The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1896-10-10

%cutioners; and we approve the bill passed
at the last session of the United States
Senate andnow pending in the House re,
latiye to contempt in Federal Courts ana
providing for trials by jury IN certain
cases of contempt. NO DISCRIMINATORY
should be INDUCED by the govefllnea' y; o.
the United States in favor OF any OF It's
debtors,
We approve of the refusal Of the FIFTY
third Congress to pass the Paclflc Kali
road Funding bill, and denonnce the effort
CT the present Republican Congress TO en-
act q similar measure.
Recognizing the Just CLAIMS Oh deseFV-
ing UuiOn soldiers, we heartily endorse
the rule of the present Commlssloner OF
Pensions that no names shall be arbItra-
rily dropped from the pension ROLAND the
fact of enlistment and service should be
deemed conclusive evidence against dls-
ease OF disability before enlistment.
We favor the admission Of the Ierrltor-
| les of New Mexico and Arizonia into the
| Union as States, and We favor the early
| admission of all the Territories having
the necessary population and resources
emitting them to Statehood. ana WINE
thew remain Territories we hold that the
! o~fficials appointed to administer the gov
eminent of any Territory, together wien
the District Of Columbia and Alaska,
should be bona tide residents OF the Ter
ritory or district in which their duties are
To be performed, The Democratic party
believes in home rule, and that all public
lands of the United States should be APP
Dlied to the establishment of free homes
for American citizens. .
We recommend that the territory OF
Alaska be granted q delegate in Congress,
and that the general land n timber laws
of the United States be extended TO salu
territory.
We extend our sympathy to the people
of Cuba in their heroic struggle Tor nber-
ty and independence: .,;o
We are opposed to life tenure in public
service. We favor appointments based
upon merits, fixed terms of otflce anu Snch
an administration ofthe civil service law
as will afford equal opportunities TO an
citizens of ascertained tiIness. we &c
clare it to be the unwritten law OF this
republic, established by custom ind
usage OF one hundred years and sanction,
cd by the examples of the greatest anu
wisest of those who formed ana ave
maintained our government that no man
should he eligible. for a third term OF the
!. presidential office.
The Federal government should care
for and improve the Mississippi river and
other great waterways OF the republic 81
rs to secure for the interior States easy
: and cheap transportation TO tide water
When any waterway of the republic is o.
!. sufficient Importance to demand anu o.
the overnment such aid should be eX.
tended upon a definite plan of continuous
work until permanent improvements Il
; secured.
Confding in the Justice of our cause
and the necessity of it's success at !n'
, polls, we submit the foregoing declaratlol
. of principle and purposes to the consider
) ate judgement of the American people
: We invite the support of all citizens wh'
approve them and who desire to nay
them.effective through legislation for thu
relief Of the people and the restoration O
!, the eountry's prosperity:
5 The Constitution Of the United state
guarantees to every citizen the rights 0
! Civil and religious liberty. The Demo
! cratic party has always been the exponen
of political liberty and religious freedom
and it renews it's obligations II afir-n
! the devotion to these fundamental primer
: pies Of the Constitution.
!, We are in favor of the arbitration Q
: differences between employees engaged Il
: interstate and their employer
1 and recommend such legislation as
: necessary to carry out this principle.