The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-07-15

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tions, and which, enacted under the
false plea of protection to home indus
try, proved a prolific breeder of trusts
and m%onopolies, enriched the few at
the expense Of the many, restricted
trade and deprived the producers of
the great American staples of access TO
their natural markets.
Until the money question is settled
we are opposed to any agitation for
further changes in our tariff laws, ex-
cept such as are necessary to meet the
deficit in revenue, caused by the adj
verse decision of the supreme court on
the income tax. But for this decision
by the supreme court there would be
nc deficit in the revenues under the
law passed by a democratic congress,
in strict pursuance of the uniform de.
cisions of hat court for nearly 100
years, that court having in that decision
sustained constitutional objections to
its enactment, which had previously
been overruled by the ablest judges
who have ever sat on that bench. We
declare that it is the duty of congress
to use all the constitutional power,
which remains after that decision, or
which may come from its reversal by
the court, as it may hereafter be con-
stituted, so that the burdens of taxation
may be equally and impartially laid, to
the end that wealth may bear its due
proportion of the expense of the gov.
eminent.
We hold that the most efficient way
to protect American labor is to prevent
the importation of foreign labor to
compete with it in the home market,
and that the value of the home market
to our American farmers and artisans
is greatly reduced by a vicious none
tary system, which depresses the
prices of their products below the cost
of production, and thus deprives them
of the means of purchasing the products
of our home manufactures.
We denounce arbitrary interference
by federal authorities in local affairs as
a violation of the Constitution of the
United States and a 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
rights Of 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 10Y pending in the house of rep
re%sentatives, relative to contempts in
federal courts, aud providing for trial
by jury in certain cases OF contempt.
n n II n Il n
Recognizing the just claims of de-
serving Union soldiers, we heartily en-
dorse the rule OF the present commits
sioner of pensions that no names shall
be arbitrarily dropped from the pen
sion rel, and that fact of enlis tment
and service should be deemed copclu
sive evidence against disease or dis.
ability before enlistment.
The platform also favors the admis-
sion of New Mexico and Arizona and
the early entrance of the other terri
tories into the Union and extends SYM
patty to Cuba. On the subject of the
civil service the following is the latest
democratic dictum:
We are opposed to life tenure in the
public service. We favor appoint
ments based upon merits, fixed terms
of office, and such an administration of
the civil service laws as will afford
equal opportunities. to all citizens of
ascertained fitness.
A man is declared ineligible for a
third term of the presidential office;
the Mississippi river and other great
water ways are made the subjects of
the care of the federal government.
The minority report favored the
maintenance of the gold standard till
bimetalism can be secured by interna-
tional agreement; demanded that all
lEnds of existing money shall be kept
at a parity with gold, and favored the
gradual retirement of the greenbacks.
1t demanded that the national credit
shall be resolutely maintiined at all
times and under all circumstances" and
commended the national administration
for its honesty, economy, courage and
fidelity. A long debate followed.
Amendments of various kinds were
prepared by the sound money and ad-
ministration men. Senator Hill tried
to have adopted an amendment pro-
viding that the demand of the majority
report that all debts public and private
be paid in standard silver dollars shall
not apply to existing contracts, but this
and a special amendment endorsing
the administration of President Cleve-
land were ruthlessly voted down, as
well as every other amendment. Hill,
Villas, Russell and other eastern men
tried to stem the torrent of free silver
ism, but Altgeld, Tillman and Bryan
carried the convention by a t%wo-thirds
majority amid tumultuous scenes that
beggar description. Bryan of Nebraska,
the Boy Orator of the Platte" in the
picturesque phrase of the New York
SIM tOOk the convention hy etorp, hu