The Daily Texarkanian., 1896-08-24
STATE AND NATIONAL PLATFORMS.

national electlous and which, enacted
under the false plea OF protection 10 nome
industry. proved a prolific breeder OF
trusts and mOnOpOleS, enriched the lew
at the expense Of the many, restricted
trade and deprived the producers OF the
great American staples OF access TO their
natural markets.
Until the money question is settled we
are opposed TO any agitation for further
changes i'm our tariff laws, except such as
are necessary to make up the deficit ia
the revenue caused by the adverse deciS-
ion Of the Supreme Court on the income
tax. But for this decision by the Su-
preme Court there would be no deficit IN
the revenue under he law passed by
Democratic Congress in strict pursuance
Of the uniform decisions of that court for
nearly one hundred years, that court
having sustained constitutional Objec-
tiOnS to its enactment, which have been
Overruled by the ableSt judges who have
ever sat upon the bench. We declare
that it is the duty of Congress to use all
the constitutional power which remains
after that decision, or which may come
from its reversal by the court as it may
hereafter be constituted, so that the bur-
denS of taxation may be equally and i'm
partially laid to the end that wealth may
bear its due proportion of the expenses OF
the Government.
We hold that the most efficient way to
protect American labor is to prevent the
importation of foreign pauper labor to
compete with it in the home market, and
that the value OF the home market to our
American farmers and artisans is greatly
reduced by a vicious monetary system
which depresSeS the prices of their pro-
nrOGnptlOn
thus depriyes them of the means of pur-
chasing the products of our home manu-
faCturerS.
The absorption of wealth by the few,
the consolidation OF our leading railroad
systems and the formatiOnOf trusts and
! pools require Stricter control by the
. Federal Government of those arteries Of
} commerce. We demand the enlargement
of the powers of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, and such restrictions and
= guarantees in the control of railroads as
e will protect the people from robbery and
= oppression.
We denounce the prOhigate waste of the
money wrung from the people by Oppres-
sive taxation and the lavish aDprOpria
tions of recent Republican Congresses
which have kept the taxes high while the
labor that pays them is unemployed and
c the products of the peoples toll are de-
pressed in price till they no longer repay
the cost of production We demand re-
/ turn of that simplicity and economy
which befits Democratic government and
t reduction in the number of useless Off
Y ces the salaries of which drain the sub
stance of the people
We denounce arbitrary interference by
4 Federal authorities in local affairs as
. violation of the constitution of the Unit
D ed States and a crime against free inSt-
tutiOns, and we especially object to gov
ernment by injunction as a new and
highly dangerous form of oppression by
C which Federal judges, in contempt Of the
4 laws of the States and the rights OF citi-
= ZenS, become at once legislators, judges
and eXecutiOners; and we approve the bill
f passed at the last session of the United
= States Senate and now pending in the
r House relative to contempts in Federal
= courts and providing for trials by jury in
d certain cases of contempt.
f No discrimination should be INDUCED
n by the government of the United States
! in favor of any of its debtors. We APP
S prove of the refusal of the Fifty third
d Congress to pass the Pacific Railroad
funding bill, and denounce the effort of
S the present Republican Congress to enact
e asimilaT measure.
= Recognizing the just claims of desery-
d ing union soldiers, we heartily indOrse the
. rule of the Commissioner of Pensions that
Y no names shall be arbitrarily dropped
n from the pension roll and the fact of en-
e listment and service should be deemed
a conclusive evidence against disease or
r disability before enlistment.
We favor the admission of the Terrific
i. rieS of New Mexico and Arizona into the
r union as States, and we favor the early
= admission of all the Territories having
a the necessary population and resources to
+ entite them to statehood and while they
V remain Territories we hold that the Off
# CialS appointed to administer the gov
= ernment of any Territory, together with
# the District of Columbia and Alaska,
v should be bona ide residents of the Ter
ritory or district in which their duties are
+ to be performed. The Democratic party
e believes in home rule, and that all public
@ lands of the United States should be ap-
j. propriated to the establishment of free
j. homes for American citizens We rec
+ Ommend that the Territory of Alaska be
Y granted a delegate in Congress, and that
Il the general land and timber laws of the
Y United States be extended to said Terri
II tory.
n We extend our sYmpthy to the people OF
il Cuba in their heroic struggle for liberty
and independence.
d We are opposed to life tenure in the
e puDIlC ScCNlCt' we ldNOI appointments
# based upon merit, fixed terms Of office and
!. such an administration of the civil service
d laws as will afford equal opportunities tC
+. all citizens of aScertaned fitness.
c The Federal Government should care
= for and improve the Mississippi River and
!. other great waterways Of the republic, sc
n as to secure for the interior States easy
and cheap transportation TO tide water
= When any waterway of the republic is Of
e sufficient Importance to demand aid Of the
. Government such aid should be extended
If upon a definite plan Of continuous work
+ until permanent Improvement Is secured.
We declare 1t to be the unwritten law
Of this republic, established by the GUS
n toms and usages OF n hundred years, and
q sanctioned by the examples Of the great
e est and wsest Of those who founded aud
o have maintained our Government that
Y no man should be eligible for third term
d of the Presidential Office.
The constitution Of the United States
n guarantees to every citizen the rights OF
n civil and religious liberty. The Demo-
I cratic party has always been the exponent
@ OF political liberty and religious freedom,
e and it rcncws its obligations and reaf-
n firms It's devotion to these fundamental
n principles Of the constitution,
O We are In favor Of the arbitration OF
Il differences between employers engaged In
d intcrst.'c commerce and their employees
and recommend such legislation as is nee
% ossary to carry out this principle,
IS CondIing in the Justice Of our cause
Y and the necessity Of It's success at the
(. polls, we submit the foregoing declara-
d tion Of principles and purpose to the con.
# sidorato judgment Of the American peO.
= Pile. We invite the support Of all citl.
j. 2ens who approve them and who desire to
& have them made effective through logIsIa-
ID, tln,, fnr hn po1lof ~ thn nnnt,1n md al.