The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1896-10-03

20 compete vain IL III Inc nome tCrlrkCt,
and that tho value of the homo market
! to our American farmers and artisans
is greatly reduced by vicious moneta,
~ system which dcpresses the price OF
, their products below the cost of produc-
ton and thus deprives theCu OF tho
, means OF purchasing the products od
our home manufactures.
Tho absorption Of wealth by tho
few, the consolidation of our lesJInG
| railroad systems and the formation OF
trusts and pools requires a striCtcr con-
| troll by the Federal government OF
those arteries of commerce. We demand
the enlargement of the powers OF tho
interstate commerce commission and
such restrictions and guarantees in tho
control OF railroads as will protect the
people from robbery and oppression.
I'VE denouuce 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 unem-
ployed and the products OF the peoples
toll are depressed in price until they
uo longer repay the cost OF production.
We demand a return to that SIM
plicity and economy which best behn
q Democratic government an! reduc-
ton in the number OF Cselesa offices.
the salaries Of which drain tine SUD-
stance OF the people.
We denOunce arbitrary interference
ty Federal authorities In local affairs
AZ violation of the constitution OF the
/ United States and a crime against free
institutions. and we especially ob1ect
to government by injunction as new
and highly dangerous form OF oppres-
sion by which Federal judges, In con-
tmnM OF the laws of the States and the
rights OF citizens become at once leg
islators, judged and executioners, ano
we approve the bill passed at the last
session OF the United States Senate
and now pending in the House reia-
tive to contempts in Federal courts ana
providing for trials by Jury In certain
cases Of contempt.
No discrimination should be IN
dulged in by the government OF tho
| United States in favor OF any OF iti
debtors. We approve Of the refusal OF
the Fifty-third Congress to pass the
! Pacific railroad refunding bill and de-
| nounce the effort of the present Repub'
lican Congress to enact a similar meas
ure.
We heartily indorse the rule OF the
present Commissioner OF Pensions. that
| no names shall be arbitrarily dropped
from the pension roll, and tho fact Of
enlistment and service should be DEEM
ed conclusive evidence against disease
or disability before enlistment.
We favor tho admission Of the Ter
rtcries OF New Mexico and Arizona
into the Union as States, and we favor
the early admission Of all the Terri
tories having the necessary population
and resources emitting 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 D s.
trict in which their duties are to be
performed. The Democratic party be-
lieves in home rue. ard that oil public
lands OF the United States should b
applied to the establishment OF free
homes for American citizens.
We recommend that the Territor,
Of Alaska be granted a delegate In
Congress, and that the general land
and timber laws OF the United States
be extended to said Territory.
! We extend our sympathy to the peo'
pie OF Cuba in their heroic struggle for
liberty and Independence.
1--WE are opposed to life tenure In the
public service. We favor appo!ntm enta
based upon merit, fixed terms OF office,
and such an administration OF the civil
laws as wiz afford equal opportunities
to all citizens Of ascertained fitness.
| We declare 1t 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 no man should be eligible for .
third term OF the Presidential office.
The federal government shoult
care for the Improvement OF the Mis-
sippi river and other great waterways
of the Republic, go as to secure fol
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 ex.
tended upon definite plan OF con-
tinuous work until permanent improve
ment Is secured.
Confdlng in the Justice Of ou'
cause, and tho necessity Of Its success
at the polls, We submit the foregoing
declaration OF principles and purposea
to the oonsiderate Judgment OF TIT
American people. We invite the sup
port Of all good citizens who approve
them, and we desire to have them made
effective through legislation for the re.
lief Of the people and the restoration Of
the oouutfy's prosperity"
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The Gay Little Canoe.
> Il ating of every sort is, after all
H.. u H. r..N