The Opelousas courier., 1884-07-19
The Democratic Platform.
N. o. Times-Democrat,

N. o. Times-Democrat
The Democratic party has flung its
banner to the breeze, and shown to the
country what true Democracy means.
The platform enunciated and adopted
at Chicago Thursday was most careful
" considered and discussed. It is
seldom that SO able committee is ap-
pointed for this work; and still less
frequent that so much time is con-
sumed in preparing party platform.
1t is generally, as matter of fact, pre-
pared in advance and hurled through
without debate or discussion. This
was the case with the Republican
platform. But the Democracy pu'f-
sued different course. 1t selected its
best men for the work of preparing its
declaration, and it gave them ample
time for this. The result is a com-
plete embodiment.of Democratic prln-
ciples, stated succinctly, briefly and
foreibly.
The people of Louisiana can give
this platform their earnest support.
There is demand for the improve
ment by the Federal Government of
the Mississippi River; and in general
an advocacy and support of measures
that will conduce to the best interests OF
this State. One of the most interesting
planks of the platform as far as Lou
isiana is concerned is that relating to
the tariff 1t is gratifying to know
that the committee on resolutions could
almost unanimously agree on this, and
that the convention should have adopt
ed it by a seven -eighths majority. In
view Of the differences within the party
on this economical question it was
feared that this plank would produce
an unfortunate conflict which would
demoralize the party III the very be-
ginning of the campaign. Instead of
this being the case the matter was
fully compromised and arranged in
committee and almost unanimously
adopted in convention.
This plank is much longer than the
Republican one, or than any similar
plank of former Democratic platforms.
It is not briefly stated, as in 1880, ''a
tariff for revenue only" but is a de-
mand for revision of the tariff, for the
collection of revenue, limited to the re-
quirements of an economical govern
ment but this reform in the tariff and
this reduction in taxation Is to be
effected without depriving American
labor of the ability to compete success
fully with foreign labor, "and without
imposing lower rates of. duty than
will be ample to cover an increased
cost of production that may exist in
consequence of a higher rate of wages
prevailing in this country" This par
agraph specially covers the case of our
sugar planters. They have shown re-
peatedly that the duty on sugar was
actually less than the difference in cost
between the slave labor producing it in
Cuba and the free labor of Louisiana.
By this plank the Democratic party
pledges itself to earnestly work for the
preservation of the American standard
of wages, and must protect Louisiana
against slavery in Cuba, peonage in
Mexico and coolie labor in Demerara.
This paragraph further ennnciates
this proposition. 1t bears some rela-
tion to the Ohio platform, except thai
it is far more explicit the
country economy, reform and correc.
ton of the errors of the tariff, at the
same time that it pledges itself against
! any action that will reduce the wages
of laborers engaged in our various
manufacturing enterprises.
The arraignment of the Republican
party for Its maladministration is strong
and forcible, and the necessity for ;
change is pointed out so that none cal
fail to see and appreciate it. The Re
publican party is organized, it charges
to enrich those who control it's machi
merry it is party of fraud
jobbery and corruption; party tha
stole the presidency in 1876, and bough
j its way into power, in 1880, by an i'm
mense corruption fund. It has squan
dered millions on men of-War, and left
US no navy; it has depressed and des
troyed American shipping, given ava.
the public heritage and subjected tn
American workingman to the compe
tition of convict and imported contract
labor. Such is the arraignment OF th
Republican party and the people Q
the country, Democrats and Independ
ents and whoever are opposed to th
condition to which the government ha
been brought by Republican ascenden
cy, are invited to support this platform
and declaration of principles, and th
candidates who SO worthily and thor
oughly represent every idea contained
in it.
It cannot be said, as it has of old
that there are no points of differenc
between the Democrats and Ropubli
cans, save in name. The two partie
now stand opposed to every plank an
principle involved This difference
none can fail to recognize who com
pare these two utterances, and thos
who want reform, economy and pros
perity will support the candidate an
platform of the Democracy.
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