Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1897-08-06
Maryland Democratic Platform.

The representatives OF the Democratic
party of Maryland, in State Convention as
sembled, do here reafflrm their allegiance to
the principles of the party as formulated by
Jefferson and exempitied by Madison and
jackson. AS the nation advances and de-
velops new issues are presented and old
issues disappear, but the fundamental prn-
cipes of Democracy born of human needs
and Graded in events
The preservation of personal liberty,
The equality of all citizens before the law,
Freedom of speech,
Freedom OF the press,
Freedom OF conscience,
The reserved rights of the States,
And the supremacy of the Federal Govern
ment within the limits of the Constitution
These remain untouched by the vcssi-
tudes of time and evoutions, and will ever
stand as the best and only guarantee OF
the perpetuation OF free institutions.
The Democracy of Maryland. in com
mon with the Democracy OF the Union, be.
lieve now, as they always have believed, in
honest money, the gold and silver money of
the constitution, and the coinage of both
metals, without discrimination against either,
into standard dollars Of final payment and
redemption.
We note with satisfaction that the de-
unduu VI ultTt lUhn STA anu Ont-nhll uni
lions of Democratic voters expressed at the
polls last November has compelled Presi.
dent Mckinley and Republican Congress
TO urge upon the European powers, through
the medium of duly appointed commits.
sion, the necessity for an International con
ference To arrange the terms Of bimetallic
system, under the operation of which both
gold and silver shall be used and recognized
as money of final redemption.
The suherings OF the masses, the honest
toilers, the bone and sinew, the brain and
courage and manhood of the land, have met
with the sympathy of the Democracy, and
the protest OF our great party, so eloquently
voiced in last years elections, has forced the
Republican party, despite its arrogance and
recklessness, to recognize the needs OF an
aroused and patriotic people. And, while
many Democrats have not approved all the
expressions OF their party in national con
vention, bimetallism will surely come. 1t
may come through the instrumentalities set
in motion by the present administration,
though in truth inspired by the intrepid
action of the Democratic voters. But it will
come, and the prosperity and happiness that
follow in its train will be due to the cour
age, the undaunted fidelity and the intelli.
gent patriotism of the Democracy.
In all respects other than this reluctant
performance, the Republican party has been
false to the pledges and professions upon
the strength of which, last November, it Sc
cured the sutfrages OF the American people.
Triumphng upon an issue OF financial
reform, it was bound by every obligation of
good faith to redeem its promises to the
country Every existing act relating to the
currency is the work of the Republican
party That party is responsible for every
one OF the defects in system now univers-
ally regarded as being vicious and unwhole-
some That party is, therefore, responsible
for their correction.
Yet President Mckinley convened the
Congress in extra session within the tort
night following his Inauguration, and now,
after more than four months OF deliberation,
which the Democrats have had no power to
interrupt or influence, the Congress has ad
journed without giving the people the small
est measure of financial relief and with the
sole result of imposing upon them tariff
law more oppressive and inlquitous than
has ever disgraced our statute books-a law
which axes the masses for the benefit OF
the classes, which narroWS the field oil IN
dividual opportunity, which forbids the ex-
pansion of our commerce, and which mas
not even the merit of providing sufficient
revenue for the proper conduct OF the GOV
eminent. 1t is in all respects more odlous
and abhorrent measure than the Mckinley
act OF 1890 That act was Overwhelmingly
repudated and rebuked by the people in
1899. The Dlngley act will be still more
signaly condemned in 1898.
The Democratic party, in the interest oil
the whole people, will continue to wage war
against the iniquities OF this act, and will
insist upon tariff for revenue sufficient for
the needs OF Government economically ad
minstered, and will always maintain that
unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation.
Thus, in a time of widespread industrial
depression, when the agricultural classes
are confronted by poverty in its direst form,
and when the toilers in the mines and lac
tories find themselves forced into despair
and suffering, the Republican party not only
fails TO keep the solemn promises OF 1875,
but actually mocks the taxpayers by an ex.
travagance of expenditure and proflgacy OF
appropriation which that party, even in the
carnival that ragged from 1868 to 1876, never
dreamed of rivaling.
The sympathies OF the American people
are always enlisted in behalf OF those who
are battling for liberty and independence,
and this heroic struggle OF the people oil
Cuba is no exception TO this rule. The ap.
palliug atrocities committed In the war now
being waged on that island merit the exc
Grafton of all civilized people, and we de-
mand that the American Government, while
observing every treaty obligation, shall take
such proper and effective action as Will
ameliorate the atrocities now beng COM
mitted and fully protect every American
citizen in his life and property.
In State affairs, the Republican party oil
this State, following in the line of their party
in national affairs, has, since the election OF
1895, in which 1t elected the Governor and
General Assembly, exercised its power in
the passage of crude, unsatisfactory, I'M
equal and unjust assessment law, that mas
proved expensive i'll It's enforcement, UNJUST
and imperfect in its operations, and by which
the burdens of taxation have not been uni
formly or fairly distributed upon the rich
and poor alike. In Maryland, as nationally,
the Republican party has favored rich cor
porations and oppressed the small house
holder. The Democratic party, II restored
to power, will favor a thorough modification
of the crude and imperfect provisions OF the
present assessment law.
We call attention to the cxtravagant APP
preparations made by the last legislature, by
which the burdens OF taxation Will be great
ly increased. In their disgraceful and un.
seemy chickering's over the distribution OF
State and municipal offices it is no wonder
the Republicans have mismanaged the AFFAIRS
of the State and that the State has been hui
inflated by the wholesale scandals in the
public service.
The enactment by the last General Assem-
bly,, under Republican control, OF an cleo
ton law SO detective as TO permit election
officials to disclose with absolute impunity
and without fear of prosecution and punish
ment how voters cast their ballots is de-
plorabe and outrageous omission that frus-
trates one of the most important objects OF
the law.
Our system of public schools has been
carefully guarded and protected by the Dem
ocratic party from the beginning. That sys-
TEN must not be permitted TO anguish. 1t
must be fostered and protected. And yet a
Republican Administration has permitted
default in the usual payments due from cor
porations, which are by law dedicated tn
| the free school fund without taking any &C.