Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-07-03
vERMoNT.s YALE OF WOE,
or the Democratic office Holders
Platform.

PLATFORM
The Democrats of Vermont, in conven-
ton assembled, recognizing that past
victories have been the fruit of loyalty
to the great principles embodied in the
institutions. of our country by the noble
founders of the Party whose adherents
we are proud to be, proclaim these prin-
ciples anew as the principles of true
Democracy and National welfare.
Undismayed by temporary defeats and
confident in the hope of ultimate tri-
umph, we urge Democrats everywhere
to be steadfast in their allegiance and to
carry forward the work that is necessary
for the redemption of the country from
the evils of Republican legislation. We
denounce the Republican party for its
attempt to deny it's responsibility for the
effects of that legislation; and assert
that, for more than quarter of century
it enacted and maintained laws whose
tendency and effect have been to produce
insecure economical conditions, sub ject-
ing industry to the uncertainty of politi-
cal policies, establishing speculative
monopolies to stifle the spirit of indie
pendent enterprise, and teaching the
dogma of the demagogue that taxation
is source of wealth and not an incident
of government.
Those laws, enacted under the excuse
of war necessity, were continued after
the excuse was gone, to the detriment of
the farmer, whose products they could
not benefit, to the injury of the laborer,
whose employment they rendered I'M
stable, to the common danger of the
people that live under a government in
which the injury of one is the concern
of all.
The marks of Republican rule are
everywhere visible. They are seen in
the rapid Capitalization of wealth. in
the reduction of the number of home
owners, in the favoritism shown to the
few, in the charity needed for the many,
and in the increasing distinctness of the
classification of the rich and the poor.
| We approve of the measures proposed
| by the representatives of the Democratic
party in Congress for the relief of the
country from unjust and discriminating
tariff taxation.
We denOunce and hold the Republican
party responsible for the present de-
pressed condition of the country and do
not allow their cowardly attempt at
shifting their responsibility, as it is
directly traced to the effects of the
Mckinley tariff act, which fOstered
temporarily eXtravagant and reckless
| financial business schemes to the present
disastrous results. We demand a tariff
which shall be protection to American
labor and keep the country in a steady
and conservative condition and not a
cause of such violent mutations and de-
pressions as have occurred under the
present Mckinley bill.
The Inconvenience that may result to a
| faunra1 faEu nv fbn raUnrca1 of fhn 20
publican policy should not outweigh the
great, permanent and universal benefits
| of reformed tariff.
The pathway out of bondage may lead
through the deep sea, but it ends in the
promised land.
We approve of the repeal of the federal
election law, that insldious instrument
for the destruction of the constitutional
freedom of the ballot.
The repeal of the Sherman silver law
was an achievement for which President
Cleveland and the Democratic party are
entitled to the support and confidence of
all who desire the blessing of sound
currency and an honest dollar. The re-
pentance of the Republican party for it's
financial sins was past the eleventh hour.
The forecast of the evil consequences of
the silver legislation of the Republican
party made by President Cleveland years
before the panic of 1893 is but one of the
many instances of the political sagacity
and the sound judgement of our great
leader.
We recognize the fact that the progress
of civilization has made the large nations
of the world dependent upon each other
financially, and we demand a currency
that shall be of its face value in every
part of the globe. We believe in gold
and silver as circulating medium, and
that they shall be made of equal value, as
demanded in the National Democratic
platform of 1892.
We urge the passage of a State law
taxing inheritances. Those who inherit
property should contribute to the sup
port of the government as well as those
who earn it.
We denounce the so-called prohibitory
laws of this state, which restrict the con-
sumption of liquor by temperate people
only, and which actually promote drunk
enness in its most perniciOus forms.
During the 40 years that these laws have
been in force the traffic in liquor has con-
stantly increased, and will continue to dc
so. Under these laws the traffic is en-
tirely uncontrolled and is a constant ex-
pense to the staUe, while under proper
license system it might be regulated and
its evils minimized, and in addition
would return large revenue, thus di.
minishing the rate of taxation. These
laws tend to debauch our courts and
their officers by making it much less
profitable to enforce them in their spirit
than to secretly connive at their violation
and sell immunity from punishment
Finally, these laws are undermining the
respect for law among our people by ia.
miliarizing them with the spectacle Of
open, unchecked and unabashed com
mission of crimes by persons who would
otherwise be looked upon as model citi-
zens, and of convicted criminals return
ing from their terms of imprison
ment to resume their places in the com
munity respectable and respected.