The Advocate and news., 1898-06-22
THE GENUINE ARTICLE.
Kansas Democrats rIake No f1lstahe In
Defining the Principles of
Their PARTY.


State convention assembled, pledge our
allegiance to the principles of the re-
newed Democracy which found express
sion in the Democratic national plat
form Of 1896. We stand to-day for every
principle therein enunciated, and especi-
ally for the free and unlimited coinage
of silver and gold at the ratio of 16 to l,
without waiting for the consent Of for
eign nations. We take special pleasure
in recording our appreciation and in
dorsement OF the splendid campaign
waged in behalf of the peoples rights
by their intrepid champion, who stands
in merit and esteem with the historic
leaders of Democracy, William j. Bryan.
"SecOnd-We are against the McKin-
ley and Dingley system of taxation for
the expenses of the government. 1t is
wrong in principle, being tax on con-
sumption instead Of on property, and a
breeder of trusts and mOnopolies, and
1t is disastrous in practice, as the pres
ent $50 900 deficit illustrates, and we
renew our protest against 1t and insist
upon federal taxation being levied In
such a manner as will reach the incomes
and property of rich men and corpora
tions, and thus to some degree exempt
the necessities of the common people.
We wage no war upon the rich, but in
sist the rich and poor alike must stand
in equality before the law, and that un-
Just privileges and the aggressions Of
wealth upon the rights Of man must
cease. We, therefore, favor an amend
ment of the constitution Of the United
States, II the same be necessary such as
will authorize Congress to levy direct
taxes upon incomes, corporations, es-
tates and all forms Of aggregated
wealth.
"Third-We are in favor Of vigorous
Of the war with Spain, and
see in it not only the passing Of Cuba
from despotism to freedom, but for
a more advanced place among
the nations Of the world and a broader
commercial horizon. The American
navy should be greatly enlarged, and in
its wake our merchant marine, under
new tariff laws, should open the worlds
markets to American buyers and sell
ers; and rights should be reserved in all
territory conquered during the war TO
facilitate and protect such extended COM
mercial interests; but with no view to
territorial aggrandizement nor the es-
tablishment of colonial policy for this
We congratulate our State
that she was the first to respond to the
Presidents call with her full quota Of
volunteers, and assure our Kansas sol
diers that in this righteous battle for
human rights they will be followed
through the march, the bivouac and the
battlefield by the hopes and prayers Of
their fellow citizens at home.
"Fourth-We are in favor Of the re-
submission of the prohibition amend
ment to the State constitution to vote
of the electors of the State. When 1t
was adopted it failed to receive the sup
port of a majority Of our voters, and
since it has been In operation there has
been no time when 1t commanded the
respect or support Of majority Of our
people, and to-day it is not enforced
throughout the State, and we are In
favor of It's repeal, and the substitution
in its place of license system under
local option and strict regulations, one
HAIL lHO ulOHCy ucIANCu LuCAOAAOhA w uO
expended on the public county roads;
or in lieu of such resubmission Of said
amendment, we favor a constitutional
convention.
"Fifth-We denounce the metrOpOl-
itan police law as undemOcratic and un-
American, and contrary to the princi-
pies upon which our government Is
founded; and demand It's repeal, believ-
ing that home rule should prevail in
local AFFAIRS.
"Sixth-We commend the course Of
Senator w. A. Harris in preventing the
loss of millions of dollars to the people
through the Vaccinations Of the Wall
street operators interested In the pur-
chase of the Union Pacific railroad; and
we commend him and those Kansas
Congressman who voted against the is
suance OF further interest bearing bonds