The Florence tribune., 1898-10-29
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 Territorial Democratic Platform.
 The Democratic party of Arizona reufirms it's allegiance to the principles set forth in the National Democratic platform adopted at Chicago at the National Convention in June, 189s.
 It demands that the nints of the United States be opened to the coinage of both gold and silver at the ratio of 16 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 lesson that it's 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 it's 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.
 The Democratic party of Arizona hereby approves the recent war with Spain and justly shares in the glory of its results. We favor the independence of Cuba, and the re- tention by this government of the Spanish West Indian posessions and the control by this government of other Spanish territory now occupied by American forces
 It is the duty of the government to make homes for its citizens. Arizona has a large amount of arabic lands, sufficient in extent for millions of population. which can be re- daeed toeultivation through the agency of the government, by building storage reser- yoirs and preserving the storm flood waters for irrigation purposes
 Therefore, iBasn1ucb as we secure nono of fhe benefits from the river and harbor ap- propriations we think is only just that ! liberal appropriation should be made bs the | selssE d government for this purpose.
 The setting aside of one-quarter of the territorial area of Arizona as timber re- serve works great hardship upon the Ter ritory at large, without equivalent benefits. The forests can be preserved under proper legislation without excluding them abso- lutely from mining, grazing and agricultu- ral pursuits.
 We arraign the Republican administration because, regardless of the rights of the peo- pie, they have increased our territorial debt over SsO0,000 by the funding of illegal and spurious claims against the territory, and he eforcement of the prison contract be- fore it's final adjudication by the courts, which have largely increased the debt of the l Territory.
 |
 We favor the repeal of the laws creating the boards of equalization, loan commis- sion, board of control and immigration commissioners, and also the law grantine the governor the power to remove officials at pleasure, and the passage of such laws as will lodge the powers exercised by these boards in commissions elected by the people.
 We arraign the Republican office holders of Arizona for the defeat of the home rule bill, which, pending statehood, is necessary to our advancement as Territory. because it gives the people, the taxpayers and citi- zens the right to choose their own executive and administrative officers.
 The democracy of Arizona are now. and always have been, earnestly in favor of statehood, and we hope it will not be long before the congress of the United States strikes from the wrists of Arizona the man. acles of territorial servitude.
 We pledge the Democratic nartv. its renre. sentative in congress and it's members of tbe legislature tothe carrying out of these meas
 llres ai remedial reform and ask all e0of
 citizens to unite with Us in securing a victor,
 Tor free coinage of silver. statehood ans
 legislation that will bring the governmsB-
 of Arizona closer to the people at larre.