The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1896-10-06
The Platform.

|
founded and which the Democratic party has
advocated from Jcfferson's time TO our own
| freedom OF speech, freedom Of tho press, FREQ.
dom Of conscience. the preservation Of per
sonal rights, tho equality Of all citizens before
tho law. and tho faithful observance OF con.
sututional limitations
| During all tfeso ycars tho Democratic party
has resisted the tendency OF selfish interests
| 70 the Capitalization Of governmental power
| and atondfastly main tnined tho integrity Of
| the dual scheme Of government established by
! the founders OF this republic OF republics.
Undor its guidance and teachings the great
| principle Of lUcal self government has found
Its best oxprcs sion In the m ain teoance OF tho
| rights Of the states and It's assertion of the
necessity Of combining tho general governments
| to tho exercise OF the powers granted by tho
cors ssitution OF tho United States.
| Tno constitution of tho United States guar
antees to ovory citizen the rights of civil and
religious liberty. Tho Democratic party has
always been tn exponent OF political liberty
and OF religious freedom. and IL ronews its OBJ
legations nnd reaffirmt the devotion TO those
fundamental principles of the constitution
Recognizing that the money question is par
amount to all others at this time, we invito
attention to tho fact that tho federal constitu.
ton names si!v 5r and gold together as the
money metals uf the United States, and that
the first coinng law passed by congress under
the constitution mado the silver dollar the
ago at q ratio based upon the slyor unit.
No arp opposed to the policy and practice
Of surrenderinG to the holders OF the obliga-
tions of the Urised States the option reserved
by law to the government Of rodeeming such
obligation in either silver coin or gold coin.
We are opposed to the issuing of interest
bearing bonds OF the Unitod States in times Of
peace, and condemn the trafilcking with bank
ing syndicates which, in exchange for bonds
and n ,rmous ,rolt to themselves supply tho
federal treasury with gold to m 1intain tho
policy Of gold recommendation.
Congress a o 10 has the power to coin or issue
money, as President Jackson declared that
this power could not be d ,lesated to corpora
tions or individuals. We therefore demand
that the power to issue notes to circulate Us
money be taken from the national banks, and
that all paper money sha be issued directly
by the treasury department be rodeomable in
coin and receivable for all dcbts, public and
private.
We hold that tariff duties should be lcvied
for purposes Of revonue, such dutioJ to be so ad-
justed ~ to operate equally throughout the
country, and NOT discriminate betwean class
or section, and that taxation should limited
by tho needs Of the government honestly and
economically administered. We denounce 20
disturbing to business the Republican threat
to restore the Mckinley law which has been
twice condemned by tho people in national
elections and which, enacted under false pleas
Of protection to hcmo industry, proved a pro-
life breeder of trusts and monopolies, en-
richod tho fow at the expense OF tho many, re-
stricted trade aid deprived the producers Of
the great American staples of access to their
natural markets.
Until the money que,tion 10 settled we are
opposed to any agitation for further changes
In our tariff laws, except such as are ncccs.
sary +, meet the deficit In revenue caused by
the adverse decision OF the supreme court on
the income tax. But for this decision By tho
Supreme court there wbuld bo no def O b in the
revenues under the law passed by Demo
cratic congress in strict pursuance OF the uni
after be const,tutsd, SO That the bur1ons of
taxation may DO equally and impartially laid,
TO the end that wealth may bear tts due pro-
portion Of the expenses Of the governments
Wo hold that the most efficient way OF pro-
tooting American labor Is + prevent the I'M
portatlon OF foreign pauyor labor to compete
with II in tho home market, and that the value
of the home market to our American farmers
aud artisans is greatly reduced by vicious
monetary system which dcpre5ses the prices
Of their products below tho cost of production
aud thus dcpriv,s them of tho means of pur'
chasing tho products OF our home msnufacto'
ries.
The absorption of wealth by the few, the
consolidation OF our leading railroad systems
and the formation o. trusts and pools require
q strioter control by the federal government
OF those arteries of commerce. We demand
tho enlargement OF the powers of the inter
state CONNER o. commission, and such rostric'
tons and guarantees In the control OF rail-
roads as will protect the people from robbery
and oppression.
We denounco the profigate waste OF the
money wrung from the people by oppressive
tnxatit n and III lavish appropriations or ro'
cont Republican congresses, which have kept
taxes high, while tho labor that pays them is
MI al md 0f "A pRDnlea
toll are depressed in price till they no Longer
repay the oost Of production. We demand
return to that sim plioity and economy wh Oh
belts Democratic government and reduc'
tion In tho number Of useless offices, tho sala'
rios OF which drain the substance Of the people
We dcnounco arbitrary interference by fed
sral authorities In local affairs as violation
Of the constitution OF tho United States and
crimo against free institutions, AID we es-
pccially object to government by injunction
as now and highly dangerous form OF OPP
pSssslon by which federal judges in contomp
Of the laws Of the states and rights OF citizens,
become at once legislators, judges and cxeou'
TONERS, and we approve the bill passed. at the
last session OF tho United States senate and
now pending in the house Of repre- sintatives
relative to contempts in federal courts and
providing for trials by jury cases OF contompt.
No discrimination should be indulgod by the
government of tho Upited States in favor OF
any Of Its debtors. We approve Of tho e'usal
Of the Fifty third congress to pass tho Pacific
railroad funding bill, and denounce the effort
Of tho present Republican congress to enforce
similar measures.
Recognizing the Just claims OF the deserving
Union soldiers we heartily endorse tho rules
of tho present comm sdoner Of pensions, that
NO names thlll be orbitrarily dropped from
tho pension roll, aud the fact of enlistment
aud service should be doomed conclusive evil
dcnce against disease and disability before en-
listment.
We favor the admission OF the territories OF
New Mexico and Arizona into the Union AZ
stAtet, and we favor the early admission OF
all tho territorie, having the necessary popu
latlon and resources to entitle them 10 stats-
hood. and while they remain territories wa
hold that the officials appointed Co aimlnister
the government of any territory, together |
with tho District of Columbia, should be bona |
fde residents OF the territory or district in |
which their duties are performed The Dem |
ocratic party believes In home rule, AMI that |
all public lands OF tho United States should ba |
appropriated TO the establishment OF fee |
hones for American citizens.
We recommend that tho territory OF Alaska |
bo granted n delegate In congress and that the
general lani Aid timber laws OF the United |
States be extended to said territory.
We extend our sympathy to tho pcople OF |
Cuba in their hero.o struggle for liberty and |
Independence.
We are oppose to life tenure In the public |
service Wa favor Appointments based upon |
morit fxed terms Of office aud such an admin |
istration Of tho civil service law as will a5ord |
equal opportunities to ali citizens OF ascer- |
tanned fitness
We declare IL 10 be tho unwritten law Of this |
republic, established by cuttom and tho usage |