The record-union., 1898-08-19

of 16 to /, without waiting for the con-
sent of any other nation.
We reaffirm the unalterable adherence
of the Democratic party to the principles
OF civil and religious liberty as proclaimed
Dy the founders Of our republic.
THE WAR WITH SPAIN.
We indorse the action of Congress in de-
claring war against the Government OF
Spain for the purpose of securing liberty
to the people of Cuba and of putting an
end to the long continued oppression and
gross miSgovernment under which they
have suffered. We congratulate the peo-
and successful termination of the wal
for the accomplishment Of this purpose
We rejoice in the success that has come
to American arms on land and sea. anc an,
glory in the bravery and skill of the sol
diers and sailors of our country. Ine
sublime courage and fortitude displayed
the victories of Manila and Santiago have
shown to the world the value of free IN
stitutions, universal suffrage and genera
public education, in developing the high
est qualities of character, intelligence an6
courage, making our volunteer soloiefs
trained in the schools of the State militia
organizations more than equal TO tn0st
who comprise the great standing armies
of Europe.
We favor the fullest investigation of al
conditions existing in the Philippine Isl
ands affecting the interests and Obnga
tions of our country in the matter OF
their future treatment and disposition, tc
the end that final action in relation there
to shall be intelligent and based upon
full knowledge Of all facts that can aIecl
the interests of the United States. w hlIt
we do not favor an aggressive polcy "
the surrender to Spain of any OF the terri
tory that has been acquired by, Amer,
can valor and the expenditure or the blooo
and treasure of our people. Ana we &c
not favor the surrender to Spanish do
miniOn of the people of any or the span
ish colonies who co-operated with ou1
forces against our enemy in the late war
We are unalterably opposed to the as
sumption by this Government OF any por-
tion of the debts of Spain incurred N
maintaining her sovereignty in cuba, ano
to the imposition of any portion thereof
upon the people of that island, or to any
recognition thereof
One of the results of the war to our own
country has been the obliteration OF all
sectional lines and differences among our
people resulting from memories OF the
civil war. The people OF all parts OF oui
votion, a common patriotism and com
mon spirit of self-sacrifice in support OF
our flag, in the crisis through which we
have passed, and have thus forever ban
ished sectional animosities and made ap,
peals to sectionalism in future political
campaigns impossible
We commend the course OF the Demo
cratic minority in Congress in having
acted with unanimity and without partl-
san division on all measures for the sup
port of our arms in the war with SPAN
and we commend the course Of the Demo
cratic Senators and Representative IN
Congress in opposing the unjust and dis.
Republican Administration under whlcf
by far the greater portion of the cost OF
the war is levied upon the laboring classes
OF the country.
We heartily ndorse and commend the
faithful and efficient services of our Dem
ocratic Senators and Representatives II
Congress from California.
NICARAGUA CANAL.
Wa fox-o,- he ipop1a6 re- construction OF
the Nicaragua ship canal by the Unitec
States Government, and its ownership
operation and permanent control by the
Government.
PACIFIC RAILROADS.
We denounce the measure recently
adopted by the Fifty-fifth Congress, pro-
viding for refunding the debts of the Cen
trail Pacific Railroad Company to the
United States Government, as an unusua
and vicious act of favoritiSm to power
full corporation, the effect of which vii
ern Pacific Company's monopoly of rail
road transportation in California. we
also denounce the proposition to further
extend the period of payment Of said debts
and pledge our candidates for Congress
to oppose the same We also pledge al
candidates for the Legislature not to vote
for any candidate for United States Sena,
tor who is not opposed to any extension
of such time upon any terms whatever
We favor the foreclosure of the Govern.
ment's liens upon the Central Paclnc 5 anc
L
for an amount sufficient to pay the en-
tire claims of the Government, or II a
price sufficient for that purpose cannot be
obtained that the Government bid in said
reads at the foreclosure sales and hold
them as public highways for the benefit
of the whole people.
STATE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
We commend the efforts of the Dem
ocratic majority Of the present State
Railroad Commission to bring about a
fair and reasonable REDUCTION OF freight
tation within the State of California,
and we deprecate the unreasonable post
ponement of those advantages to the peo-
pie of California by dilatory proceedings
instituted in the Federal and State Courts
by the Southern Pacific Company in eva
sion of it's obligations to the State and in
defiance of the conditions upon which It
holds it's public franchises. We condemn
the action of the last Republican Legisla-
ture in refusing to appropriate the money
necessary to enable the State Railroad
Commission to properly defend it's rights
and powers in the State and Federal
Courts, and to properly investigate the
business methods, earnings ana expenses
of the railroads subject to its jurisdic-
ton.
we reiterate the position repeatedly as
serted by the DemoGratte h ratc party OF siat Ja
and fare charges by the State Railroad
Commission no allowance should be made
for interest upon any fictitious capitaliza-
tion OF railroad companies; that reason
able interest should be allowed upon the
actual investment in the construction Of
| the railroad. including stations and ter,
minals, and upon the actual value OF
rolling stock and other property used In
connection with railroad transportation
and no allowance should be made as OF
for interest upon the value Of any priVi-
| lege given by the people to such compan-
| les, and no allowance of interest upon
any bonded Indebtedness beyond the act
ual value OF the railroad measured by the
cost of reproducing it at any given time
at which rates are TO be fixed. In de-
termining the allowance to be made for
operating expenses of railroads the com
mission should provide literally for the
wages of men employed thereon and al
| railroad companies should be compelled
to pay wages In accordance with such
allowance.
RIVERS AND HARBORs.
The preservation of the navigable rivers
and harbors of California is of the great
velopment OF the State. and we therefore
urge upon our delegation in Congress the
| Importance of securing liberal appropria-
tions for the maintenance Of the naviga-
bility and Improvement of the same.
Fully realizing the great Importance of
early completion of the work undertaken
Rivers. and the possibility of placing the
Improvement of these waterways under
contract system at an early day. we
pledge our representa- tives in Congress to
exercise their utmost endeavors to ac-
complish this purpose, and declare thai
the completion Of this Improvement should
be expedited by both State and nation.
SAN PEDRO HARBOR.
We denounce the persistent and long
| continued efforts of the present Secretary
| of War to prevent the improvement OF
the public harbor of San Pedro, and his
| persistent efforts TO divert the sums OF
| money appropriated by Congress for that
| purpose to the Improvement of the pri-
| vate harbor Of the Southern Pacific Com
| pany al Santa Monica Cal. and the Dem.
| ocratic Congressmen from California are
| hereby pledged to use every effort to pre-
| vent such diversion of anY norton OF