The Florence tribune., 1898-10-22
Territorial Democratic platforn.


 The Democratic party of Arizona reaffirnls its allegiance tot the principles set forth ia | the National Democratic platform adopted | at Chicago at the National Convention ii | June, 1s95.
 It demands that the hints of the United 1 States be opened to the coinage of both gold and silver at the ratio of IS to l, without asking or awaiting the consent of any other nation.
 To enforce the gold standard through the world is impossible. The present condition is intolerable. The Democratic party be- lieyes that the issue thus presented is the most important in American politics. The mission of the United States is to teach the world the sublime lesson of human lib- erty and self-governmcnt, and the further lessonthat its people have the courage and ability to discharge every responsibility which the fortunes of war may have thrust upon their country. Wherever the flag waves it shall be the symbol of freedom, and to all under its folds it will guarantee the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We send greeting to our army and navy for their heroic valor displayed on land and sea.
 
 approves the recent war with Spain and justly shares in the glory of it's results. We favor the independence of Cuba, and the re- tention by this government of the Spanish West Indian possessions and the control by this government of other Spanish territory now occupied by American forces. ii It is the duty of the government to make homes for it's citizens. Arizona has Q large amount of arabic lands sufficient in extent for millions of population, which can be re- duced to cultivation through the agency of the government, by building storage reser- yoirs and preserving the storm flood waters for irrigation purposes.
 , Therefore, inesmuch as we secure none of the benefits from the river and harbor ap- propriations, we think it only just that a |, liberal appropriation should be made by the general government for this purpose The setting aside of one-quarter of the territorial area of Arizona as a timber re. l serve works great hardship upon the Ter ritory at large, without equivalent benefits The forests can be preserved under proper Q legislation without excluding them abso q lutely from mining, grazing and agricultu ral pursuits.
 
 because. regardless of the rights of the peo pie, they have increased our territorial deb ' over SS00,O00 by the funding of illegal an, spurious claims against tho territory, ant . the eforcement of the prison contract be T fore it's final adjudication by the courts e which have largely increased the debt of thu Territory.
 We favor the repeal of the laws creating e the boards of equalization. loan commis E sion, board of control and immigratio commissioners, and also the law grantin the governor the power to remove official t at pleasure, and the passage of such laws a a will lodge the powers exercised by thes boards in commissions elected by the people n We arraign the Republican office holder l. of Arizona for the defeat of the home rul ,e bill, which, pending statehood. is necessar v to our advancement as Territory. becaus l- 1t gives the people, the taxpayers and citi Q zens the right to choose their own executiv and administrative officers. 'i The democracy of Arizona are now, an l. always have been, earnestly in favor o l. statehood, and we hope it will not be lon before the congress of the United State a strikes from the wrists of Arizona the man d acles of territorial servitude.
 We pledge the Democratic party, it's fepre ~ sentative in congress and it's members of tn Q legislature to the carrying out of these meas m ures of remedial reform, and ask all goo citizens to unite with us in securing victor e for free coinage of silver. statehood, an, 1T legislation that will bring the goyernmen f of Arizona closer to the people at large.