The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1896-07-18

fApttSt pl ttIt Uiiuy, EtStflcitl iEiut
and deprived the producers ot the great
| American staples OF access to their ma
tnral markets.
Until the money question is settled
we are opposed to any agitation for fur
thtr changes IN onr tariff laws, except
-,snGh as are necessary to make up the
deficit i'll revenue. caused 10y the ad
verse decision of the Supreme Court on
the income tax. But for this there
would be no deficit in revenue. Under
the law passed by Democratic Con-
greas, in strict pursuance OF the uni
form decisions Of that court for nearly
one hundred years, that court having.
under that decision, sustained consti-
tnilonAi objections to its enactment,
which has been nverrulcd bV the ablest
judges who have even sat on that bench.
/ We declare that it is the duty of Con-
gresS to use all the constitutional DOW
! tr which remains after that decision or
| which may come from its reversal by
the court as it may hereafter he const-
| iuttd, so that the burdens of taxation
may be equally and impartially LAID to
the end that wealth may bear its due
1 propnrtlonate expenses of the govern
| ment.
We hold that the most efficient way
| to protect American labor is to prevent
| Dor To compete with it in the home
market. and that the value of the home
market to our farmers and artisans is
| greatly reduced by a vicious monetary
| ays!em, which depreSSes the price of
| their products below the cost of produc-
iion, and thus deprves them of the
means Of purchasing the products of
our home manufacturers.
| "The absorption Of wealth by the few,
| the consolidation Of our leading railway
| systems and the formation of trusts and
| pools, require a strlcter control by
| the Federal government of those aIte-
! ries of commerce. We demand the en-
largemeDt of the powers of the Iuter-
| state Commerce Commission and such
restrictions and guarantees in the con
troll nf railroads rs will protect the pco-
| pie from robbery and oppression.
I'VE dennunce the profit gate waste
OF the money wrung from the people by
oppressive taxation and the lavish app
preparations of recent Republican Con-
crosses. which have Kept taxes high
while the labor that pays them is un-
employed. and the product of the peo-
pie who pay it are depressed in price
till they no longer repay the cost of pro-
duction.
I'VE demand return to that sim
plicity and economy which best BELTS
Democratic government, and Il reduc-
ton in the number Of useless Offices, the
salaries of which drain the substance of
the people.
1--WE denounce arbitrary interference
bv Federal authorities in local affairs
az a violation of the Constitution of the
United States and a crime against free
institutions, and we especially object to
government by injunction as new and
highly dangerous form Of oppression Ivy
which Federal jndges, in contempt of
the laws of the States and the irlghts
of citizens, become at once legs-
lators, judges and executioners
and we approve the bill passed at the
last session of the United States Senate
and now pending in the House relative
te contempt in Federal Courts and pro-
tkidng for trials by jury in certain cases
spf contempt. No discrimination should
he INDUCED by the government of the
United States III favor sf any of its
debtors. "
1--WE approve Of the refusal of the Fif-
ty-third Congress to pass the Pacific
Railroad Funding bill, and denOunce
the effort of the present Republican
Congress to enact similar measure.
"Recognizing the just claims of de
serving Union soldiers, we heartily en-
dorse the rule of the the present Com
missioner of Pensions that no names
shall be arbitrarily dropped from the
pension roll, and the fact of enlistment
and service should be deemed con-
elusive evidence against disease
or disability before enlistment.
"We favor the admission OF the Ter
ritories Of New Mexico and Arizona into
the Union as States. and we favor the
early admission OF all the Territories
ha VI n q ho paaaSsarv nnpnIa tiap and ra
sources emitting them To Statehood,
and while they remain Territories We
hold that the officials appointed to ad-
minister the government of any Terri
tory, together with the District of Col
umbia and Alaska, should be bona tide
residents of the Territory or district in
which their duties are to be performed.
The Democratic party believes in home
rnle, and that all public lands of the
United States should be applied to the
establishment Of free homes for Ameri-
can citizens.
We recommend that the territory OF
yress, and that the general land and
timber laws Of the United States be ex-
tended to said territory.
We extend our sympathy te the peo-
pie of Cuba i'll their heroic struggle for
| liberty aud Independence.
We are opposed to life tenure in pub
| lie service. We favor appointments
| based upon merits. fixed terms of office
aud such an administration of the civil
| service laws as will afford equal op-
| portunites to all citizens OF ascertained
| fitness. We declare it to be the un-
| written law of this repnblic, established
| 10y custom and usage of one hundred
| years and sanctioned by the examples
of tue greatest and wisest of those who
| formed and have maintained our gov
ernment that no man should he eligible
! for third term of the presidential of
flee.
! The Federal government should care
for and improve the Mississippi river
and other great waterways of the re-
| public SD as to secure for the Interior
| States easy and cheap transportation
| to tide water. When any waterway of
the republic is of sufficient Importance
To demand aid of the government, such
aid should be extended upon definite
plan of continuous work until perma-
uent Improvement is secured.
Confiding in the justice of our cause
and the necessity Of its success at the
polls, we submit the foregoing declara
ton of principles and purposes to the
considerate Judgment Of the American
people. We invite the support of all
citizens who approve them and who de-
l sire to have them made effective
throuh legislation for the relief of the
people and The restoration of the coun-
trvis urosHarjty