Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1884-08-07
Eureka Dailp Sentinel.
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL PLATFORM.

kAS&
the nation grows older e issues are born
Of time and progress, and old issues per.
ish. But the fundamental principles OF
the Democracy, approved by the united
voice OF the people, remains, and will ever
remain, as the best and only security for
the continuance OF q free government and
the preservation of personal rights. The
equality Of all citizens before the law, the
reserved rights Of the States and suprem-
scy of the Federal Government within the
limits of the Constitution, will form the
true basis of our liberties, and never be
surrendered without destroying the rights
and powers which enable q continent 10
be developed. Peace and social order TO
be maintained by local self-government'
1t is indispensable for the practical appli-
cation of fundamental principles that the
Government should not always be o n
trolled by one political party. A frequent
change Of administration is as necessary
as the constant recurrence 10 popular VIII;
other wise abuses grow, and the Govern
ment's instrumentality for imposing d
dends on the many who are governed. ior
the benefit Of the men who govern. Inc
public servants become arbitrary rulers.
This is now the condition OF the
country. Hence. q change Is de-
manded. The Republican party so
far as principle is concerned. is a remlnis-
cence; in practice, an organization ior
enriching those who control its machinery
Frauds and robbery have been brought 10
light in every department Of the Govern
ment, and are sufficient to have called Ior
reform within the Republican party. Yet
those in authority are made reckless by
that long possession OF power, d nave
succumbed TO c%orrupting Influences anu
placed the nomination OF 3 ticket against
the independent portion of the party IN
open revolt. A change is demanded. SUCH
q change was alike necessary IN 1876, but
the will Of the people was defeated by q
fraud which can never be forgotten nor
condoned. Again in 1880 q change was de-
manded by the people, but was defeated by
the lavish use Of money contributed by un-
scrupulous contractors and shameless job
beers, who bargained for unlawful profits
or high office. The Republican party,
during its legal, its stolen and bought
power, has steadily decsyed in moral char
acter and political capacity. Its platform
promises are now a list of past failures. 1t
demands q restoration OF our navy. lthas
sQuandered hundreds Of millions to create
q navy that does not exist. 1t calls upon
Congress to remove the burdens under
which American shipping has been de-
prescott imposed and has continued
those burdens. 1t processes q preference
for free institutions. 1t organized and
tried to legalize q control OF the State
elections by Federal troops. 1t processes
a desire to elevate labor. 1t subjected
American workingmen to competition with
convicts. 1t imported contract labor. 1t
processes gratitude to all who were disabled
during the war, leaving widows or orphns.
The Democratic House of Representatives
made the first effort to equalize both
bounties and pensions. 1t professed to
correct the Irregularities of the tariff it
created, and has continued them. Its own
tariff commission confessed the need OF
more then twenty per cent reduction. Its
Congress gave a reduction of less than four
per cent. 1t processes protection Of Ameri-
can manufactures. 1t has subjected them
to an increasing flood Of manufactured
goods, and hopeless competition with the
manufacturing centers, the nature of which
taxes raw materials. 1t processes to pro-
tect American industries. 1t has impover-
ished many to substitute a few. 1t pro-
fesses protection of American labor. 1t
has depleted the returns of American agri-
culture, an industry followed by half our
people. It processes equality of all citizens
before the law. The attempt to fix the
status OF colored citizens in Congress was
overturned by the decisions of the courts
It accepts a new duty of leading the work
OF progress and reform. Its caught crimi-
mails are permitted to escape through con
trived delays, or actual ~conniYance
in prosecution. Honeycombed with
corruption, the out-breaking OF
exposures no longer shocks its moral
sense. Its honest members and independ-
emit journals no longer maintain a success
full contest for authority in its councils or
q veto on bad nominations. That a change
is necessary is proved by the existing sur
plus OF more than 500. 600, 900, which have
yearly been collected from a suffering peo-
pie. An unnecessary taxation is unjust
taxation. We denounce the Republi-
can party for having failed to relieve
the people from crushing war taxes,
which parslyzed business, crippled indus
try, and deprived labor of employment
and q just reward. The Democracy
pledges itself to purify the administrator
from corruption, restore economy, revive
respect for the law, and reduce taxation
to the lowest limit consistent with a due
regard to the preservation of the faith Of
the nation to its creditors and pensioners;
knowing we'll, however, that legislation
affecting the conditions of the people
should be cautious and conservative in
method, not in advance of public opinion,
but responsive to its demands. The Demo
cratic party is pledged to reduce the tariff
in q spirit Of fairness TO all interests; but
in making a reduction In taxes it is moi
proposed to injure any domestic industries
but rather promote their healthy growth
From the foundation of this Government
the taxes collected at the Custom,
house have been the chief source Of
Federal revenue. Such they mus
continue to be. Many industries have
come to rely upon legislation for their sue,
cessful maintenance, so that q change o.
law must be made at every step, regardless
OF labor and capital involved. The process
Of reform must be subject to this piair
dictate Of justice. All taxation should b.
limited to the requirements OF economical
Government. The necessary reduction il
taxation can and must be effected withoui
depriving American labor of the ability t.
compete successfully with foreign labor
and without imposing lower rates of dut,
than will be ample to cover any increased
cost Of production which may exist in con.
sequence Of higher rates of wages prevail
ing in this country. Sufficient revenue Il
pay all the expenses of the Federal Govern
ment economically administered includinc