The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-23

port of this cause by the senators and rep
Congress. We congratulate the country on
the universal patriotic uprising which has
swept away the last vestige OF sectionalsn,
and revealed us to the world a united
people. We rejoice in the heroic deeds of
Dewey, Bagley Hobson, and their brave
comrades, which have added new luster TO
the American name. We demand, now as
heretofore. the most vigorous prosecution OF
the war until it shall have ended in vindica-
ton of the national honor, the absolute re-
linquishment by Spain of possession or con-
troll Of any part of the western hemisphere,
and the formal acknowledgment by that
kingdom of the independence of the Cuban
republic. We favor the prompt recognition
by the United States of such independence
as war measure, and as an act of justice
to brave people, struggling for freedom.
We urge the immediate Increase of the vol
unteer forces of our army and navy to any
extent necessary to assure speedy and de-
cisive results and the appropriation of all
the funds requisite for the adequate equip
ment and support, and for the comfort of
our gallant Soldiers and sailors i'm armed
conflict against the public enemy. The SUI
preme duty of the hour is to relieve the
perishing victims of Spanish cruelty and
secure the complete triumph of the national
arms. When this shall have been accom-
plished the justice and wisdom of the
American people may be safely trusted TO
deal with all questions which may grow out
of existing complications, in such way as
best to promote the objects for which this
Republic was founded.
A STRONG NAVY.
I'VE favor such a permanent strengthen
ing of the navy of the United States and
such Improvements of our system of coast
defenses as shall assure adequate protection
of the country against foreign aggression.
1.-The Democratic party of Indiana, now.
as in the past, advocates liberal pensions as
we'll to the disabled survivors of the Union
army in the civil war; and their widows and
orphans, as to the victims in the present
conflict, and those who may be dependent
on them We honor alike the valor of those
who suffered for the flag in the gigantic
contest of 1876, and of those who have
now gone forth to do battle in the cause OF
liberty and humanity.
We are in favor of the construction and
control Of the Nicaragua canal by this gov
arn-nent, when its feasibility shall have
been determined but we are opposed to
loan of the national credit to any private
corporation for that purpose.
STILL FOR 16 TO 1.
| 1--WE reaffirm and emphasize the platform
adopted by the national Democratic conven-
ton of 1896 at Chicago. We are in favor of
the free and unlimited coinage of both gold
and silver at the existing ratio of 16 to l,
without the aid or consent of any other ma
ton.
I'VE are unalterably opposed to the single
gold standard, and we specially protest
against the declared purpose of the present
Republican secretary of the treasury of APP
plying that policy more thoroughly. We be-
lieve that the practice of the treasury In
paying treasury notes in gold only, in viola
of the government reserved by the statute,
to pay in gold or silver is chiefly response
BILE for the great money depression now, and
try, is destructive of business enterprise,
dangerous to the public credit and the
prosperity of the people, and serious me-
mace to the national honor.
we insist that the wealth of the country
should bear it's just share of the public bur-
dens For that reason we approve the in
heritance tax recently adopted through the
efforts of the Democrats in Congress and we
favor the principle and policy of an income
tax. The characterization of silver and the
judicial denial of the power to tax incomes
have materially impaired our resources for
war purposes. We favor the reimposition of
an income tax, so that the question OF its
validity may be reviewed by the Supreme
Court.
SAME TARIFF OPPOSITION
1--WE earnestly reassert the Democratic
doctrine that all tariff taxes shall be laid
for revenue as their sole object and pur-
pose, and we do at this time especially de-
nounce and condemn the high prohibitory
rates of the present Republican tariff, COM
monty called the Dingley bill, under the
operation of which trusts and combinations
have multiplied, the cost of the necessaries
of life has been increased and the wages
has entailed upon the country a deficit of
many millions to be made up only by addi-
tlonal taxation in time of war, thus impos-
ing, instead of benefit, an onerous burden
upon the people of the United States.
We reaftirm and emphasize our repeated
declarations in favor of the election of
United States senator's by the people.
I'VE congratulate the taxpayers of Ind-
ana upon the rapid decrease OF the state
debt. and beg to remind them that the rev.
enues with which the payments thereon
do oT16r hnff, do
from the enforcement of the Democratic tax
law of 1884, which was enacted by a Demo-
cratic Legislature over Republican opposi
ton and protest, which was assaed by a
Republican state convention, denounced by
republican orators and the entire Repub-
lican press, but which was sustained in the
highest court of the Nation through the eff
forts of a Democratic attorney general.
Every dollar paid on the state debt by Re-
publican officials is cumulative evidence of
the stupidity, or worse, of the Republican
organization in its bitter opposition to the
law which made such payment possible, and
made no effort to repeal
We also recall that Democratic Legis-
lature enacted law creating a sinking fund
of cents on the hundred dollars, to be APP
piled exclusively to the extinguishment of
the state debt, and that under these laws
the Democratic administration of Governor
Matthews, in 1895 and 1896, set the pace by
reducing the state debt more than two mil
lion dollars.
1.-THE Democratic party feels a Just pride
in the other great legislative reforms it
has accomplished for the people of Indiana,
ana points to their continuing benefits as
certain proof of their wisdom. We call at
tentlon to the Australian ballot law, enacted
against Republican opposition, and still hav-
ing great purifying effect on elections
Notwithstanding the Republican amend
ments lessening its safeguards; to the Board
of State Charities law, for the supervision
and regulation of our penal and charitable
institutions; to the school book law, by
which the great school-book trust has been
driven from the State, the price of the
duced over one half and the frequent
changes in books, formerly so burdensome
to the people and detrimental to the schools
have been prevented; to the feeNand salary
law. and other great measures of reform
which the State of Indiana owes to the
Democratic party.
LAST LEGISLATURE.
1--WE call attention to the record of the
last two legislatures, each Republican in
both branches, which made scarcely law
of material benefit to the people Both of
these legislatures were marked by corrup-
ton and debauchery so scandalous that even
Republican organs were driven to denounce
them. They have to their credit the iniqui-
tous special verdict law-made in one and
repealed in the other; the present legis-
lative gerrymander, by which the Senate Is
given fifty-one members, in viola ton of the
Constitution; the antitrust law inspired by
trust attorneys, and purposely made so
worthless that Republican state officials
dare not attempt to enforce It: an oppressive
garnishee law. which undertook to deprive
wage earners of the State of their constitu-
tiOnal right of exemption: and the out