The Florence tribune., 1898-11-05
TerrltorIaI pemoeratIo Platform.

The Democratic party of Arizona reafirms its allegiance to the principles set forth in the National Democratic platform adopted at Chicago at the National Convention in June, lss8.
 Itdemands that the hints 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- lieves 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-government, 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 10 all under its folds it will guarantee the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We send a greeting to 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 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.
 1t is the duty of the government to make horner for its eitiaeas. ifi1ona has large s-f -1. for millions of papulasion, which can be 3'e- dueed to cultivation through the agency of the government bg building storase reser- voirs and preseryfne fhe storm toad waters for irrigation purposes.
 Therefore, inasmuch os we secure none of the benefits from the river and harbor ap- pronriations. Ha think it only just that i liberal appropriation should be made by the general government for this purpose. The setting aside of one-qnarter of the territorial area of Arizona a 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- luteiy from mining, grazing and agrieulta- ral pursuits.
 1 We arraign the Republican administration because, regardless of the rights of the peo- | pie, they have increased our territorial debt over SS00,O00 by the funding of illegal and spurious claims against the territory, and the eforcement of the prison contract be- fore its final adjudication by the courts which have largely increased the debt of the Territory
 We favor the repeal of the laws creating the boards of equalization, loan commits sion, board of control and immigration commissioners. and also the law granting 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 oi 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 selVitale.
 We pledge the Democratic party. it's repre
 sentative h. coBgress and its members of tn,
 legislature to the carry ing out of these meas
 mres oi remedial reform and asls all goo,
 citizens to unite with us in securing victor
 for free coinage of silver, statehood an
 iegiaiatiou that win bring the goyernnen
 of Arizona closer to the people at largo.