Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-08-14
THE NORTHWEST.
The Platform of the National Demo-
cratic Party.


cratic Party.
The Democratic marty Of the Union, through its
representatives In National Convention assem- bled
recognizes that as the nation grows der. new Is
sues are born OF time aud progress, and old issues
perish. But the fundamental principles OF the
Democracy approved by the united voice OF the peo-
only security for the continuance Of free govern
ment. The preservation of personal rights; the
equality of all citizens before the law, the reserved
rights OF the States. and the supremacy Of the Fed
cral Government within the limits Of the Constitu-
tion, will ever form the true basis OF our ibeties
and can never be surrendered without destroying
that balance Of rights and powers which enables
continent to be developed, and social order to be
main tanned by means Of local self-government.
But II Is indispensable for the practical applica-
tlon aud enforcement of these fundamental princ'-
pies that the Government should not always be con-
troled by one political party. Frequent change of
administration is as necessary as constant recur-
renee to the popular will. Otherwise abuses grow,
and the Government instead Of being carried on for
the general welfare, becomes nstrumentality for
imposing heavy burdens on the many who are gov
erned for the benefit OF the few who govern. Public
servants thus become arbitrary rulers.
This is now the condition df the country-hence
change 10 demanded. The Republican party, so far
rs principle is concerned is reminiscsncc In prac-
tce II is an organization for enrichin9 those who
control its machinery. The frauds and jObbery
which have been BROUGHT to light in every depart
meut of the Government are sufficient to have called
for reform within the Republican party. Yet those
in authority, maie reckless by the long possession
Of power, have succombed to ts corruptng influence
and have placed in nomination ticket against
which the Independent portion Of the party are in
Open revolt.
Therefore change is demanded. Such change
was alike necessary In 1876 but the will of the peo
pie was then defeated by fraud which can never be
forgotten nor condoned. Again, 10 1880, the change
demanded by the people was defeated by the lavish
use of money contributed by unscrupulous contrac-
tors and shameless jobbers who had bargained for
unlawful profits or for high office.
The Republican party, during it's legal Its stolen,
and It's bought tenurcs of power, has steadily de-
cayed in moral character and political capacity. Its
platform promises are now list OF Its past failures.
1t demands the restoration of our navy: 1t has
Bquspdered hundreds of millions to create navy
thate does not exist. .Hr.
II calls upon Congress to remove the burdens un-
der which American shipping has been depressed;
1t imposed and has continued those burdens.
1t processes the policy of reserving the public
lands for small holdings by actual settlers; 1t has
given away the peoples heritage TIL now few rail-
roads and nonresident aliens, individual and corpo
rate, posses larger than that Of all our farms
It Processes preference for free institutions it
Organised ant tried 70 legalize control Of State
1t processes desire to elevate labor; it has SUBJ
jected American workingmen tothe competition Of
convict and imported contract labor.
It processes gratitude to all who were disabled or
died In the war, leaving widows and orphans 1t left
to Democratic House Of Representatives the first
effort to equalize both bounties and pensions.
It proers pledge to correct the Irregularities Of
our tariff it created and has continued them.
Its own Tariff Commission confessed the need of
more than twenty per cent reduction; its Congress
gave reduction of less than four per cent.
1t processes the protection of American manufac
lures; It has subjected them to increasing food
of manufactured goods and hopeless competition
with manufacturing nations, not one OF which taxes
raw materials. "t'a
Itprofesses to protect all American industries; it
has impoverished many to subsidze few.
Itprofesses the protection Of American labor; 1t
has depleted the returns of American agricultme-
an industry followed by half our people.
ItprOfesses the equality of all men before the law;
attempting to fix thestatus Of coored citizens the
acts OF its Congress were overset by the decisions of
the courts.
II Haccepts anew the duty of leading in the work
Of progress and REFORM" Its caught criminals are
permitted to escape through contrived delays or
actual connivance in the prosecution.
Honeycombed with corruption, outbreaking ex-
pOsures no longer shock it's moral sense Its honest
members, Its independent journals, no longer main
taia successful contest for authority in its
Cils or q veto upon bad nominations. lof
That change Ia necessary is proved by an existing
surplus Of more than $l00, Ooo which has yearly
been collected from suffering people. Unnecessary
taxation Is unjust taxation.
We deuounce the Republican party for having
failed to relieve the people from crushing war taxes,
which have paralyzed business, crippled industry,
and deprived labor of employment and of just re-
ward. - it;rG1U4@f lgnttuLpn4ftt
The Democracy pledges itself to purify the ad-
ministration from corruption, to restore economy,
to revive respect for law and to reduce taxation to
thelowest limit consistent with due regard to the
preservation of the faith of the nation to its credit
Knowing full well, however, that legislation affect
ing the operations Of the people should be cautious
and conservative In method, not in advance OF pub
Lie opinion. but responsive to It's demands the Dem.
ocratc party is pledged to revise the tariff In spirit
Of fairness to al interests.
But in making reduction in taxes 1t Is not pro-
posed TO niure 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 Fedeaal reve-
nue.. Such they must continue to be. Moreover,
many industries have come to rely upon legislation
for successful continuance, 80 that any change of
law must be at every step regardfu of the labor and
capital thus involved. The process of reform must
be subject in the execution tothis plain dictate of
iustice All taxation shall be limited to the require
ments of ecopomical government. The necessary
reduction in taxation can and must be effected with
out depriving American labor Of the ability to COM
pete successfully with foreign labor, and without
imposing lower rates Of duty than will be ample to
cover any increased cost Of production which may
exist In consequence Of the higher rate of wages
prevailing in this country Sufficient revenue to pay
oil the expenses Of the Federal Government econo
mically administered, including pensions and inter-
est and principal Of the public debt can be got under
our present system Of taxation, from Custom House
taxes on fewer imported articles, bearing heaviest
on articles OF luxury ana bearing ghtest articles
of necessity. E ( NJ E3HE
We therefore denounce the abuses Of the existing
tarin, an suDJect 70 the pFeceulng uultutlone, we
demand that Federal taxation shall be exclusively
for public purposes and shall not exceed the needs
of the Government economically administered.
The system of direct taxation known as the Sin.
tefna revenue is war tax, and 70 long as the law
continues the money derived therefrom should be
sacredy devoted to the relief of the people from the
remaing burdens of the war and be made fund to
deray the expense of the and comfort Of worthy
soldiers disabled in the line Of duty In the OF the
republic. and for the payment Of such pensions as
Congress nay from time to time grant to such sol
diers alike fund for the sailors having been already
provided, and any surplus should be paid into the
treasury. W a @&4 tA
We favor an American continental policy based
upon more intimate commercial and political rela-
tions with the fifteen sister republics of North
Central, and South America, but entangng alliances
with none. a ..e 44
We believe in honest money, the gold and silver
coinage of the Constitution, and circulating medi
um 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 It's
dealings with the people to mete out equal and ex-
act Justice to all citizens Of whatever nativity, race
color, or persuasion, religious or political.
L We believe in 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 Re
publican opposition was compelled to assent to leg
fslation making everywhere illegal the presence OF
troops at the polls, the conclusive proof that
Democratic administration will preserve liberty with
The selection Of Federal officers for the Territories
should be restricted TO citizens previously resident
therein. WI ~ q Z
and Interfere with individual! liberty