St. Landry democrat., 1884-07-19


terPsts.
"But in making reduction in taxes it
is not proposed to injure any domestic
industries, but rather to promote their
healthy growth. From the foundation
of this government taxes collected at
the custom house have been the chief
source of Federal revenue such they
must continue; moreover, many indus
tries have come to rely upon legislation
for successful continuance, so that any
change of law must be at every step re-
gardful of the labor and capital thus in
vOlved. The process OF reform must be
subject in the execution to the plain die
tate of justice.
Cali taxation shall be
LIMITED TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF ECO
NoMICAL GOVERNMENT.
The necessary reduction in taxation can
and must be effected without depriving
American labor Of the ability to COM
plete successfully with foreign labor,
and without imposing lower rates of
duty than will be ample to cover an in
creased cost of production which may
exist in consequence of the higher rate
OF swages prevailing in this country.
Sufficient revenue to pay all expenses OF
the Federal government economically
administered, including pensions, inter-
est and principal of the public debt, can
be got under our present system of tax
alton from customh0use taxes on fewer
| imported articles, bearing heaviest on
articles of luxury and bearing lightest
on articles of necessity. We therefore
denOunce the abuses of the existing tar
iff, and subject to the preceding we de-
mand that Federal taxation shall be ex-
clusiVely for public purposes, and shall
not exceed the needs of government
economically administered.
"The system of direct taxation known
as
THE INTERNAL REVENUE TAX
is war tax, and so long as the law con-
times the money derived therefr0m
should be sacredly devoted to the eleva-
ton of the people from the remaining
burdens of the war and be fund to de-
| fray the expenses for the care and COM
| fort of worthy soldiers disabled in the
line of duty in the wars Of the republic,
and for the payment of such pensions as
Congress may from time to time grant
to snch soldiers, like fund for the sail
ors having been already provided, and
any surplus should be paid into the
| treasury.
w . IhfUE
policy based upon more intimate COM
mercial and political relatians With the
fifteen sister republics of North, Central
and South America, but entangling al
Iiances with none.
1--WE BELIEVE IN HONEST MONEY,
the gold and silver coinage of the con-
stitution. and a circulating medium
convertible into such money without
loss.
"Assenting the equality of all men
before the law, we hold that it is in the
duty of the government in it's dealings
with the people to mete out equal and
exact Justice to all citizens, of whatever
nativity, race. color or persuasion, reli-
gious 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 in the Forty
fifth and Forty sixth Congresses. by
which reluctant Republican opposition
was compelled to assent to legislation
of troops at the polls, as the conclusive
proof that 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 vex
the citizen and interfere with individual
liberty.
1--WE favor honest
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
and the compensation of all United
States officers by fixed salaries, the sep
aration 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 lead to the equitable disposition of
property to the prevention of monopoly
and to the strict enforcement of indi-
vidual rights against co operate abuses,
| we hold that the welfare of society de-
ponds upon a scrupulous regard for the
rights of property as. defined by law,
| We believe that labor is best rewarded
where it is freest and most enlightened;
| it should, therefore, be fostered and
cherished.
eve favor the repeal of all laws re-
stricting the free action of labor and the
enactment of laws by which labor Or
ganizaSions may be incorporated, and OF
all such legislation as will tend to en-
| tighten the people as to the true rela
tions of capital and labor.
1--WE believe that
THE PUBLIC LANDS
ought, as far as possible, to be kept as
homesteads for actual settlers that all
unearned lands heretofore improvident-
" granted to railroad corporations by
the action of the Republican party
should be restored to the public domain,
and that no more grants of lands. shall
be made to corporations or be allowed
to fall into the ownership Of alien alb
sentees