The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1896-08-27


ton may b. equally and tnpartially
laid, to the end that wealth may bear
its due proror.ionate expenses OF tho
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 in the home market,
and that the value Of the homo market
to our American farmers and artisans
is greatly reduced by vicious moneta,
~ system whiuh dcpresBCs tho price OF
their products below the cost CT produc-
tion and THUS deprives them of tho
means OK purchasing the products OF
our home manufactures.
The absorption Of wealth by tho
few. uhe consolidation CT our leading
railroad systems and the formation OF
trusts and pools requires a Str!cter con-
troll by the Federal government OF
those arteries Of commerce. We demand
the enlargement OF the powers OF the
Interstate commerce commission ana
such restrictions and guarantees in tho
control Of railroads as will protect the
people from robbery and oppression.
I'VE denoulce the prohigate waste
OF the money wrung from the people
by oppressive taxation and the lavish
appropriations Of the recent Republican
congresses. which have kept taxes high
while the labor that pays them is uuem-
ployed and the products OF the peoples
toll arc depressed in price until they
no longer repay the cost OF production.
We demand return to that SIM
plicity and economy which best benls
O Democratic government anG reuuc-
ton in the number OF rseleS5 Ounces
the salaries ct which drain the SUD-
stance OF the people.
We denouncs arbitrary interlcTencs
bv Federal authorities in local ahalrs
as a violation OF the constitution or the
United States and crime against free
institutions, and we especially ob}ect
to government by injunction as ne"
and highly dangerous form OF oppres-
sion by which Federal judges, IN con-
temp. OF the laws Of the States and the
rights on citizens, become at once leg
islators. judges and executioners, ana
we approve the bin passed at the last
session OF the United States Senate
and now pending in the House rela.
tive to coDtempts in Federal courts ana
providing for trials by jury IN certain
cases Of contempt.
No discrimination should be In.
duiged In by the government OF lhe
United States In favor OF any OF Its
debtors. We approve Of the refusal OF
the Fifty-third Congress to pass ths
Pacific railroad refunding bill and de-
nounce the effort of the present Repup-
lcan Congress to enact similar meas
ure.
We heartily indorse the rule OF tho
present Commissioner OF Pensions, that
no names shall be arbitrarily dropped
from the pension roll, and the fact OF
enlistment and service should be DEEM
ed conclusive evidence against diseass
or disability before enlistment.
We favor the admission Of the Ter.
ritories OF New Mexico aud Arizona
into the Union as States, and we favor
the cary admission Of all the Terri
tories having the necessary population
and resources entltling them to state
hood, and while they remain Terrific
ries we hold that the officials appointed
to administer the government OF any
Territory, together with the District
OF Columbia and Alaska, should be bona
flde residents OF the Territory or Ds-
trict In which their duties are to be
performed. The Democratic party be-
lieyes in homo ru.e, aid that gil public
lands OF the United States should ba
applied to the establishment OF free
homes for American citizens.
We recommend 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 TER, ,ory.
We extend Our sympathy to the PEG.
pie of Cuba in their heroic struggle for
liberty and Independence.
I'VE are opposed to life tenure in this
public service. We favor appointments
based upon merit. fixed terms OF office,
AID such az admin istration OF tie civil
laws az VIII afford equal opportunities
to all citizens of ascertained fitness.
We declare it to be the unwritter
law OF this Republic, established by
custom and usages Of 100 years, and
sanctioned by the examples OF the
greatest and wiset Of those who formed
and have maintained our government
that 70 man should be eligible for .
third term Of the Presidential office.
The federal government SHOULD
care for the Improvement Of the Mis-.
sippi river and other great waterways
of the Republic, so as to secure 70,
the interior States easy and cheap
transportation to tide water WheD
any waterway Of the Republic is OF
sufficient importance to demand aid OF
the government, such aid should be er'
tended upon "a definite plan OF con.
tinuous work until permanent improve.
ment Is secured.
Confiding in the Justice Of on,
cause, and the necessity Of its success
at the polls, We submit the foregoing
declaration OF principles and purposes
to the coDsideyate Judgment OF TIL
American people. We invite The sup.
mort of all good citizens who approve
them. and we desire to have them made
effective through legislation for the re-