The Progress., 1896-09-10


laid, to the end that wealth may bear
Its due propoutjonate expenses OF the
! government.
We hold that the most efficient way
to protect American labor is to prevent
the importation Of foreign pauper labor
TO compete with it in the home market,
and that the value OF the homo market
to our American farmers and artisans
is greatly reduced by vicious moueta,
ny system which depresSes the price ct
their products below the cost of produc-
tion and thus deprives them Of tho
, means OF purchasing the products ot
Our home manufactures.
The absorption OF wealth by the
| few, the consolidation of our leading
| railroad systems and the formation OF
trusts and pools requires stricter con-
| troll by the Federal goveG'nn ent OF
those arteries of commerce. We demand
the enlargement OF the powers of the
interstate commerce commission and
such restrictions and guarantees in the
control of railroads as will protect the
people from robbery and oppression.
1--WE denounce the proAigate waste
! Of the money wrung from the people
, by oppressive taxation and the lavish
appropriations OF the recent Republican
congresses, which have kept taxes high
while the labor that pays them is unem-
ployed and the products of the peoples
toll are depressed in price until they
no longer repay the cost OF production.
We demand a return to that SIM
plicity and economy which best befits
q Democratic government and reduc-
ton in the number Of useless offices,
the salaries Of which drain the SUBJ
stance OF the people.
We denounce arbitrary interference
by Federal authorities in local affairs
as a violation Of the constitution OF the
United States and crime against free
institutions, and we especially object
to government by injunction as a new
and highly dangerous form OF oppres-
sion by which Federal Judges, in con-
tempt of the laws Of the States and tha
rights on citizens, become at once leg
islators, Judges and executioners, and
we approve the bill passed at the last
session of the United States Senate
and now pending in the House rela-
tive to contempts in Federal courts and
providing for trials by jury in certain
cases of contempt.
No discrimination should be IN.
duIged in by the government OF the
United States in favor Of any OF it,
debtors. We approve of the refusal OF
the Fifty-third Congress to pass the
Pacific railroad refunding bill and de-
nounce the effort of the present Repub-
lican Congress to enact similar meas
ure.
We heartily indorse the rule Of tho
present Commissioner of Pensions, that
no names shall be arbitrarily dropped
from the pension roll, and the fact Of
enlistment and service should be DEEM
ed conclusive evidence against disease
or disability before enlistment.
We favor tho admission Of the Ter.
ritories of New Mexico and Arizona
into the Union as States, and we favor
the early admission Of all the Terri.
tories having the necessary population
and resources entitling them to state
hood, and while they remain Terrific
ries we hold that the officials appointed
to administer the government OF any
Territory, together with the District
of Columbia and Alaska, Should be bona
fde residents Of the Territory or DIS.
trict in which their duties are to be
performed. The Democratic party be.
lieyes in home rule, and that all public
lands Of the United States should Ia
applied to the establishment OF free
homes for American citizens.
We recommend that the Territory
Of Alaska be granted delegate in
Congress, and that the general land
and timber laws Of the United States
be extended to said Territory.
We extend our sympathy to the PEG.
pie Of Cuba in their heroic struggle for
liberty and independence.
Eve are opposed to life tenure in the
public service. We favor appointments
based upon merit, fixed terms of Office,
and such an administration of the civil
laws as wiz afford equal opportunities
to all citizens Of ascertained fitness.
We declare it to be the unwritter
law OF this Republic, established by
custom end usages Of 100 years, and
sanctioned by the examples Of the
greatest and wiset of those who formed
and have maintained our government
that no man should be eligible for
third term of the Presidential office.
The federal government shoult
care for the Improvement of the Mis-.
sippi river and other great waterways
of the Republic, SO as to secure for
the interior States easy and cheap
transportation to tide water. When
any waterway Of the Republic Is OF
sufficient importance to demand AID OF
the government, such aid should be ex.
tended upon definite plan OF con.
tinuous work until permanent improve.
ment is secured.
Confding in the Justice Of gu,
cause, AMI the necessity Of It's success.
at the polls, We submit the foregoing
declaration OF principles and purpose
to the considerable Judgment Of tn.
American people. We invite the sup.
port Of all good citizens who approve
them, and We desire to have them made
effective through legislation for the re.