The Opelousas courier., 1896-02-08
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

Resolved, That we reatiirm our allegiance to
the time honored principles of the Democratic
party, believing that they constitute the best
rule of action for an enlightened people unuef
a Democratic republican form Of government.
Resolved, That VIC point with pride to the
record made by the Democratic party through
the present administration marked by honest,
faithful and businesslike management OF every
| State interest, evidenced by the improved coli
dition of its finances, its bonds above par, its
debt being gradually retired, It's public lnstl-
buttons enlarged and improved and run upon a
cash basis; it's constantly growing and I'M
proved public school system, a complete leVee
system. its expenses kept below its revenues
and its obligations promptly paid i'll cash and
universal confidence established and llalIi-
tanned that the management or the a1ialls OF
our parishes, under Democratic rule, furnishes
equal source OF congratulation as shown by
the settlement Of a large judgment and fioatln@
debt, the absence of any outstanding claims,
the &c ROM 81 1ta payment matsr Of current rennntio eSpe the im as
prOvement of the public roads. It's publlc
buildings and bridges and annual increasing
appropriations for public schools, al within
and below the regular rate OF paTOchlal taxa
That the maintenance and perpetnation of
this condition of State and local adlnlnlstra-
ton is the principal issue i'll the coming cleo
ton.
Resolved, That the State Central Committee
be and is hereby directed in calling the next
State Convention to fix the representation of
the various parishes of the State and wards of
the parish OF Orleans therein upon the basis OF
the total population as shown by the United
States census of 1890.
Resolved that this Convention heartily III
dorses the action of the last legislature on the
question OF suffrage, which proposes to give the
people OF THIS State an elective system that
will secure tie them freedom and fairness i'll the
expression OF the will of the people at the
polls, II thorough reform of the ballot, and Will
insure the control of affairs to the intelligence
and VIRTUE Of the State, for which the party
has always stood before the people.
Resolved. That this Convention heartily in
dOrscs the lilfcral policy of the Federal Govern
lnent ill rcspsct to the Mississippi river and ap-
proves of tEc appropriations made for the
of the river and the protection of its alluvial
valley from floods.
Resolved further, That the work of the Mis-
slsslppl river commission in carrying out the
purposes of Congress is cordially approved and
commended. and we urge upon Congress TO
tlnued improvement and control of the river as
the great interests involved Justify and de-
mand.
Whereas, there is an honest difference OF
opinion among Democrats upon the question
of the free coinage of silver, bimetallsn and
deals only with State politics, and whereas the
money question belongs to the domain of ma
tional politics only, therefore, be it
Resolved, That this convention refers this
question to the Democracy of the State, when
they select delegates to the national cOnven-
ton and in nominating their candidates to the
legislature, State Senate and members of Con-
gress.
Resolved, that we indOrse and reaffirm the
Monroe doctrine. as announced in the recent
message of the President of the United States
addressed to Congress on the Venezuela ques-
State to all proper measures that may be taken
for its enforcement.