Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1882 — THE PLATFORM. [ARTICLE]

THE PLATFORM.

The Democratic party of Indiana, m I convention assembled, renews its pledge of fidelity to the doctrines and traditions of the party as illustrated by the teachings of Thomas Jefferson, its founder, and exemplified in the administration of the Government under Democratic rule. And we insist upon au honest and economical administration on the principles upon which it rests. Conceding to the Federal G vernment its just rights an ' full powers as <!< legated in the Federal Conslhution, t-uil claini-Ug for the Slates nd the people resoectively the t owers therein reserved to them. We arraign the Republiciui party at the bar of public opinion fir its long and continued c urse ot u.-urpation and misrule. It has di-regarded the rights of the people and the States. It Lu- h< Id on to its ill-gotten power in (itfiance of the popular will, by the corrupt use of money in the elections, and d has ccriupted the public morals by e’evatrng to high places men who are known to be dishon - est. We condemn the Republican party for enacting and enforcing law's designed to piece tlio elections under Federal control, in violation of the rights of the .State. We condemn il fi r the fraud and perjilties of 1870, by which the will of the people was set |stiie and a ourper placed in the Presidential office tor four years We condemn it for having kept up and maintained i.-> time of peace an onerous and unjust system-of taxation, by means of which larre sums of money have aceumul ited in ti:e I re.c=ury, which ought to ii ive lai'-n ’eft in toe pockets of the pecpic; and we eoiiderbn its wasteful extravaguiKC in thu’L'Apendiiure of public money. We eoni’enm it fi:r its shameless disregard of its pledges in fi>yor of ‘ civil service reform,” and its corrupt use cf the public patronage under the “spoils system.” V. e condemn it fin its syFemalii-levy of bit'.' kniail upon the clerks and minor otfie ! <)idi-r$ of du United Slates, in violation of law. to raise a fond for the corruption of th ballot box: and we call especially upon the voters of Indiana to vindicate their honor and to erase the stain tb l was placed upon them by the '' D-ase ties’’t it 1 fiSo We demand hat the presinl wasteful and Hom e s.:r < xpeiuiiture th ■ pttb- : lie ni-ai v sri;:]' b ■ stopped, a <• that the surplus i- venin shall : u> fidthfu;) npp’iI to tl.e pavment of ’he National debt

We demand that the Federal taxes be reduced to the lowest oiu s consistent w ith the wan'- of the Government under au honest f.nd economical admiriisfaa’ion o r ' i s flairs,-and that such t ixe-be so adjusted as to secure an equ table distribution of these burdens. We demand there shall be such reforms in the civil service as will again result in the employment in the public service of those only who are honest anil capable, and that no assessments or exactions of any kind shall be required of them for political purposes. We demand protection to our citizens, native and.adopted, at home and abroad, and we denounce and condemn the present Republican Administration for its neglect of duty toward those lately imprisoned as ‘‘suspects” in the Jails of Ireland by the- arbitrary action of the British authorities.

We demand a revision of the present unjust tariff. The Constitution of the United States confers upon Congress the power to cstablsh a tariff for revenue, and ns a just and proper exercise of that power, we favor such an adjdstmcnt of its provisions within the revenue standard, as will promote the industries of the country and the Interests of labor, without creating monopolies. The Deinocratie party is now, as it has always been, opposed to al! sumptuary legislation, anti it is especially opposed to the proposed amendment to the Constilutic.il of Indiana, known as thcp><>-' hibitcry amendment, and we are in favor of the übmission ot said proposed amendment, as well as other propo-Jd amendments, to the people, according to the provisions of th; Constitution fur l's own amendment, and the people have the right to oppose or favor the adoption of any or all the amendments at all stages of their consideration, and an-? submission of Constitutional amendment' 1 to a vote ot the people should be at a time and under circumstances most favorable to a full vote, and therefore should be at a general election. That we freely- indorse and approve the laws passed pursuant to the demands of former Democratic Conventions making provision for the safety and protection of laborers and miners, and providing for the collection of their wages, and are in favor of all other enactments to that end which may be necessary and proper The free schools of Indiana are. the pride and glory of the State, and w-e will see to it that they are not poisoned by the breath of sectarianism, nor destroyed by waste and extravagance in their management. Tn the relations between capital and labor we saver such policies as will promote harmony between them, and will adequately- protect the rights aud interests of labor. We esteem Daniel W. Voorhees as an able and faithful representative of cur State in the Senate, and specially commend him for his active sympathy in behalf of the soldier.