The Daily Texarkanian., 1896-08-20
STATE AND NATIONAL PLATFORMS.


industry, proved a prOllnc breeder ut
trusts and mOnOpOlies, enriched the lew
al the expense OF the many, restricted
trade and deprived the producers OF the
great American staples OF access 10 their
natural markets.
Until the money question IS settled we
are OppOsed to any agitation for turthef
changes i'm our tariff laws, except such as
are necessary to make up the dehclt IN
the revenue caused by the adverse declS-
ion Of the supreme Court on the income
tax. But for this decision by the Su-
preme Court there would be no dencit Ill
the revenue under the law passed Dy
Democratic Congress in strict pursuance
of the uniform decisions Of that court for
nearly one hundred years, that court
having sustained constitutional o0lec-
tiOnS to its enactment, which have been
oyerruled by the ableSt judges who have
ever sat upon the 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 constituted, so that the bur
dens Of taxation may be equally and I'M
partially laid to the end that wealth may
bear its due proportion of the expenses OF
the Government.
We hold that the most efficient way TO
protect American labor is to prevent the
Importation of foreign pauper labor to
compete with it i'm the home market, and
that the value OF the home market to our
American farmers and artisans is greatly
reduced by vicious monetary system
which depresseS the prices of their pro
duets below the cost of production, and
thus depriveS them of the means OF pur-
. . u. I. of homo m
facturerS.
/ The absorption of wealth by the few,
the consolidation of our leading railroad
systems and the fOrmatiOnOf trusts and
pools require a Stricter control by the
Federal Government of those arte les OF
commerce. We demand the enlargement
of the powers of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, and such restrictions and
guarantees in the control of railroads as
will protect the people from robbery and
oppression.
We denounce the prOfigate waste of the
money wrung from the people by OppreS-
Sive taxation and the lavish apprOpria-
tions of recent Republican Congresses
which have kept the taxes high while the
labor that pays them is unemployed, and
the products of the peoples toll are de-
pressed in price till they no longer repay
turn of that simplicity and economy
which BELTS Democratic government and
reduction in the number Of useless oili-
ceS. the salaries of which drain the sub
stance of the people.
We denounce arbitrary Interference by
Federal authorities in lOca atfa rs as a
violation of the constitution Of the Unit
ed States and a crime against fr tnSti-
tutions. and we especially object to gov
ernmt mt by injunction as new and
highly dangerous form Of oppression by
which FL deral judges, in contempt Of the
laws of tie States and the rights OF cltl-
zens, become az once legislators, judges
and eXeCutiOnerS; and we approve the bill
passed at the last session OF the United
States Senate and now pending in the
/ House rel tive to cOntemptS in Federal
courts and prov ding for trials by Jury in
certain cases of contempt
No determination should be iudulgcd
hy the government of the United state
in favor of any of Is debtors. We ap
prove of the refusal Of the Fifty third
Congress to pass the Pacific Ra lroad
funding bill. and denOunce the effort of
the pres mt Republican c ngreSS to nact
a similar M assure.
Recognizing the Just claims Of de cry-
ing union soldiers. we heartily indOrSC the
rule of the Commissioner of Pensions that
no names shall be arbitrarily dropped
from he pension roll, and the TACT Of tn
lstment and service should be deemed
conclusive evidence aHinSt disease or
disability before enlistment
We favor the admission Of the Terrific
rieS of New Mexico and Arizona ! to the
union as States, and we fav r the cary
admission of all the Territories having
the neceSs Try population and resources to
entitIc them to statehood, ard while they
remain Territories we hold that the Off
cias appointed to administer the gov
ernment of any Territory, together with
the District Of Columbia md AlaSka,
should be bona fdc rcSd nts of the Ter
ritOry or district in which their duties are
to be performed. The D mocratic party
believes in home rule, and that all public
| lands Of the United States should be APP
propriated to the establishment Of free
homes for American citizens. We rec
Ommend that the Territory of Alaska be
granted a delegate in Congress, and that
/ the general land and timber laws Of the
United States be extended to said Terri
tory.
We extend our Sympthy to the peop.o Of
| Cuba in their heroic struggle for liberty
and Independence.
We are opposed to life tenure in the
public service, We favor appointments
| based upon merit, fixed terms OF Office and
such an administration of the civil service
laws as will afford equal opportunities to
all cit ZenS Of aScertained fitness
The Federal Government should care
for and improve the Mississippi River and
other great wa terWayS Of the republic, 80
as to secure for the intpri States easy
and cheap transportation to tide water.
/ When any waterway Of the republic is Of
Sufficient importance to demand aid Of the
/ Gov rnment such aid should be extended
upon deliuite plan Of continuous work
until permanent improvement Is secured
We declare it to be the unwritten law
Of this republic established by the GUS
toms and uSageS OF a hund cd years, and
sanctioned by the examples Of the great
est and wisGst Of those who founded and
have maintained our Government, that
no man should be eligible for third term
of the Presidential Office
The constitution Of the United States
guarantees to every citizen the rights of
civil and religious liberty The Demo-
cratic party has always been the exponent
Of political liberty and religious freedom
and it renews its obligations and roaf-
| firms its devotion to these fundamental
principles of the constitution,
We are I'm favor Of the arbitration Of
differences between employers engaged in
Interstate commerce and their employees
and recommend such legislation as is nee.
essary to carry out this principle.
C0nlidlng in the justice Of our cause
and the necessity Of its success at the
polls, we submit the foregoing declara-
tion Of principles and purpose to the con-
Siderate Judgment Of the American pco.
pie, We invite the support Of all cit-
zens who approve them and who desire TO
have them made effective through legsla.
] al &. 10. t,r ~