The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-07-16

Asserting the equality Of all men before
the law, We held that il is the duty OF the
Government in Its dealings with the people
to mete out equal and exact justice to al
citizens Of whatever nativity, race, color, OF
persuasion-religious or political.
We believe in free ballot and TAN
count and We recall to the memory of the
people the noble struggle of the Democrats
in the Forthwith and Forty-sixth Congress
es, BY which a reluctant Republican op
position was compelled to assent to legis
Iation making everywhere illegal the pres
sive proof that Democratic administration
will preserve liberty with order.
The selection OF Federal officers Tor the
Territories should be restricted to citizens
previously resident therein.
We oppose sumptuary laws which ve1
the citizen and interfere with individual
liberty: We favor honest civil service reform
and the compensation Of all United States
officers by fixed salaries; the separation o
Church and State; the diffusion OF tre'
education by common schools, so tha
every child in the land may be taught tbs
rights and duties OF citizenship.
While we faryor all legislation which
will tend to the equitable distribution o
of property, to the prevention OF monopoly
and to the strict enforcement OF individual
rights against corporate abuses, We hole
that the welfare of society depends upon
scrupulous regard for the rights OF prop
erty as defined by law.
We believe that labor is best rewarded
where it is freest and most enlightened
Ii should therefore be fostered and cherished
We favor the repeal of all laws restrictin!
the free action Of labor, and the enactmen
of laws by which labor organizations ma,
be incorporated and of all such Legislation
as will tend to enlighten the people as Il
the true relations of capital and labor.
We believe that public lands ought, a
far as possible, to be kept as homestead
for actual settlers; that all unearned land
heretofore improvidentlyg granted to railroa'
appropriations by the action OF the Repub
lican party should be restored to the pub
| lie domain; and that no more grants o
land shall be made to corporations, or b
allowed to fall into the ownership OF allie
absentees.
We are opposed to all propositions whic
upon any pretext would convert the Gen
eral Government into a machine for col
letting taxes to be distributed anon
the States, or the citizens thereof
In re-atfirming the declaration OF tn
Democratic platform of 1856, that 18th
liberal principles embodied by Jefferson Il
the Declaration of Independence, and sane
toned in the Constitution which make
ours the land of liberty and the Asylum o
the oppressed of every nation, have eve
been cardinal principles in the Democratic
faith" we nevertheless do not sanction tn
importation of foreign labor, or the ad
mission of servile races, untitled by habits
training, religion or kindred for absorption
into the great body Of our people, or 10
the citizenship which our laws confer
American civilization demands that agaIns
the immigration or importation vi Mon
rolians to these shores, our gates be closed
The Democratic party insists that 1t i
the duty OF this Government TO prott ct
with equal fidelity aud vigilance, the right
of its citizens, native and naturalized, a
home aud abroad; and 10 the end that TIN
protection may be assured, United State
papers OF naturalization, issned by court
Of competent jurisdiction, must be respected
by the Executive and Legislative depart
ments of our own Government, and by al
foreign powers.
1t is an imperative duty OF this Govern
ment to efficiently protect all the rights o
persons and property OF every American
citizen in foreign lands, and demand ant
enforce full reparation tor any invasion
thereof.
An American citizen is only responsible
to his own government fur any act done II
his own country, or under her flag, and cal
only be tried therefor on her own soil ant
according TO her laws and no power exist
| in this Government to expatriate an Amer
can citizen to be tried in any foreign lan'
for any such act.
This country has never had we'll
defined and executed foreign policy saw
under Democratic Administration; tina
policy has ever been, in regard to foreigl
nations, so long as they do not act detri
mental to the interests of the countr,
or hurtful to our citizens to let then
alone that as the result of this poll
CIV we recall the acquisition of Louisiana
Florida, California, and OF the adjacen
| Mexican territory by purchase alone AM
contrast these grand acquisitions OF Demo
cratic craftsmanship with the purchase 0
Alaska, the sole fruit OF Republican adj
ministratiQn of nearl quarter oil cen
| fury,
The federal 6aovvrJ1T1e MT -glISIIld estr'
for and improve the Mississippi River anC
other great waterways of the Republic, Sc
as to secure for the interior States easy
and cheap transportation to tidewater
Under a long period OF Democratic rule
and policy, our merchant marine was fast
overtaking and on the point OF outstripping
that of Great Britain.
Under twenty years of Republican
rule and policy, our commerce has been
left to British bottoms, and almost has the
American flag been swept of the high seas
Instead of the Republican party's Brit
ish policy, we demand for the people oil
the United States an American policy.
Under Democratic rule and policy, our
merchants and sailors, flying the stars and
stripes in every port, successfully searched
out market for the varied products OF
American industry.
Under a quarter century Of Republican
rule and policy, despite our manifest al
vantage over all other nations in high-pald
labor, favorable climates and teeming soils;
despite freedom of trade among all these
United States; despite their population by
the foremost races of men and an annual
immigration of the young, thrifty and ad-
venturous OF all nationsi despite our Tree.
dom here from the inherited burdens OF
life and industry in old-world monarchies
their costly war nayies, their vast tax
consuming, non-producipg standing armies;
despite twenty years of peace-that Re
publican rule. and policy have managed to
surrender to Great Britain, along with our
Commerce, the control OF the markets OF
the world.
Instead OF the Republican party's British
policy, We demand in behalf Of the Ameri-
can Democracy, an American policy.
Instead of the Republican party's dis
credited scheme and false pretences OF
for American labor, expressed
BY imposing taxes. we demand in behalf
of the Democracy, freedom for American
labor by reducing taxes, to the end that
these United States may compete with I'M
powers for the primaey among
nations in all the arts of peace and fruits
Of liberty.