The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1896-09-04
The PLATFORM.

dom of conscience. the preservation Of per
sonal rights, the equality OF all citizens before
| the law, and the faithful observance OF con-
stitutional limitations.
During all those years the Democratic party
has resisted the tendency of selfish interests
TO tho Capitalization of governmental power
| and Bteadfastly main tanned the integrity OF
the dual schcms OF government established by
the founders of this republic of republics.
| Under its guidance and teachings the great
| principle of local self government has found
| Its best expires sion in the maintenance OF the
rights of the states md its assertion Of the
necessity OF combining tho general government
to the exercise Of tho powers granted by tho
constitution Of the United States.
The constitution of the United States guar
antees to every citizen this rights Of civil and
religious liberty. The Democratic party has
always been the exponent OF political liberty
and of religious freedom, and IL renews its OBJ
legations and reaiilrm3 the devotion to those
fundamental principles Of tho constitution.
Recognizing that the money question is par
amount to all others at this time, we invite
attention to the fact that the federal constitu-
ton names silver and gold together as the
money metals of the United States. and that
the first coinage law passed by congress under
the constitution made tho silver dollar the
monetary unit and admitted gold TO free coin-
age at ratio based upon the silver unit.
We are opposed to the policy and practice
of surrendering to tho holders of the obiga-
tions of the United States tho option reserved
by law to the government of redeeming such
obligation in either silver coin or gold coin.
We are opposed to the issuing OF interest
bearing bonds OF the United States in times of
peace, and condemn the trafficting with bank
ing syndicates which, in exchange for bonds
and n ormous profit to themselves supply the
federal treasury with gold to maintain the
policy Of gold monometallism.
Congress a.one has the power to coin OF issue
money, as President jackson declared that
this power could not be delegated to corpora
tions or individuals. We therefore demand
that the power to issue notes to circulate rs
money be taken from the national banks, and
that all paper money shall be issued directly
by the treasury department., be redeomable 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 no ad-
justed Us to operate equally throughout the
country and not discriminate between class
or section and that taxation should b. limited
by the needs of the government honestly and
economically administered. We denounce 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 homo industry, proved pro.
life breeder of trusts and monopolies, en-
rich cd the few at the expense OF the many, re-
stricted trade and deprived the producers Of
the great American staples OF access to their
natural markets.
Until tho money question Is settled we are
opposed to any agitation for further changes
in our tariff laws, except such are neces
sary to meet the deficit In revenue caused by
the adverse decision Of the supreme court on
the income tax. But for this decision by the
supreme court thore would be no deficit In the
revenues undef the law passed by Demo
cratic congress in strict pursuance of the uni
after be Constituted, so that The burdens OF
taxation may be equally and impartially laid,
to the ond that wealth may bear its duo pro-
portion of the expenses of tho government.
We hold that the most efficient way of pro.
tecting American labor is to prevent the inn
portation OF foreign pauper labor to compete
with it in the homo market, and that the value
of the homo market to our American farmers
aud artisans is greatly reduced by vicious
monetary system which dcpresses the prices
of their products below the cost of production
and thus deprves them of the means of pur.
chasing the products of our home manufactor
ries.
The absorption OF wealth by the few, the
consolidation of our leading railroad systems
and the formation OF trusts and pools require
a stricter control by the federal government
Of those arteries of commerce. We demand
the enlargement of the powers of the inter
state CONNER 90 commission, and such rcstric-
tions and guarantees in the control OF rail
roads as will protect the people from robbery |
and oppression
We denounce the profllgate waste Of the
money wrung from the people by oppressive
taxation and ths lavish appropriations of re- |
cent Republican congresses, which have kept |
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 a |
return to that simplicity and economy which |
BELTS Democratic government and reduC. |
tion in tho number of useless offices, the sala |
ries Of which drain tho substance OF the people.
We denounos arbitrary Interference by fed |
oral authorities In local affairs a violation |
Of the constitution of the United States and |
crime against free institutions, and we es.
pecially object to government by injunction |
rs now and highly dangerous form of OPP |
Edssion by which federal judges, in contemp
Of the laws Of the states and rights OF citizons.
become at once legislators, judges and execu-
TONERS, and we approve tho bill passed at the
last session OF the United States senate and
now pending in the house of repros sntntives
relative to contempts in federal courts and
for triala by jury cases OF contempt.
Y o discrimination should be indulgod by the
OF the United States in favor Of
any of Its debtors. We approve Of the refusal
Of tho Fifty.third congress to pass tho Pacific
railroad funding bill, and denounce the effort |
,f the present Republican congress to enforce
similar measures
Recognizing the just claims Of the deserving
Union soldiers we heartily endorse the rules
II tho Present comm 8 ,iOner Of pensions, that
10 names shall be arbitrarily dropped from
he pension roll. and tho fact Of enlistment
md service should DO deemed conclusive owl
lenco against disease and disability before on
istment.
We favor tho admission Of the territories Of
Now Mexico and Arizona into tho Union as
tate5, and we favor the early admission Of
III tho territories having the necessary popu-
alton and resources to entltle thom to state
rood, and while they remain territories we
lold that the officials appointed to administer
he government of any territory, together
With the District OF Columbia, should be bona
lde residents Of the territory or district In
which their duties arc performed. The Dem.
cratic party believes in home rule, and that
IL public lands of the United States should be
appropriated to the establishment Of free
ZONES for American citizens
We recommend that this territory of Alaska
10 granted delegate in congress and that tho
eneral land and timber laws OF tho United
tstes bo extended to said territory.
We extend our sympathy to tho people Of
,uba in their heroic struggle for liberty and
We are opposed TO life tenure In the public
orvico. We favor appointments based upon
lerlt, flxcd terms Of offioo and such an admin.
Itration OF the civil service law as will afford
quail opportunities to all citizens Of ascer-
aimed ftless.
We declare ii to be the unwritten law of this
epublic, established by custom and the usage
I 100 years aud sanctioned by the oxampl OF
hegreatost and wlsost OF those who founded ,
nd have maintained our government, that no
ian should be eligible for third term Of the
Office.
The federal government should care for and '
improve the Mississippi river and other great {
rate WAYS of tho rouublic so ns IN aacure for |