The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-10-17
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

j. Inc democracy OF OnlO, IN cOnvonClon
assembled, hereby expresses lis hearty
Gal and honest administration Of Presi-
dent Cleveland.
g. We adhere 20 the declaration Of the
Democratic party in It's national platform
that protection is q fraud, and while we
recognise the benefit OF the reduction of
duties on imports just made by congress,
we favor such further reduction as can be
made having In view the revenues neces-
sary to be raised for the support of the
government, to the end that the injustice
of purely protective duties be abolished.
We congratulate the country upon the re-
peal Of the Mckinley tariff and the enact
lnent Of tariff law In It's stead, under the
operation Of which trade and business are
reviving, and the country again becoming
prosperous. The Mckinley tariff went
into operation less than four years ago,
yet in that short period the country
changed from prosperity to o condition Of
financial and industrial depression unpar-
alleled In our history as a nation. Under
Its operation the revenues derived from
duties on imports decreased to sum in
sufficient to meet the expenses of the gov.
ernment, thereby necessitating the sale of
bonds, and O consequent increase of the
interest bearing debt of the government.
Under 1t more business failures occurred
than ever before In the history Of tho
country in the same period of time. While
It was In operation, there were more peo-
pie out of employment, more labor
strikes, more bread riots less employment
for labor and lower wages paid than was
over before known. Under its operation
the produce of the farmer, especially
wheat and wool, brought the lowest prices
reached since the wer. While 1t was in
force, there were harder timee, more
panics, moro business houses bankrupted,
more forced sales, and more distress and
destitution than was ever known in this
country In the same length of time. The
Republican pretense that these results
were caused by the change of administra-
tion Is so unsupported by facts that de-
nial seems unnecessary; for it must not be
overlooked that until within the last 80
days evory commodity bought OF sold, in
oluding every bushel of grain and every
pound of wool in the market, was bought
and sold under the Mckinley tariff, which
was In full operation, doing It's perfect
work; and that since its repeal, business
has revived and the market improved,
which is a complete answer to the charge.
The Silver Planls.
8. We dissent from the presidents
views, construction and treatment of the
silver question and, therefore, believe that
silver should be restored to the position it
occupied as money prior to its demoneti-
yation by tho Republican party, and to
that end we favor the unlimited Free coin
age of silver at the legal ratio of 16 to
and with equal legal tender power.
q. We denounce the recent Republican
legislature of Ohio as the most extrava-
giant, venal and corrupt known to the his
tory of this state. It adjourned at time
when some of its members charged their
fellow members with bribery and when
the people were clamorous for investiga-
ton. It would not suffer investigation,
Tor that meant conviction. Not to investi-
gate was to plead guilty. 1t chose the
latter alternative. Its appropriation OF
the public money to pay its members
salary for two sessions, while holding but
one, was a crime which merits the con-
demnation and supreme contempt of every
taxpayer, being salary grab of the worst
character.
8. We denounce the administration of
Governor Mckinley for being the most ex-
travagant known in the annals of our
state, supplemented by shameful, scan
dalous and immoral conduct of his up
pointees in the management of their Offices,
some of whom are under indictments for
felonies, others dismissed from Office fJr
ofenses too indelicate to name, while 9TH
ers yet remain in office though publicly
charged with grave and immoral conduct
and gross mis- mismanagement Of public af-
fairs
The A. r. A. Denouced.
g. The Democratic party has always
been the champion of equal rights and re-
ligious liberty. 1t has ever been hostile
to political prescription on account of re-
Agious opinion. We therefore denoupce
the American Protective association and
oil organizations which make religious be-
lief o test of political preferment
T. We favor liberal pensions to worthy
soldiers, sailors and marines, their widows
and orphans.
g. Realizing the growing danger from
the use OF money in elections, we favor
the enactment Of Corrupt practices"
law, limiting the amount of money to be
expended by candidates; requiring the
publication after election by all candidates
and campaign committees Of sworn item
lxed statements Of all money expended,
and fixing forfeiture Of Office and disfran.
chisement as the penalty for violating It's
provisions.
Q. Tho system Of giving passes to per-
sons In public Office which has been prac-
ticed by corporations has reached stage
which demands condemnation by the peo-
pie. We therefore favor such legislation
rs will make 1t misdemsanor for any
person to accept, or for any railroad cor
poration OF for any of It's officers or agents
10 give to such public officers pass upon
Anv railroad In thia atafa