The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-06-03
David Davis PLATFORM.
Explaining Where He stands on
the Questions of the Day.

Explaining Where He stands o
the Questions of the Day.
WASHINGTON. May 23.-Correspon(
ence between the Hon. o. H. Brown
ing, formerly Secretary of the Treasur
and Senator David Davis, of Illinois
has been made public. Mr.. Brownin
in letter to Senator Davis says that q
the session of Congress is drawing to
close there may not be a chance fo
him to express his views on the ques
tions which are of large public interest
q" have ventured," he says, "to EN-
body, in the form of inquiries, append
ed to this letter, some of the subject
upon which your opinions are desired
if it be agreeable to you to compl.
with the request of a large number o
voters and friends, without distinction
of party" To this Senator Davis re
plies:
T. i. WASHINGTON, May IA, 1880.
| MY DEAR SIR: 1 have had the
pleasure to receive your letter of the
9Th inst. AS constituent, frien(
and an honored citizen of Illinois, yor
have q perfect right to ask for my views
on public questions, and have no hes
itation in expressing them, taking the
inquiries in the order presented:
PEACE IN THE UNIoN.-Permanent
prosperity and fraternal fellowship are
only to be attained by silencing sec.
tional strife. A faithful adherence to
the Constitution and all the amend
ments, strict observance of the laws in
conformity Herewith, and equal rights
and equal protection for every citizen
in every part of the Republic, will soon
end the discords that have too long
vexed the country and injured its ma
terial welfare. The people are weary
of agitation and want peace.
GENERALIZATION Constitution
wisely defines the limits of the Federal
and State governments under a happy
and harmonious system, wherein each
is independent in its appropriate sphere
and both operate concurrently to pro-
tect the integrity and stability of the
Union. Any encroachment of one on
the distinctive domain of the other
necessarily dislocates the machinery
of the Constitution and involves dan
ger to the whole body polite. In fact,
every departure from the great charter
of liberty and law is attended with
peril. The demand made by adherents
of one of the great parties for strong
government means substantially GEN.
government, destructive of
home rule in the States, and the very
reverse of what Mr.. Lincoln well de-
scribes as government of the people,
by the people and for the people. Car
ried to its logical conclusion such a
change would finally overthrow the
THE THIRD TERM-An innovation
upon the sanctified traditions of the
first established by the eX-
ample of Washington, is urgently de-
by powerful interest in the
party. If the limitation
IF two terms, heretofore universally
be destroyed, the way to a
Presidency will be
opened by the use and the abuse of the
enormous public patronage. Break
lown this barrier and an end of the ex-
pertinent of Republican government
oOms up darkly at the cost of fatal
GREAT CoRPoRATIONs-The rapid
growth of corporate power and the
nalign influence which it exerts by
on the National and the
State Legislatures is a well-grounded
cause of alarm. A struggle is impend-
ng in the near future between this
,vergrown power, with its vast ramifi-
cations all over the Union and hard
grip on much of the political machinery
IN one hand and the people in an un-
organized condition on the other, for
control of the government. 1t will be
by every patriot with intense
.e-
CIVIL SERvICE-Neither laws nor
created under them will
sfectually reform the many and glar-
ing abuses of the civil service. The
former have been constantly evaded
and the latter are powerless for good.
An honest Executive, bent on real and
not simulated reform, has abundant
to make it effective every
where if he has the capacity to see his
luty and the courage to perform it.
DIEs-Experience has demon
strated that subsidies in any form are
sources of corruption and ought to be
Private enterprises that
depend for success upo n legislation pro-
cured by venal agencies do not deserve
public favor.
PUBLIC LANDs-More than a hun
dred and fifty millions of acres of val
liable lands and more than a hundred
million of dollars, principal and inter-
est, have been voted by Congress to
railroad corporations. The remaining
lands should be sacredly reserved for
of the soil, so that the la
boring man shall have chance to i'm.
prove his condition and to open up
future for his children away from the
of the great cities.
REVISION OF THE TARIFF-Tariff
means taxation, and all tax
alton not equally adjusted is odiOus.
While the interest on an oppressive
public debt, the pensions earned by
.he blood of soldiers and sailors who
fought for the Union, and the regular
of carrying on the government
are to Re met, duties on imports must
continue to furnish one of the sources
IF revenue. So long as these duties are
levied manufacturers will be benefited
to the degree or the mode in
which the duties may be distributed.
The existing tariff is regarded as con-
fused mass sOfincongruities and monop-
)lies, created by special legislation and
l.