The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1896-08-08

tCutioners: and we approve the hILi aaSsae
at the last session OF the United SJates
Senate and now pending In TIE HoHse re-
lative to c~onterlatin Federal Courts ana
providing for trials by 5GFy III certain
cases Of contempt. No discrimination
should be indulgFd By Tie government ot
the United States ia favor 0f ANY at its
debtors.
We a1Droya Of the refusal OF tiie Fifty
third Congress to pass the PaetEe hati-
road Funding bill, and denounce The effort
Ct the present Republican Congress 10 en-
act n similar measure.
Recognizing the Just claims OF deseTy-
ing Union soldiers, we heartily endorse
tbs rule OF the present Commissioner OF
Pensions that no names shall be afDitfa-
riIg dropped from the pension rolls and she
fact OF enlistment and service should be
deemed conclusive evidence against dis
ease or disability before enlistment.
We favor the admission of tae Ierritar-
les Of New Mexico &ad Arizonia iato the
Union as States, and we favor the early
adiui 4sioa If Gil the Territories having
the necessary population aud rasoa5ces
emitting them TO Statehood, aud while
they remain Territories we hold that the
officials appointed TO administer the gov
rnmen Of any Territory, together with
the District Of Columbia and Alaakt.
should be bona fide residents Of the Ter
ritory or district in which their duties arr
10 nc HtEIDI1tl8t, liIc b@liDJItttlIL iht,N
believes in home rule, and that all pn/lic
lands OF the United States should be APP
Piled to the establishment oil free homes
for American citizens.
We recommend that The territory Of
Alaska be granted q delegate III Congress.
and that the general and and timber laws
Of the United States be extended to said
territory.
We extend our sympathy TO the people
Of Cuba in their heroic struggle for hbeT-
ty and independence.
We are opposed to life tenure IN pnb!le
service. We favor appointments based
upon merits, fixed terms of office and such
an administration ofthe civil service laws
as will afford equal opportunities TO all
citizens of ascerfained illness. We de-
clare it to be the mwritten law OF this
republic, established by custom and
usage Of one hundred years and sanction
ed by the examples oil the greatest and
wisest of those who formed and have
maintained our government that no la3li
sheum bceligible for a third term OF tile
i presidential Office.
J The Federal government should care
for and improve the Mississippi river and
other great waterways OF the republic so
as to secure for the interior States easy
and cheap transportation TO tide water:
i When any waterway OF the republic is OF
! sufficient Importance to demand AID OF
the government, such aid should be eX-
tended upon a definite plan OF continuous
work until p~er1nanant Improvements Is
secured.
Confding III the Justice Of our canse
and the necessity Of its success at the
polls, we submit the foregoing declaration
of principle and rpcse to the consider
ate judgement OF the American people.
We invite the support Of al citizens who
| approve them and who desire to have
them effective through legislation for the
relief Of the people and the restoration OF
the country's prosperity.
The Constitution OF the United States
civil and religious liberty. The Demo
cratic party mas always been the exponent
of political liberty and religious freedom,
and it renews it's obligations and atlirlla
the devotion to these fundamental pYlnci-
pies OF the Constitution.
We are in favor of the arbitration OF
differences between employees engaged ia
interstate commerce and their employers
and recommend such legislation as IS
necessary to carry ont this principle.