New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1884-07-16

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rom the foundation Of this government
taxes collected at the Custom House have
been the chief source of Federal revenue.
Such they must continue to be. Moreover,
many Industries have come to rely upon
Legislation for successful continuance so
that any change of law must be at every
step regardfnl of the labor and capital thus
involved. The process of reform must be
subjectin the execution to this plain dictate
B OF justice.
All taxation shall be limited to the re-
qulrements of economical government. The
necessary reduction in taxation can and
must be effected without depriving Amer
lean lI labor OF the ability to compete success
fully with foreign labor, and without impos-
ing lower rates Of duty than will be ample
to cover any increased cost of production
which may exist in conseq uence of the high
er rate OF wages prevailing in this country.
Sufficient revenue to pay all the expenses
Of the Federal Government, economically
administered, including pensions, interest
and principal of the public debt can be got,
under our present system Of taxation, from
custom house taxes OH fewer imported artl-
cles, bearing heaviest on articles of luxury,
and bearing lightest on articles of necessity.
We therefore denounce the abuses of the
existing tariff, and, subject to the preceding
Limitations, we demand that Federal taxa
ton shall be exclusively for public purposes
and shall not exceed the needs Of the gov
eminent economically administered.
The system of direct taxation known as
the internal revenue is a war tax, and so
long as the law continues the money deriv-
ed therefrom should be sacredly devoted to
the relief OF the people from the remaining
burdens OF the war, and be made a fund to
defray the expense of the care and comfort
Of worthy soldiers disabled in line Of duty
| in the wars of the republic and for the pay
ment of such pensions as Congress may
from time to time grant to such soldiers, a
like fund for the sailors having been already
provided; and any surplus should be paid
into the treasury.
We favor an American continental policy
based upon more Intimate commercial and
political relations with the fifteen sister re-
! publics of North, Central and South Amer
lea. but entangling alliances with none.
We believe in honest.money, the gold and
silver coinage OF the Constitution, and a
circulating medium convertible into such
money Without loss.
Asserting the equality Of all men before
| the law, we hold that it is the duty of the
government, in its dealings with the peo-
| pie, to mete out equal and exact justice to
all citizens of whatever nativity, race, col
or, or persuasion-religious or political.
We believe in a free ballot and fair
count; and we recall to the memory of the
| people the noble struggle of the Democrats
L L
crosses, by which a reluctant Republican
| opposition was compelled toassent to legis-
| lation making everywhere illegal the pres
ence of troops at the polls as the conclus-
| i've proof that a Democratic administration
will preserve liberty with order.
| The selection of Federal officers for the
| territories should be restricted to citizens
previously resident therein.
We oppose sumptuary laws which yex
| the citizen and interfere with individual
| liberty; we favor honest civil service re-
form; and the compensation of all United
| States officers by fixed salaries; the separa-
| ton OF church and state; and the diffusion
of free education by common schools, SO
| that every child in the land may be taught
the rights and duties Of citizenship:
| While we favor all legislation which will
! tend to the equitable distribution Of prop
| erty, to the prevention of monopoly and to
| the strict enforcement Of individual rights
against corporate abuses, we hold that the
| welfare OF society depends upon a scrupll-
lous regard for the rights OF property as de-
| fined by law.
We believe that labor is best rewarded
where it is freest and most enlightened. 1t
| should therefore be foStered and cherished.
We favor the repeal OF all laws restricting
the free action Of labor, and the enactment
of laws by Which labor organizations may
be incorporated, and OF all such legislation
as will tend to enlighten the people as to
the true relations Of capital and labor.
We believe that the public lands ought,
as far as possible, be kept as homesteads
for actual settlers; that all unearned lands
heretofore imprOyidently granted to rail-
road corporations by the action of the Re
publican party should be restored to the
public domain; and that no more grants of
land shall be made to corporations, or be
allowed to fall into the ownership Of alien
| absentees.
We are opposed to all propositions which
upon any preteXt would convert the Gen
eral Government into a machine for collect
ing taxes to be distributed among the
states, OF the citizens thereof.
In reaffirming the declaration of the
Democratic platform of 1856 that ''the lib
eral principles embodied by Jefferson in
the Declaration Of Independence, and
sanctioned in the Constitution which make
ours the land Of liberty and the asylum of
the oppressed Of every nation, have ever
faith" we, nevertheless, do not sanction
the importation of foreign labor, OF the adj
mission OF seryile races, untitled by habits
training, religion or kindred for absorption
into the great body of our people, or for the
citizenship which our laws confer. Ameri-
can civilization demands that against the
immigration or importation of MOngOlians
to these shores our gates be closed
The Democratic party insists that it is
the duty OF this government to protect,
Will t4 Hutlty ttlAu S!ltIuCe, Glle IIS uLS
Of its citizens, native and naturalized, at
home and abroad; and to the end that this
protection may be assured. United States
papers Of naturalization, issued by courts
Of competent jurisdiction, must be respect
ed by the Executive and Legislative depart
ments of our own government and by all
foreign powers.
It is All imperative duty Of this govern
ment to efficiently protect all the rights of
persons and property of every American
citizen in foreign lands, and demand and
enforce full repatriation for any invasion
An American citizen is only responsible
to his own government for any act done in
his own country, or under her flag, and can
only be tried therefor on her own soil and
according to her laws; and no power exists
in this government to expatriate an Ameri-
can citizen to be tried in any foreign land
for such act.
This country has never had awell-defned
and executed foreign policy save under
Democratic administration; that policy has
ever been, in regard to foreign nations, so
long as they do not act detrimental to the
Interests Of the country OF hurtful to. our
citizens, to let them alone; that as the re
suit of this policy we recall the acquisition
of Louisiana. Florida, California, and of
the adjacent Mexican territory by purchase
alone; and contrast these grand acquisi-
tons Of Democratic craftsmanship with the
purchase o. AldShtt, lliG SOlG lIuitOl u lN0.
publican administration of nearly a quarter
Of a century.
The Federal Government should care for
and improve the Mississippi River and other
great waterways OF the republic, so as to
secure for the interior states easy and cheap
transportation to tidewater.
Under long period of Democratic rule
and policy Cur merchant marine was fast
overtalking and on the point of outstripping
that Of Great Britain.
Under twenty years Of Republican rule
British bottoms. and almost has the Ameri-