The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1896-08-18
The Platform.

freedom of speech, freedom OF the press FREQ
dom of conscience. the preservation OF per
sonnl rights, the equality OF all citizens before
the law. and the faithful observance OF con-
stitutional limitations
During all theso years tho Democratic party
has resisted the tendency Of selfish interests
to the Capitalization Of governmental power
and steadfastly main tanned the integrity Of
the dual scheme of government established by
the founders of this republic of republics.
Under its guidance and teachings the great
principle of local self government has found
Its best expression in the maintenance OF the
rights Of tho states and its assertion Of the
necessity of combining the general government
to the exercise OF the powers granted by the
constitution of the United Stntes
Tho constitution Of the United States guar
antees to every citizen the rights of civil and
religious liberty. The Democratic party has
always been the exponent OF political liberty
and of religious freedom, and it ronews It's OBJ
legations and reaffirms the devotion to those
Fundamental principles of the constitute
Recognizing that the money question Is par
amount to all others at this time, we invite
attention to the fact that the federal constitu.
ton names silver and gold together as the
money metals of the United States. and that
the first coinag, law passed by congress under
the constitution made tho silver dollar the
monetary unit and admitted gold TO free coin
age at ratio based upon the silver unit
We are opposed to the policy and practice
of surrendering to tho holders Of the obliga-
tions of the United States tho option reserved
by law to the government of redeeming such
obligation in either silver coin or gold coin.
We are opposed to the issuing of interest
bearing bonds of the United States in times of
peace, and condemn the traffcking with bank
ing syndicates which, in exchange for bonds
and enormous rroft to Themselves supply the
federal treasury with gold to maintain the
policy of gold monometallism.
Congress alone has the power to coin or issue
money, as President Jackson declared that
this power could not be d ,egated to corpora
tions or individuals We therefore demand
that the power to issue notes to circulate as
money bo taken from the national banks, and
that all paper money sha be issued directly
by the treasury department, be rodeemable in
coin and receivable for all debts, public and
private.
We hold that tariff duties should bo levied
for purposes of revenue such duties to be so ad-
justed as to operate equally throughout the
country, and not discriminate between class
or section, and that taxation should be limited
by the needs Of the government honestly and
economically administered. We denounce 20
disturbing to business tho Republican threat
to restore the Mckinley law, which has been
twice condemned by the people in national
elections and which, enacted under false pleas
of protection b. hcme industry, proved o pro-
life breeder of trusts and monopolies en-.
riched the few at the expense OF tho many, re-
stricted trade ard deprived the producers Of
the great American staples Of access to their
natural markets.
Until the money question Ia settled we are
opposed to any agitation for further changes
in our tariff laws, except such as are nccos-
sary to meet the deficit in revenue caused by
the adverse decision of the supreme court on
the income tax. But for this decision by the
4 A.
revenues under the law passed by Demo
cratic congress in strict pursuance of tho uni
after be constituted, so that The burdens of
taxation may be equally and impartially laid,
to tho end that wealth may bear its due pro-
portion of the expenses of the government
We hold that the most efficient way of pro.
tecting American labor is to prevent tho i'm
portation of foreign pauper labor to compete
with IL in the home market, and that the value
Of the home market to our American farmers
aud artisans Is greatly reduced by vicious
monetary system which depresses the prices
of their products below the cost of production |
md thus deprives them of the means of pur |
,hasng the products of our home manufacto-
lies.
The absorption Of wealth by the few, the
consolidation of our leading railroad systems
md the formation OF trusts and pools require
stricter control by the federal government |
II those arteries of commerce. Wa demand |
he enlargement OF the powers of the inter |
'tate CONNER % commission and such restric- |
ions and guarantees in the control of rail
'oads as will protect the people from robbery |
md oppression.
We denounce the proHigate waste Of the
money wrung from the people by oppressive
axatit N and tn, lavish appropriations of re-
ent Republican congresses, which have kept
axes high, while tho labor that pays them Is
and the products of the peoples
oil are depressed in price till they no longer |
epay the cost of production. We demand
eturn to that simplicity and economy VIII Oh
efits Democratic government and reduc-
ion in the number of useless offices, the sala-
les Of which drain the substance of the people
We denoupce arbitrary Interference by fed
raj authorities In local affairs as q violation
I the constitution of the United States and
rime against free institutions, ard we es-
ecially object to government by injunction
s q now and highly dangerous form of OPP
rsssion by which federal judges, in contemp
I the laws of the states and rights OF citizens,
ccome at once legislators, judges and execu-
toner's, and we approve tho bill passed at tho
ast session OF the United States senate and
ow pending in the house OF repro ssntatives
elative to contempts in federal courts and
roviding for trials by jury cases of contempt.
10 discrimination shoull be INDUCED by the
overnment of the United States in favor OF
ny of its debtors We approve of the refusal
the Fifty-thir congress to pass the Pacific
abroad funding BILL and denounce the effort
I the present Republican congress TO enforce
milar measures
Recognizing the just claims OF the deserving
Tnion soldiers we heartily endorse tho rules
I the Resent comm doner Of pensions, that
o names hall be arbitrarily dropped from
10 pension roll, and the fact of enlistment
nd service should be deemed conclusive evi- |
n ofn nOaiua al "A apa "a and disability hpfOra l
stment
We favor the admission Of the territories OF
ew Mexico and Arizona into tho Union as
atos, and we favor the early admission of
i the territories having the necessary popu. |
tion and resources to entitle them to state |
bod, and while they remain territories we
DID that the officials appointed to administer
le government OF any territory, together
it'll the District of Columbia, should be bona
10 residents OF the territory or district In
hich their duties are performed. The Dem ,
ratio party believes in home rule, and that
4 public lands of the United States should be
,propriatel to the establishment OF free
)mes for American citizens.
We recommend that tho territory OF Alaska
granted delegate in congress and that the
neral land and timber laws of the United {
ates be extended to said territory.
We extend our sympathy to the people OF
aba in Their hero.c struggle for liberty and
dependence.
We are opposed to life tenure in the public
rvice We favor appointments based upon {
crit, fixed terms of Office and such an admin 4
EratiOn of the civil service law as viii afford ,
ual opportunities to all citizens of ascer.
ined ftless.
We declare II to be the unwrtten law of this 6
public, established by custom and the usage 4
100 years and sanctioned by the oxampl OF
Q greatest and wisest OF those who founded
ID have maintained our government, that no
an should be eligible for a third term Of the Q
esident o. Office. !