The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1896-10-20
The PiatYofln.


advocated from Jeiferson's time TO our own
Freedom Of speech, freedom Of the press, free
dom OF conscience. the preservation OF per.
sonal rights, the equality OF nll citizens before
the law. and the faithful observance Of con-
ntltptional limitations.
| During all these years tho Democratic party
has resisted the tendency OF selfish interests
TO tho Capitalization Of governmental power
and steadfastIy maintained tho integrity OF
the dual sohome 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 expires 3ion In the maintenance OF the
rights Of the states and its assertion Of the
necessity Of combining the general government
TO tho exercise Of the powers granted by the
90, stitution Of the United States.
TIE constitution Of the United States guar
antee' to every citizen the rights of civil and
religious liberty. The Democratic party has
always been tn, exponent OK political liberty
and OF religious freedom, ard 10 renews Its OBJ
legations and reafflrms the devotion to those
fundamental principles of the constitution.
Recognizing that the money question Is par
amount to all othors at this time, we invite
attention to tho fact that the federal constitu.
tion names rilvor and gold together az the
money metals of the United States and that
thu first coinng Flaw pissed by congress under
tho constitution male the silver dollar the
monetary unit and admitted gold to free coin
age ut a ratio based upon tho silver unit.
We arc opposed to the policy and practice
Of surrendein1 to the holders Of the obliga-
tions OF the Unised States the option reserved
by Inv to tho governments OF redeeming such
obligation in either silver coin or gold coin.
Wo nRc opposed to tho issuing of interest
bearing bonds OF the United Stases in times of
pence, and condemn the trnfficking with bank.
Ing ryndicates which, In exchange for bonds
and ,rinous ,ro1t to themselves, supply the
federal treasury with gold to msintain the
policy Of gold monometallism.
Congress a,ole has rho power to coin or Issue
money, a5 President jackson declared that
this power could not be dsegatcd to corpora
tions or individuals We therefore demand
that the power to issue notes to circulate as
money be taken from the national banks, and
that All paper money shall be issued directly
by tho treasury department., be redeemable In
coin and receivable for all debts. public and
private.
wo hold that tariff duties should be levied
for purposes Of revonuo, such duties to be so ad.
justed NJ to operate equally throughout the
country, and mos discriminate between ciass
or section. and that taxation should b. limited
by the needs Of the government honestly and
economically administered. We denounce ~
dis sfurbing TO business the Republican threat
to restore the Mckinley law, which has been
twice condemned by the people in national
elect ctions and which, enacted under false pleas
Of protection to ht'me industry, proved pro-
iific breeder OF trusts and monopolies, en-.
rich sd the few at the expense OF the many, ro-
stricted trade and deprived the producers Of
the great American staples Of ACCESS TO their
natural markets.
Until thc money question 10 settled we are
opposed to any agitation for further changes
In our tariff laws, except such as are neoes-
sary TO meet the deficit In revenue caused by
the adverse decision OF the supreme court on
-. a. n,.N Ae- ht, 81.
supreme court there would be no defot in the
revenues under the law passed by Deino
cratic congress in strict pursuance Of the uni
after be constituted, 80 chat the burdens of
taxation mny be equally aud impartially laid,
to tho end that wealth may bear its due pro-
portion OF tho expenses Of tho governments
We hold that the most efficient way of p-o-
tocting Amoricnn labor 10 to prevent the I'M
portatlon 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 tho cost OF production
and thus deprivcs them OF the means OF pur.
chasing the products of our home manufacto
ries.
The absorption OF wealth by the few, the
consolidation Of our loading railroad systems
and the formation OF trusts and pools require
q strioscr control by the federal government
of those arteries of commerce We demand
the enlargement OF the powers of the inter
state conimerc, commission, and suoh restric
tions and guarantees in the control of rail
roads as win protect the people from robbery
and oppression.
We denounco the profg waste Of the
money wrung from the people by oppressive
taxation and tn, lavish appropriations OF re-
cent Republican congresses, which have kept
taxes high, while the labor that pays them is
unemployed, and the products Of the peoples
toll are depressed in price till they no longer
repay the Gust OF production. We demand
return to that simplicity and economy VIII Oh
belts Democratic government and reduc-
ton In the number Of useless Offices the saln
ries Of which drain the substance OF the people.
We denounoe arbitrary interference by Ted
eral authorities In local affairs as violation
Of the constitution of tho United states and a
crime against free Institutions, aid we es-
peoialiy object to government by injunction
as new and highly dangerous form OF OPP
rression by which federal judges, in contemp
Of the laws Of the states and rights of citizens,
become at onoo legislators, judges and execu.
TONERS, and we approve the bill passed at the
last session OF the Unitsd States senate and
now pending in the house OF repr, s1ntatives
relative TO contempts in federal courts and
providing for trials by Jury cases OF contempt.
No discrimination should be indulgsd by the
government of the United States in favor OF
any of Its debtors We approve Of tho refusal
Of tho Fifty.third congress to pass the Pacific
railroad funding bill, and denounce the effort
Of the present Republican congress to enforce
similar measures.
Recognizing the Just claims OF the deserving
Onion soldiers we heartily endorse the rules
OF the present comm stioner Of pensions, that
no names shall be arbitrarily dropped from
tho pension roll, and tho fact of enlistm ent
and service should be deemed conclusive owl
dence against disease and disability before en-
listment.
We favor the admission OF the territories OF
New Mexico and Arizona into the Union as
states. and we favor the early admission OF
all tho territories having the necessary popu-
lation and resources to entitle thom TO state
hood and while thoy remain territories we
held that tho officials appointed to administer
tho government OF any territory, together
with tho District of Columbia, should be bona
hde residents Of the territory or district In
which their duties are performed. The Dem
ocratic party believes in homo rule, and that
all public lands Of the United States should be
appropriated to the establishment of I go
homes for American citizens.
We recommend that the territory OF Alaska
be granted . delegate in congress and that the
general land Hud tiinher laws of the Uuitod
States be extended TO said territory.
We extend our sympathy to the people Of
Cuba in their horoo struggle for l.berSy and
Independence.
!, We are oppo7ad to life tenure in the public
service We fnv,r appointments basod upon
merit, hxed terms Of Office aud such an admin
istsation Of the civil service law as will afford
equal opportunities to oil citizens OF ascer
talned fitness.
We declare 10 TO bo tho uuwritten law of this
m hx ~ ~ nd tha