The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1896-10-13
The Platform,

1 adSJGa ted from Jeiferson's time to our own
| free1Om Of spernh, freedom Of the press froe.
| dom OF conscience. the proservation OF per
H0nal rights, the equality Of all citizens before
che law, and thr faithful Observance Of con-
snsutional limitations
| Daring all thosn years tho Democratic party
! has resisted the tendency OF selfish interests
to the Capitalization Of governmental power
| and sicadfasty maintained thc integrity OF
| She dual scheme Uf government established BY
the founders Of this republic OF republics.
| Under ia guidance and teachings the great
| principle OF lUoal self governments has found
| Its best expression in the m mlintenance OF tho
rights OF tho states and its rs ,erton Of the
neuess.ty OF conflning tho general government
to the exercise Of the powers granted by the
cohutituton OF tho United States.
| Tao constitution OF tho United States quar-
antces to every citizen the rights OF civil and
| religious liberty. Tho Democratic party has
| always been tbs e1pouont OF political liberty
and Of religious fr eeiom, ard Is renvws Its OBJ
| legations and renfflrmi the devotion TO those
| fundamental principles Of the constitution.
| Recognizing that the money question is par
| amount TO all others at this time, we invite
attention TO tho fact that tho federal oonstitu-
tion namos aiiv r and gold together as the
money metals OF tho United States, and that
| the first coinnG law p p,sset by congress under
the constitution male tho silver dollar the
| monetary unit anil admitted gold to free coin
| age at ratio based upon the silver unit
We aro opposed to the policy and practice
| Of surronderiur to tho holders of tho oblign-
| tions of the United States tho option reserved
by law to the government OF rodeoming such
| obligation in either silver coin or gold coin.
We arc opposed to the issuing of interest
bearing bonds OF the United Statos in times of
! peace, and condemn the trafickinR with bank
| ing syndlcates which, in exchange for bonds
| and n rmous Nroht to thomseIves, supply the
| federal treasury with gold to m sintaln tho
| policy Of gold monometallism.
Congress nlono has the powor TO coin or issue
money, ~ President jackson declared that
this power could not be ,legated to corpora
tions or individuals. We therefore demand
| that tho power to issue notes to circulate
money he taken from the national banks, and
that all paper money sha be issued directly
! by the treasury departments, be redeemable In
| coin nnd receivable for all dobts, public and
| private
We hold that tariff duties should be le7ied
for purposes OF royonre such dutie, to be so adj
| justed Us to operate equally throughout tho
| country, and not discriminate betwcen class
| or section, and that taxation shoul1 b, limited
| by tho needs Of the government honestly and
| economically administered. Wo denounce 70
| disturbing to busines, tho Republican threat
| to restore tho Mckinley law, which has been
| twice condemned by the people in national
| elections and which, enacted under false pleas
Of protection to hcme industry, proved pro-
| life breeder of trusts and monopolies, on.
| richod the few nj the expense OF the many. re-
strictod trade aid deprived ,he producers Of
| the great American staples Of access TO thoir
natural markets..
| Until the money Queltlon 10 settled we arc
| opposed TO any agitation for further changes
| In our tariff laws. except such are ncces.
| sary TO meet tho deficit In revenue caused by
the adverse decision OF the supreme oourt on
the income tax But for this decision by tho
ssprcme court there would DO no delo't in the
revenues under the law passed by . Demo
cratic congress in strict pursuance Of the uni
after bo constituted, SO Fhas the bnTaons of
taxation may bo equally and impartially laid,
to the end that wealth may bear It's due pro-
portion OF the expenses Of the government
We hold that the most efficient way OF pro.
tocting American labor Is TO prevent the ina
portation of foreign paupor labor to compete
with 10 In the home MARKET and that the value
OF the home market TO our American farmers
aud artisans rs greatly reduced by vicious
mon etary system which depresses tho prices
OF their products below tho cost OF production
and thus deprives them OF tho means OF pur'
chasing tho products of cur homo manufacto-
ries.
The absorption OF wealth by tho few, tho
consolidation Of our loading railroad systcms
and the formation OF trusts and pools require
q strlcter control by tho federal government
Of those arteries OF commerce. We demand
the enlargement Of the powers OF tho inter
state CONNER commission, nnd such rostric'
tions and guarantees in the control Of rail.
roads rs will protect the people from robbery
and oppression.
We denounco the profigate waste Of tho
money wrung from tho people by oppressive
taxati, n aud III, lavish appropriations OF re-
cent Republican congresses. which hav, k3pt
taxes high, while the labor that pays them Is
unamploye cd, and the products Of the peoples
toll are depressed In price till they no longer
ha mat tnf prO demand
return TO that simplicity and economy VIII Oh
BELTS Democratic government and reduc'
tion in the number of useless Offices the sala'
ries of which drain the substance OF the people.
We denounce arbitrary interference by fed
eral authorities In local affairs rs violation
Of the constitution OF tho United states and .
crime against free institutions, AID we es-
peolally object to government by injunction
as q now and highly dangerous form OF op-
lression by which federal judges, la contemp
OF the laws Of the states and rights OF citizens,
become at once legislators, judges and exeou'
TONERS, and we approve tho bill passed at tho
last session OF the United States senate and
now pending in the house Of repr, ,ntatives
relative 20 contempts In federal courts and
providing for trials by Jury ca,os OF contempt.
No discrimination shoull be induig.d by the
government OF the United States in favor OF
any OF its debtors. We approve Of tho 10 'usa)
Of tho F1fty-third congress- to pass tho Pacific
Of tho present Republican congress to enforce
similar measures.
Recognizing tho just claims Of the deserving
Union soldiers we heartily endorse the rules
of the prssent comm sioner OF ponsions. thai
no names shall be arbitrarily dropped from
the pension roll, and the fact OF enlistment
and service sh ,uld be deemed conclusive evil
donce agsipst disease and disability before en-
listment
We favor the admission OF the territories OF
New Mexico and Arizona into tho Union A.
states, aud wc favor tho early admission OF
all tho territories having the necessary popu'
lation and resources Co entitle them TO state
hood, and while they romain territories wa
hold that tho officials appointed 20 administer
tho government OF any territory, together
with tho District Of Columbia, should be bona
Ado rosidents Of the territory or district In
which their duties are performed. The Dom.
ocratio party bslieves In home rule and that
all public lands of tbs United States should bs
appropriated to the Embellishments Of fee
homes Tor American ctizons.
We recommend that the territory OF Alaska
be granted delegate in congress and that tho
general land and timber laws OF the United
Srates no extended to said territory.
Wo extend our sympathy to the people Of
Cuba in their heroc struggle for liberty and
Independence.
We nre oppoael to lite tenure In the public
service We favor appointments based upon
merit, fixed Terms Of ofiloo and such admin
istration of the civil service law as will AFFORD
equal opportunities 10 AL citizons Of Rscer-
tsined fitness
We declare 1t to be the uuwritten law OF this
republic established by custom and the usage
a - n