Birmingham state herald., 1896-09-10

the great arteries of commerce on the one hand and the laborers who operate them upon the other.
 Immigration-Its Restriction.
 While the democratic party welcomes to this country those who come with love for our institutions and with determina- tion and ability to contribute to the pros perity of our nation, it is opposed to the dumping of criminal classes upon our shores and to the importation of either pauper or contract labor to compete with American labor.
 Abuses by Injunctions.
 The recent abuses which have grown out of injunction proceedings have been so emphatically condemned by public trial by jury in certain contempt cases will meet with general approval
 Concerning Trusts.
 The democratic party is opposed to trusts. It would be recreant to it's duty to the people of the country if it recog- nized either the moral or the legal right of these great aggregations of wealth to stifie competition, bankrupt rivals and then prey upon society. Corporations are the creatures of law and they must not be permitted to exist upon the theory that they advance the public veal, and they must not be allowed to use their powers for the public injury.
 The Railroads.
 The right of the United States govern ment to regulate interstate commerce cannot be questioned, and the necessity for the vigorous exercisee of that right is becoming more and more imperative. The interests of the whole people require such an enlargement of the powers of the interstate commerce commission as will enable it to prevent discrimination be- tween persons and places and protect patrons from unreasonable charges.
 Pacific Railroads.
 The government cannot afford to dis criminate between its debtors, and must, therefore, prosecute its legal claims against the Pacific railroads. Such a pol icy is necessary for the protection of the rights of the patrons as well as for the interests of the government.
 As to Cuba.
 The people of the United States, happy in the enjoyment of the blessings of free government, feel a generous sympathy toward all who are endeavoring to secure like blessings for themselves. This sym pathy, while respecting all treaty obli- gations, is especially active and earnest when excited by the struggling of neigh boring people, who, like the Cubans, are near enough to observe the workings of thority from the consent of the governed.
 The Civil Service.
 That the American people are not sn favor of life tenure in the civil service is evident from the fact that they, as a rule, make frequent changes in their official representatives when those rep resentatives are chosen by ballot A permanent officeholding class is not in harmony with our institutions. A fixed term in appointive offices, except where the federal constitution now pro- vides otherwise, would open the public service to a larger number of citizens without impairing its efficiency.
 The Territories.
 The territorial form of government is temporary in it's nature and should give way as soon as the territory is sufficient ly advanced to take it's place among the states. New Mexico, Oklahoma and Arizona are entitled to statehood and their early admission is demanded by their material and political interests. The demand of the platform that officials appointed to administer the government of the territories, the District of Colum- bia and Alaska should be bona fide resi- dents of the territories or district Is en- tirely in keeping with the democratic theory of home rule. I am also heartily in sympathy with the declaration that all public lands should be reserved for the esta blishment of free homes for Ameri- can citizens.
 
 The policy of improving the great wa terways of the country is justified by the national character of those waterways and the enormous tonnage borne upon them. Experience has demonstrated that continuing appropriations are, in the end, more economical than single appropria- tions separated by long intervals.
 The Tariff.
 It is not necessary to discuss the tariff question at this time. Whatever may bd the individual views of citizens as to the relative merits of protection and tariff re- form, all must recognize that until the money question Is fully and finally set tied the American people will not consent to the considera ton of any other impor- tant question. Taxation presents a prob lem which in some form is continually present, and a postponement of definite action upon 1t involves, no sacrifice of personal opinion or political principles; but the crisis presented by financial con- ditions cannot be postponed. Tremendous results will follow the action taken by the United States on the money question and delay is impossible. The people of this ma ation, sitting as a high court, must rem der judgment in the cause in which greed is prosecution against humanity. The decision will either give hope and inspira- tion to those who toil or shut the doors of mercy on mankind"
 - In the presence of this oversha flowing issue, differences of opinion upon minor questions must be laid aside in order that there may be united action among those who are determined that progress toward a universal gold standard shall be stayed and the gold and silver standard of the restored.
 W. J. BRYAN.
 Corrected Itinerary.