The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1896-08-25
The Platform.


dom of conscience. tho preservation of per
sonal rights, the equality of all citizens before
tho law, and tho faithful observance OF con.
stitutlonal limitations
During all those years the Democratic party
has resisted the tendency OF selfish interests
TO the Capitalization of governmental power
and stcadfastly maintained 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 the states and its assertion of tho
necessity OF combining the general government
to the exercise of tho powers granted by the
coust tuition of the United States.
The constitution Of the United States guar
antees to every citizen the rights of civil and
religious liberty. The Democratic party has
always been this exponent ot political liberty
and of religious freedom, and IL renews its OBJ
legations and feafilrms the devotion TO those
Fundamental principles of tho constitution.
Recognizing thnt the money question is par
amount to nll others at this time, we invite
attention to the fact that the federal consttu
tion namos 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 froo coin
age at ratio based upon the silvor unit
Wo are opposed to the policy and practice
of surrendering to tho holders of the oblga-
tions of the United states the 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 tho United States in times of
peace and condemn the trnflicldng with bank
ing syndicates which, in exchange for bonds
and On )rmous croft TO themselves. supply the
federal treasury with gold to m qintain the
policy of gold monomotullism
Congress a,ole has the power to coin or issue
money, as President Jackson declared that
this power could not be d legated 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 sha be issued directly
| by the treasury department, be redeomable in
coin and receivable for all debts public and
| private.
We hold that tariff duties should be 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, mad that taxation should b. limited
| by the needs of the government honestly and
| economically administered. We denounce 90
disturbing to business the Republican threat
to restore the Mckinley law, which has beon
| twice condemned by the people in national
| elections and which, enacted under false pleas
| OF protection to hcme industry proved n pro-
life breodor of trusts and monopoles, en-
richad the few at the expense of the many, ro-
stricted trade AID deprived the producers of
natural narltets
Until the money question s settled we are
opposed to any agitation for further changes
in our tariff laws, except such are noces.
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
Supreme court there would he no deficit in the
revenues under the law passed by Demo.
cratic congress in strict pursuance Of tho uni
after be const tuted, so That the burdens OF
taxation may be equally and impartially laid,
TO the end that wealth may bear its due pro
portion OF the expenses Of the governments
We hold that the most efficient way of pro-
tecting American labor is to prevent the i'm
portaton of foreign paul ler labor to compete
with 1t 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 deprives them of tho means of pur |
chasing the products of our home manufacto |
res.
The absorption of wealth by tho few, the
consolidation Of our leading railroad systems |
and tho formation OF trusts and pools require |
a stricter control by the federal government |
of those arteries of commerce. We demand |
the enlargement of tho powers of the inter
state commerce commission and such restric'
tions and guarantees in the control OF rail.
roads will protect the people from robbery
and oppression.
We denounce the prongato waste of the
money wrung from the people by oppressive
taxatiC n and In lavish appropriations of re-
cent Republican congresses, which have kept
tnxes high, while the labor that pays them ia
unemployed, and the products OF the peoples
toll are depressed in price till they no longer
repay the cost Of production. We demand o
return to that simplicity and economy VIII Oh
bofits Democratic government and reduC'
tion in the number of useless offices, the saia-
ries Of which drain the substance of the people.
We denounce arbitrary interference by fed
eral authorities In local affairs q violation
Of the constitution of the United States and
crime against free institutions md we es.
peclally object to government by injunction
as a new and highly dangerous form of OPP
Rsssion by which federal judges, in contamp
of the laws of the states and rights of citizens,
become az once legislators, judges and execu-
TONERS, and we approve tho bill Passed at tho
last session OF the United States senate and
now pending in the house of repr' jntatives
relative to conteinpts in federal courts and
providing FOR trials by jury cases of contempt
Nc discrimination SHOULD be indulgo by the
government of the United Statos in favor of
any of its debtors We approve of the refusal
of the Fifty-thrd congress to pass the Pacific
railroad funding bill, and denounce the effort
Of tho present Republican congress to enforce
similar measures
Recognizing tho Just claims of the deserving
of the Present comm ioncr of pensions, that
no names shah be arbitrarily dropped from
the pension roll, and the fact Of enlistment
aud service should DO deemed conclusive evi-
denco against disease and disability before en-
listmcnt.
We favor the admission Of the territories OF
New Mexico and Arizona into tho Union as
states, and we favor tho early admission Of
all the territories having the necessary popu-
lation and resources to ent!tle them to state
hood, and while they romain territories we !
hold that the officials appointed TO alministor
tho government OF any territory, together
with the District Of Columbia, should be bona
fldo residents Of the territory or district in
which thor duties arc performed. The Dem. ,
ocratic party believes in homo rule, aud that i
all public lands of the United States should be
appropriated to the establlshment OF fyoo
homes for American citizens
We recommend that the territory of Alaska +
be granted delegate in congress and that the
general land Ead timber laws Of tho Unitod ,
States be EXTENDED to said territory.
We extend our sympathy 90 the people OF ,
Cuba in their horo.c struggle for liberty and ,
!
We are opposed to life tenure in the public :
service. We favor appoint ntments based upon q
merit, fixed terms of Office and such an admin. [
of the o.yll service law as will afford
equal opportunities TO all citzons Of ascor-
tained ft1oss
We declare it 10 be the unwrtten law of this =
republic, established by custom and tho usage d
Of 100 years aad sanctioned by the exampl o of y
the greatest and wlsest OF those who founded J
and have maintained our government, that no t
man should be eligible for third term OF the
Office v
The federal government should care for ard o
improve tho Mississippi river and other great ;,
water ways OF the republic so as 10 secure for .