The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1896-07-18

10 contemptS in federal courts and proyld
ing for sriHls isv inrz IN certain cases Of
No " INDUCED
by the g.s United States
in favor . -. We approve
of the ref,s.. u iF-third congress
to pass the i'-s.s 81. ,ad funding bill
! and dcnuuncl .is f,if ~ the present Re
publican coagrrs- t' vI.''et Is similar meas
ure.
Recognizing the Just claims Of deserving
| Union soldscf- We heartily endorse the
rule OF the present COZ i.iissioner of pen
sions that 10 names saslil be arbitrarily
dropped from the pension roll and the
fact of enlistment aud service should be
deemed conclusive evidence against dis
ease or disability before enlistment.
We favor the admission Of the terri
| tories OF New Mexico and Arizona
| into the Union Is states and we favor
| the early admission Of all the terri
| tories that have the necessary popu-
| lation and resources 10 entitle them to
statehood, and while they remain terri
tories, we hold hat the officials appointed
to administer the government of any ter
| ritory, together with the District Of Co
| lumhia and Alaska should be bonifide
residents Of the territory or district in
which their duties arc to be performed
The Democratic party believes in home
! rule, and that all public lands Of the
United States should he appropriated to
the establishment OF free homes for Amer
| lean citizens
We recommend that the territory of
Alaska be granted a &c 'egate in congress,
and that the general land and timber laws
OF the United States he extended to said
territory.
We extend our sympathy to the people
OF Cuba in their heroic struggle for liberty
and independence.
We arc opposed to life tenure in the
public service We favor appointments
based upon merits. fixct terms of office,
and such an adniinisi ion of the civil
service laws rs VIII aifar. equal opportun-
titles to all citizens Of asecftained fitness
We declare it to be the unwritten law
of this republic, established by custom and
usage of lUO years and sanctioned by the
examples of the greatest and wiscst of
those who founded and have maintained
our government, that no man should be
elig1ble FOR a third term Of the president
ial office.
We are in favor Of the arbitration of diff
ference between employers engaged in in
terstate commerce AMI their employes. and
recommend such legislation as is neces-
sary to carry out this principle.
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 tidewater. When
any waterway of the republic is of suffi-
cient Importance to demand aid of the
government such aid should be extended
upon definite plan Of continuous work
until permanent Improvement is secured
Confiding in hejustice of our cause and
the necessity of its success at the polls. we
submit the foregoing declaration of prin-
ciples and purposes to the considerable
Judgment of the American people. We
invite the support OF all citizens who APP
prove them and who desire to have them
made effective through legislation for the
relief OF the people and the restoration of
thecountrys prosperity.
j. H. Wade of Ohio then read the mi
norlty report. as follows
Sixteen delegates, constituting the mi
nority of the committee on resolutions.
ind many declarations in the report of
the majority which they cannot give their
assent. Some of these are wholly I'M
necessary. Some are i'll considered and
ambiguously. phrased, while others are
extreme and revolutionary of the well
recognized principles of the party. The
minority content themselves with this
general expression of their dissent with
these Objectionable features of the report
of the majority.
Bat upon the financial question, which
engages at this time the chief share of
public attention, the Views Of the majority
differ so fundamentally from what the
minority regard as vital Democratic doc
trine as to demand distinct statement Of
what they hold to as the only Just and
true expression Of Democratic faith upon
this paramount issue, as follows, which is
offered as a substitute for the financial
planks in the minority report.
We declare our belief that the expert
ment on the part of the United States
alone of free silver coinage and change Of
existing standard of value independently
of the action Of other great nations would
not only imperil our finances, but would
retard or entirely prevent the establish
ment Of international bimetallism, to
which the efforts of the government |
should be steadily directed. 1t would place |
this country at once upon a silver basis, |
impair contracts, disturb business, di- |
the purchasing power of the wages |
OF labor and infiict irreparable evils upon |
our nations commerce and industry.
Until international cooperation among |
leading nations for the free coinage of sill |
yer can be maintained we favor the rigid |
of the existing gold standard |
as essential to the preservation of our ma |
tional credit, the redemption of our pub
lie pledges and the keeping inviolate of |
our countrys honor We insist that all |
our paper and silver currency shall be |
kept absolutely at a parity with gold. The |
Democratic party Is the party of hard
money, and Is opposed to the legal tender |
paper money as part of our permanent
financial system, and we therefore favor
the gradual retirement and cancellation
of all United States notes and treasury
notes, under such legislative provisions as
VIII prevent undue contraction. We de-
mand that the national credit shall be
maintained at all times and
under all circumstances.
The minority also feel that the report
of the .majoriag is defective in failing to
make any recognition of the honesty,
I
emit Democratic administration, and they.
therefore, offer the following declaration
as an amendment to the majority report:
we commend the honesty, economy,
courags and fidelity Of the present Demo
cratic national administration.
This report was signed by David b. Hill,
New York; William F. Villas, Wisconsin;
George Gray, Delaware; John Prentiss
Poe, Maryland; irving W. Drew, New
Hampshire; Q. o. Holman, Maine; p. J.
Farrell, Vermont; Lynde Harrison, Con-
necticut; David f. Baker, Rhode Island;
Thomas A. G. Weadock, Alichigan James
E O'Brien, Minnesota; John E. Russell,
Robert E. Wright, Penn
sylvania; William r.. Steele, South Da-
kota; Allen A. McDermott, New Jersey;
Charles ID. Rogers, Alaska.
Senator Hill offered the following
to the platform, as prepared
BY the majority of the committee:
But it should be carefully provided by
aw at the same time that any change in
he monetary standard should not apply
20 existing contracts.
Our advocacy of the Independent free
coinage of silver being based on belief that
such coinage will effect and maintain a
PARITY between gold and silver at the ratio
u ID TO /, we declare as a pledge of our
1ncerity that If such free coinage shall
all to effect such parity within one year
rom its enactment by law, such coinage
hall thereupon be suspended.
The chairman then announced that
Senator Tillman of South Carolina
would offer an amendment and would
,e heard for 80 minutes. He made a
lot speech condemning the president
md declaring with expressed pleasure
hat free silver was sectional-the west
md south against the east. He was
10Th Kissed and cheered. Then he Of
cred this amendment to the platform
We denounce the administration of
resident Cleveland as undemocratic and |
yrannical, and departure from those
principles which are cherished by all lib |
rty-loving Americans. The veto power
las been used to thwart the will of the
,eople as expressed by their representa-
ives in congress. The appointive power ,
las been used to subsidize the press, to de- ,
'auch congress and to overawe and con-
rol citizens in the free exercise of their |
OnstltutlOnal rlgnUS as voters. A pluto
ratio despotism is thus sought to be es-
ablished on the ruins of the republic. We
epudiate the construction placed on the
financial plank OF the last Democratic ma
ional convention by President Cleveland |
nd Secretary Carlisle as contrary to the !
lain meaning of English words and as |
eing an act of bad faith, deserving the Sc
crest censure. The issue OF bonds in time |
4 peace with which to buy gold to redeem
DIN obligations payable in silver or gold
t the option of the government, and the
Use Of the proceeds to defray the ordinary
expenses of government are both unlaw .
I'll and usurpations of authority deserving |
Senator Jones Of Arkansas, q silver