to make deserved pension a badge
Eleventh-We favor the Improvement of pub
lie roads and the passage of reasonable laws
necessary to accomplish such results.
Twelfth--We demand the repeal of all laws
authorizing the issue of bonds for any purpose
other than public buildings and free bridges
Thrteeuth-Owing to the vastly changed
condition of our people since the adoption of
our state constitution, we are in favor of a
constitutional convention, to the end that
many evils existing may be abolished and many
wants provided for Pending the meeting of a
constitutional convention and considering the
fact that the shameful delay in the administra-
tion of public justice in the supreme judicial
tribunal OF the state by reason of the tremend-
Gus accumulation of business therein is a denial
OF Justice, we are in favor of just legislative
action IN the way of assistance to the supreme
court as will guarantee to litigants speedy de-
clS!on IN their cases.
demand a reSubmiSSion of the prohibitory
amendment TO the vote of the electors of the
commonwealth believing that experience from
year to year since its adoption. has demon
strated that it was the wor., Of folly and fanat-
ictsm-th9t it has not, in the slightest degree,
the fruitfI eS ., Of ana mas oee9
official corruption, and in lieu thereof, we favor
a system of high license and local option and
demand the repeal of the iniquitous laws passed
for the purpose of carrying into practical effect
the purpose and intent of said amendment.
tending to destroy the home and family the
true basis of political safety. and express the
hope that the helpmeet and guardian of the
family sanctuary may not be dragged from the
modest purity of self-imposed secluson to be
thrown unwillingly into the unfeminine places
of political strife.
Sixteenth-The disgraceful returning board
proceedings of the last election, worthy of the
palmlest days of carpet-bag corruption result
lower house of legislature as also the subse-
quent dlSzraceful proceedings of both populist
and republican parties deserve the patriotic at
tentlon and condemnation of the people,
MINORITY REPORT.
We again declare in favor of himetallic cur
rency and the free coinage of both gold and SiI-
Yer yer upon equal terms at a fair ration and with
out dIscrimil2tlpn. to the end that the growth
of the currency may keep pace with ii E growth
OF business and that the debtor may not be met
ducts of labor We favor however. a ratio
of Is 70 and that all currency be kept a par-
lty and Of equal value.
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