The Opelousas courier., 1896-04-18
ESs. .7s GA SssEaA' PLATFORM Va.

Resolved. That We l"ailirm our alicgiauce To
til" tune iIuioirt! rtGnri ;l"5 ct the Democratic
party. ieiNyi1- that they constitute the best
rule of action for an enlightened people und'i
II Helnorfltic republican form Of government.
Resolved. That W" point with pride IN the
record ni,dt ~ thu i'"In"rifItir party through
tHr present administration marked hy honest
inlti,iul and business lIk, infringement ut every
state interest, rit lrhrrti hy Iim Improved CON
uitlnn OF IT. iiiIii't =, it, hnnt~ above par, ILL.,
debt brlus: 1tAdit.itN l"tirrt, il3 public nlsti-
tutiolls enlarged tAt improved :till IuA upon !.
cash basis: It's constantly growing it.u i'm
proved public school system. a complete leyrs
system. It's expenses kept hriuW its revenues
and its obligations promptly pad in cash and
universal confidence established and main
tanned that the management of the affairs of
our parishes. under Democratic rule. furnishes
equal source of congratulatiun as shown by
the settlement OF Il large Judgment and floating
debt. the absence. of any outstanding claims,
the prompt payment of current expenses as
we'll us their material reduction the i'm
provcmcnt ct the pubic roads, its public
buildings and bridges aud annual increasing
appropriations for public schools. all within
ami below the regular rate of pllocliai taxa
ton.
That the maintenance and pcrpctnation of
this condition of State and lora, aLministra-
ton Is the principal Issue IN tiie coming cleo
tion.
Resolved, That the State Central Committee
be and is hereby directed III calling the next
State Convention To fix the representation of
the various parishes al the state and wards of
the parish of Orleans therein upon the basis OF
the total population ss shown hy the United
States census of 1880.
Resolved that this Convention heartily III
dolScS 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 To them freedom and fairness in the
expression of the will Of the people ut tha
polls, Il thorough reform of the ballot, and VIII
insure the control of affairs to the intelligence
and virtue of the State, for which the party
has always stood k@ore the people,
Resolved, Tth Convention heartily in
dorses the lksTal policy OF the Federal Govern
lnent i'll RESPECT to the Mississippi river and ap-
proves of the appropriations made for the
of the river and the protection of its alIuvial
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 llpon Congress to
make such further appropriations for the con
tlnued Improvement and control OF the river as
the great interests involved Justify and dc
mand.
Whereas, there is an honest difference of
OPINION among Democrats upon the question
OF the free coinage of silver, bimetalism and
monomctalisln, and whereas this Convention
deals only with State politics. and whereas the
money question belongs 10 tie domain of ma
ti0nal politics only, therefore. be it
Resolved, That this convention refers this
question to the Democracy of the State, when
tney select delegates to the national cOnyen-
1lon and III nominating their candidates to the
legislature, state Senate and members of Com
greSS.
Resolved, that we indUrse and reaffirm the
monroe doctrine. as announced in the recent
message or the President of the United Stafes
addressed to Congress on the Venezuela ques-
tiOn, ana that We pledge the support of This
State to all proper measures that Iiay be taken
for It's enforcement.