Democratic Platform

The following ringing platform was adopted by the Democratie state convention: The Democracy of Michigan in convention assembled, recognizing the people as the source of political power, and the Constitution as the fundamental law & the land, do solemnly declare: 1. Thut home rule is the essence o f ree government; that the lines boundin state and national authority is clearl; defined, and needs only to be strictl; followed to insure the broadest liberty to the people. 2. Earnestly believing that a real civi reform is needed to purify every depart of the Federal Government, we, therefore demand as an initial but important stej in this direction, an amendment to the Federal Constitution which will give to the people of the several cities, villages and such other postal districts as may be authorizedby law, the right to elect post masters. We also demand that Federal subordi nate officers shall not be appointed or re moved because of political belief, nor ap pointed until there ability and merit have been proven by open public examination and competition, and that political assess ments on, or forced oontributions from public ofricers should be made felony by law. 3. We are unalterably opposed to the unjust, unequal and iniqiiitous system o taxation called a protective tariff, whioh oppresses the farmer and laborer, des troys our merchant marine, breeds anc enriches monopolies, and impoyerishes the poor. The traditional policy anc principies of thè democratie party are on the side of complete commercial freedom and we demand immediate and aggressive revenue reform in the direction o: free trade, subject to a tariff only sufficient to raise the necessary revenue for the expenditures of the government economically administered. 4. That the right of Congress to make appropriations for the improvement of rivers and harbors should be restricted to such as are of national importance; that the people of Michigan cannot be bribed with a share of the theft to sanction the waste of $30,000,000 in two years; and we denounce without distinction of party, all who voted in congress for the iniquitous river and harbor bill. 5. That the letting of the printing of animal tax sales to party favorites, without competitive bidding, and the keeping in the state treasury of from one to iwo million dollars of state funds for the benefit of partisan office holders wlrile the people are heavily taxed, are demoralizing to the public service, and demand immediate reform. Wh cordially invite the votéis of Michigan, without regard to previous party affiliations, to join us in an earnest effort to correct these abuses, by withdrawing the administration of state affairs from those who have been already too long in power, and confiding it to those who come freshly from the people, untrammeled by the tyranny of political rings and of party machinery.