Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-09-30

me PLATFORM,
The democracy Of Iowa In state conven-
tiou assembled discern In the democratic
rational platform Of 1898, which we hereby
heartily affirm, as the expression of demo-
cratic principles enunciated since Thomas
tenerson wrote the declaration Of indie
Psndence. The utterances of that plat
Sorrn concerning finance explicitly define
6pr faith on the money question.
The free and unlimited coinage Of silver
and gold at the ratio Of sixteen to one we
hold to be indispensable to the financial,
Industrial and political independence Of our
people, and, recognizing William j. Bryan
- preAm!nently the representative and ex-
pQnent OF the platform, we earnestly favor
f. ,5 termination for president of the union
4 We !mpeaoh the republican party for
criminal insinosrity in declaring for b.
Mstallism IN Its national platforms Of 1883
Ana 1894 and for international bimetallism
70 1855, ana now, in Ito latest state platform,
Mhsquivochlly committing itself to the
fold standard. And we denounoe as being
DANGEROUS to the public welfare Its pro-
posai tor legislation involving the conver-
Hon Of the b00,o00,000 silver dollars and the
384d ,000, 900 Of greenbacks first into exclusive
sold obligations and next into an interest
bAar3ng bonded debt and filling the vacuum
ereate4 Py the obliteration Of the nearly
H.ooQ. 10000 OF legal tender money with non
asEe1 tender bank notes.
we express our alarm at the unconcealed
4ominatlon Of the late republican state com
fsnaon by the railroad corporations, and
ne call upon the people to throw off the
porporation yoke by repudiating the party
which 10 thus flagrantly betraying them.
The war with Spain was necessary and
pndertaken In the interest Of humanity,
and we commend the action of the demo-
4rSts " Congress who voted ample supplies
fpr prosecuting 1t to q successful conclu-
Anxe / 4. 49,
Hi9na 80 to the purposes OF the war be
f6ithfyuly carried out by the government,
we glory In the vaior Of the soldiers and
eAlotH OF the army and navy and rejoice
"a their unexatnpled victory on land and
Ses.
furnish them supplies and the best of care
when they became disabled by wounds or
disease and we denounce the criminal in
nompetency and negligence of the agents Of
She government who have caused them to
nlner ana die In camp and hospitals for
Justice demands. And we insist upon a
speedy, searching and impartial investi-
eation to the end that the guilty may be ex-
poAsd and f1ttingly punished.
We express our unbounded admiration
eR the patriotism and self-sacrifcing cour-
A6e OF the soldiers who enlisted, but were
NOT sent to the front, as well as of those
who faced shot and shell and deadly dis
eaEe on foreign soil, and we hold that all
are equally deserving of the love and graf
atude OF the republic.
While recognizing the Importance and de-
manding the maintenance of an effective
navy, we hold that militarism is menace
TO free institutions, and we oppose any
policy that will supply a reason or pretext
3or supporting large standing army In
time OF peace. The immortal Washington,
tor profound reasons. wisely warned his
frVyvyo IN ofyct awe iii -
siances The admonition is as pertinent
as when 1t was uttered a century ago.
Therefore, while sincerely desiring friendly
relations with all nations, we earnestly pro-
test against alliance with any.
AZ 1t 10 an obvious necessity and would
double the efficiency of our navy, we favor
the speedy construction Of the Nicaraguan
canal by the government Of the United
States
We believe that the constitution of the
United States Is the most excellent organic
law ever adopted by any people, and we
sesl Just pride in the loyalty to 1t which
the democratic party has ever shown. But
ne believe that the lapse Of years and
qhangea conditions have brought about the
{lme when further amendments should be
Drought forward for adoption. We hold
that Its provisions for its own amendment
are utterly inadequate to give expression
to the will of the people, and we therefore
favor the amendment of Article s of the
constitution of the United States, to the
9nd that whenever a majority Of both
houses of the congress shall deem 1t nec-
sssary the congress shall propose amend
ments to the constitution, which shall be
submitted to the popular vote and shall
pc valid as part thereof when ratified
by majority of the votes of the people of
the United States cast at any general or
special election at which such question
shall be submitted to vote.
We are In favor of legislation which shall
make 1t misdemeanor for any public
omcer OF the state to accept any pass,
passes, mileage or transportation from any
railroad company in this state or to accept
any frank or pass from any telegraph, tel
epnone or express company doing bust
meas In this state.
We believe in the just and equal distrlbu
ton OF the taxes Of the government, that
Its burdens and Its blessings may fall! lust
ly and impartially upon all alike We de-
mand that capital as well as toll shall nav
Its just proportion of the expenses, and
that by a just and complete Equality" law
for the taxation of incomes shall be no
longer felton, but fact
We renew our adherence to the Monroe
doctrine, asserting that our national
sphere of influence comprehends and en-
braces the entire western hemisphere and
that beyond securing coaing and naval
stations in other parts of the world for
the convenience and protection of our COM
merce we should seek to acquire no ter-
ritory.
Ex-Secretary John Sherman has
risen from the political grave to
whieh ha xuoc oope;~pa5 Ir IJ,p,o