The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1896-09-22
The Platform.

and liberty upon which our institutions are
founded and which the Democratic party has
advocated from Jeffersons time to our own
freedom Of speech, freedom Of the press, froo.
dom OF conscience. the preservation of per
sonal rights the equality OF all citizons before
The law, and the faithful observance OF con.
stitutional limitations
During all those yoars tho Democratic party
has resistcd the tendency of selfish inter- ests
| 70 the Capitalization Of governmental power
and steadfastly main tanned the integrity of
tho dual schor1e Of government established by
the founders OF this republic of republics.
Under It's guidance and teachings the great
principle Of local self government has found
It's best expires 4lon in the maintenance of the
rights OF the states and its as ,ertion of the
necessity Of confining the general government
to the exercise Of tho powers granted by ths
| cons titution OF tho United States.
Tho constitution OF tho United States guar
antees to evory citizen the rights of civil and
religious liberty. The Democratic party has
always been tbs exponent OF political liberty
and OF religious freodom. AID IL ronews its OBJ
legations and reaffirm5 the devotion to those
fundamental principles OF the constitution.
Recognizing that the money question IL par
amount TO all others at this time, we invite
attention to tho fact that the federal constitu.
tion names silver and gold together az tho
money metals OF the United States, and that
the first coinng law passed. by congress under
tho constitution mado the silver dollar the
monetary unit nnd admitted gold to FREQ coin
age at n ratio based upon tho silver unit
We are opposed to the policy and practice
OF surrenderiug to pho holders of the obliga
tions OF the United States the option reserved
by law to the government of rodeeming such
obligation in either silver coin or gold coin
We are opposed to tho issuing of interest
bearing bonds OF the United States in times of
peace, and condemn the trafliclIing with bank.
ing syndicates which, in exchange for bonds
and n jrmous 'roflt to themselves, supply the
federal treasury with gold to m aintain the
policy Of gold monomctallsm.
Congress a.ole has the power to coin or issue
money, rs President jackson declared that
this power could not be d ,legated to corpora
tions or individuals. We therefore demand
that tho power to issue notes to circulate as
money be taken from the national banks, and
that all paper money shin be issued directly
BY tho treasury department, be redeemablc 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.
1ustod rs to operate equally throughout the
country. and not discriminate between class
or section. and that taxation should b limited
by the needs OF tho government honestly and
economically administered. We dsnounce 90
disturbing to business the 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 to hcmc industry, proved pro-
life breeder Of trusts and monopolies, en-
richod the fow nt the expense of tho many ro-
strictod trade aud deprived tho producers Of
the great American staples Of access to their
natural markets.
Until the money queition IL settled we are
opposed to any agitation for further changes
In our tariff laws. except such as are ncces.
sary TO meet tho deficit in revenue caused by
-. II Iant tatn nR No.
the insome ta1. But for this decision by the
supreme court there would be no deflo In the
revenues under the law passed by u Demo
cratic congress In strict pursuance Of the uni
after bo constituted, 80 that the burdens OF
taxation may bo equally and impartially laid,
TO the ond that wealth may bear its due pro-
portion Of the expenses Of tho government.
We hold that the most efficient way OF pro-
teoting American labor Is tn prevent tho i'm
portaton Of foreign paupcr labor to compete
with 10 in the home market, and that the value
Of tho homo market to our American farmers
aud artisans is greatly reduced by vicious
monetary system which dcpresses tho prices
of their products below the cost OF production
and thus doprivcs them of the means of pur.
chasing the products OF our home manufncto-
ris5.
Tho absorption OF wealth by the few, the
consolidation Of our leading railroad systems
anu tho VI tTuSbS anu puOlS fcuuifc
. atrioser control by the federal government
Of those arteries OF commerce. We demand
tho enlargement OF the powers Of the inter
state comners, commission, and such rostric-
tions and guarantees in tho control Of rail
roads rs will protect che people from robbery
And oppression.
We donouncs the profigate waste Of the
menoy wrung from tho people by oppressive
taxation and III, lavish appropriations of re-
cent Republican congresses, which have hept
taxes high, while the labor that pays them is
and the products Of the peoples
toll are depressed in price till they no longer
repay the cost Of production. We demand
return to that simplicity and economy VIII on
bohts Democratic government and reduc-
tion In the number Of useless offices, the sala-
rtos OF which drain the substance OF the people.
We donounoe arbitrary Interference by fed
sral authorities In local affairs as violation
Of the constitution of the United Sta'os and
crimo against free institutions, AID we as
peolally object to government by injunction
~ . now and highly dangerous form OF op-
prsssion by which federal judges, in contemp
Of tho laws Of the states and rights OF citizens,
become nt once legislators, judges and execu.
tioners. and we approve the bill passed Mt the
Last session Of the United States senate and
now pending in the house OF repre- 1ntatives
relative to contempts in federal courts and
for trials by jury cases of contempt
No discrimination should be INDUCED by the
government Of the United States in favor of
any Of its debtors. We approve of tho refusal
Of the Fifty-third congress to pass the Pncific |
railroad funding bill, and denounce the effort
Of tho present Republican congress to enforce
similar measures.
Recognizing the Just claims OF the deserving |
Union soldiers we heartily endorse the rules
Of tho pr osent comm s,ioner OF pensions, that |
no names shs.i bo arbitrarily dropped from |
tho pension roll, and the fact of enlistm ent |
And service should be deemed conclusive eyi-
ionos against disease and disability before en-
listmont
We favor tho admission of the territories of
Now Mexico and Arizona into the Union US
ItAtss, and wo favor the early admission of
lii tho territories having the necessary popu.
Ation and resources to enttle them to state
hood, and while they remain territories wo
held that tho officials appointed to administer
tho government OF any territory, together
With the District of Columbia, should be bona
Ado rcsidents Of tho territory or district in
n hich their duties are performed The Dem
,cratic party believes In home rule, and that
III public lands Of the United States should be
TO the establishment Of fee
,omes for American citizens.
We recommend that the territory Of Alaska
DO granted delegate In congress and that the
general land aud timber laws Of the United
), atos bc extended to said territory.
We extend our sympathy to the people OF
Cuba In thor heroic struggle for liberty and
We are oppo'ed TO life tenure In the public
ervice We favor Appointments based upon
nePit. hxed terms OF office and such admin.
stration Of tho civil service law as will afford
,QuAl opportunities TO all citizens OF ascer-
aimed ftuoss.
We declare II 70 be tho unwritten law Of this
'epubiic, established by custom and tho usage
4 100 years and sanctioned by the exampl OF