The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1896-08-14
The Platform.

Bonal rights the equality Of all citizens bofor
the law, and tho faithful Observance OF cor
stitutional limitations
During all these years tho Democratic part.
has resisted the tendency Of selfish interest
10 the Capitalization OF governmental powc
, and steadfastly main talned the integrity o
the dual scheme of government established b.
the founders Of this republic OF republics
Under its guidance aud teachings tho grea
principle of local self government has fount
its best expression In the main tonanco of tn,
rights Of tho states and its assertion Of tn
necessity Of oonfininR the general government
to the exercise Of the powers granted by this
constitution OF the United States.
The constitution OF the United States guar
antces to every citizen the rights Of civil ans
} religious liberty. The Democratic party ha
always been the exponent OF political liberty
and Of religious freedom, and IL renews Its oh
legations and reafflrms the devotion TO thos,
fundamental principles of the constitution.
Recognizing that the money question IL par
amount 10 oil others at this timc we invit,
attention to tho fact that the federal constitu
ton names silver and gold together tn,
| money metals of the United States and tha
the first coinage law passed by congress under
tho constitution made tho silver dollar tn,
monetary unit and admitted gold TO froo coin
age at ratio based upon the silver unit.
We are opposed TO the policy and practio,
Of surrendering to tho holders Of the obliga
tions Of the United States the option reserved
by law to the government Of redeeming such
obligation in either silver coin gold coin.
We are opposed to the issuing of interest
bearing bonds of the United States in times OF
peace, and condemn the traflicldng with bank
ing syndicates which, in exchange for bonds
and enormous proft to themselves, supply the
federal treasury with gold to maintain the
policy of gold monomctallism
Congress alone has the power to coin or issue
money, as President Jackson declared that
ha d,ln Na1
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 the treasury department, be redeemable 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 bo so ad.
| justed as to operate equally throughout the
country, and not discriminate between class
| or section, and that taxation should be limited
| by the needs Of the government honestly and
economically administered. We denounce ~
| disturbing to business tho 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 homo industry, proved pro.
life breeder of trusts and monopolies, EN-.
riched the few at the expense of tho many, re-
stricted trade and deprived the producers Of
natural markets.
Until the money question Is settled we are
opposed to any agitation for further changes
In our tariff laws, except such as are neces.
sary to meot the deficit In revenue caused by
the adverse decision Of the supreme court on
tho income tax. But for this decision by the
supreme court there would be no dof1oit In the
revenues under tho law passed by o Demo
cratic congress In strict pursuance Of the uni
after bo constituted, so That tho buTlops Of
taxation may be equally and impartially laid,
TO the end that wealth may bear its due pro-
portion OF tho expenses Of the government
We hold that the most efficient way Of pro.
tecting American labor is TO prevent the i'm.
portation 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 depresscs the prices
Of their products below the cost Of production
and thus deprives them OF the means of pur.
chasing the products of our home manufaoto-
riss.
The absorption Of wealth by the few, the
consolidation of our leading railroad Systems
and the formation OF trusts and pools require
o strioter control by the federal government
Of those arteries of commerce. We demand
the enlargement of tho powers of the inter
state commeros commission, and such rostric-
tions and guarantees in tho control OF rail
roads as will protect the people from robbery
and oppression.
We denouncc the prolgato waste of the
money wrung from the people by oppressive
taxation and tbs lavish appropriations OF re-
cont Republican congresses, which have kopt
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 tho cost OF production. We demand q
return to that simplicity and economy which |
BELTS Democratic government and reduc- |
tion in tho number Of useless offices, the sala |
rics Of which drain the substance of the people |
We donoupce arbitrary Interference by fed |
eral authorities In local affairs as q violation
of the constitution OF the United Statos and q |
crime against free institutions, and we es. |
pecially object TO government by injunction |
as now and highly dangerous form of op- |
prcssion by which federal judges, In contomp |
OF the laws Of the states and rights of citizens,
become ut once legislators, Judges and execu' |
TONERS, andiwe approve the bill passed ut the |
last session OF the United States senate and |
now pending in the house OF representatives |
relative to oontempts in federal courts and |
providing for trials by Jury cases Of contempt. |
No discrimination should be indulgcd by tho
pf the United States In favor of |
any of its debtors; We approve of the refusal
OF the Fifty-third congress to pass tho Pacific
railroad funding bill, and denounce the effort
Of the present Republican congress to enforce
similar measures.
Recognizing tho Just claims OF the deserving
Union soldiers we heartily endorse the rules
Of the present comm sioncr Of pensions, that
no names shall be arbitrarily dropped from
tho pension roll, and the fact of enlistment
and service should be deemed conclusive owl
depco against disease and disability before en-
listment
We favor tho admission Of the territories Of
New Mexico aud 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 whlio they remain territories ws
held that the officials appointed TO administer
tho government OF any territory, together
with tho District of Columbia, should be bona
ado residents Of the territory or district In
which their duties arc performed. The Dem.
ocratic party believes In home rule, and that
all public lands of the United States should be
APPROPRIATED to the establishment Of free
homes for American citizens.
We recommend that the territory Of Alaska
be granted q delegate in congress and that the
general land and timber laws of tho United
be extended to said territory
We extend our sympathy to tho people OF
Jubn in their heroic struggle for liberty and
yf
We are opposed TO lifo tenure In the public
Iervice We favor appointments based upon
merit, fixed terms Of office and such an admin.
stration OF the civil service law as will afford
,quhl opportunities to all citizens of ascef~
aimed ftaosa -
We declare ito be tho unwritten law OF this
republic, established by custom aud tho usage
u 100 years and sanctioned by the exampl o OF
he greatest and wise5t of those who founded
md have maintained our government, that no
nan should be eligible for o third term Of the ,