The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-07-15
The Platform.

Inc Democratic party Ot Tue Union,
through its representatives in tue Ns.
tional Convention assembled, recognize
that as the nation grows older,ne issues
are born Of the times and progress and
old issues perish. But the fundamental
principles OF Democracy approved by
the united voice of The people remain,
and will ever remain, IS the best and
only security for the continuance Of free
government,the preservation Of personal
rights and the equality Of all citizens be-
fore the law The reserved rights Of the
States and the supremacy Of the Federal
Government within the limits Of the con.
stitu,ion, will ever form the true basis oil
our liberties and can never be surren.
dered without destroying that balance Of
rights and powers which enables conti-
nent to be developed in peace and social
order to be maintained by means OF local
self.government. But it is indispensable
for the practical application and enforce
ment Of those fundamental principles
that the government should not always
he controlled by one political party.
Frequent change Of administration is as
necessary as constant recurrence to the
popular will. Otherwise abuses grow,
aud the government, instead Of being
called On for the general welfare, be-
comes an instrumentality for imposing
heavy burdens on the many who are
governed for the benefit OF the few who
govern. Public servants thus become
arbitrary rulers. THIS is now the condi-
ton OF the country. Hence change is
demanded. The Republican party 80 far
as principle is concerned, is reminis-
cence. In practice is is an organization
for enriching those who control its ma
chinery. The fraud and jotbery which
has been brought about in every depart
ment of the Government is sufficient to
have called for reform within the Re-
publican party. Yet those Of authority,
made reckless by the long possession Of
po wer, have succumbed to is corrupting
influence, and have placed in nomination
ticket against which the independent
portion OF the party are in open revolt.
Therefore q change is demanaed-snch
a change was alike necessary in 1876.
But the will of the people was then de-
feated by the lavish use OF money, con-
trihuted by unscrnpulous contractors and
shameless jobbers, who had bargained
for unlawful profits and for high Office.
The Republican party during its legal,
its stolen and lis bought tenures of pow
er, has steadily decayed in moral charac
ter and political capacity. Its platform
promises are now list Of its past fail
ures. 1t demands the restoration OF Que
navy. 1t has squaudered hundreds OF
millions !. TO create navy that does not
exist. 1t calls upon Congress to remove
the burdens under which American ship.
ping has been depressed. 1t imposed
ard has continued those burdens. II
processes the policy OF reserving the pub
lie lands for small holdings by actual set
Tiers. 1t has given away the peoples
heritage till now few railroads and non-
resident aliens, individual and corporate,
possesses q larger area than that Of all
the farms between the two seas 1t pro
fesses a preference for free Institutions.
1t organized and tried to legslize con-
troll of State elections by Federal troops
1t processes desire 10 elevate labor. 1t
has subjected American workingmen TO
the competition of convict and imported
contract labor. 1t processes gratil ude 10
all who are disabled. or died 10 the war;
leaving widows and orphans. 1t left to
a Democratic House of Representatives
the 6rst effort 10 equalize both bounties
and pensions 1t prohers a pledge to
correct the irregularities Of our tariff 1t
created and has continued them. It's own
tariff commission confessed the need Of
more than 20 per cent reduction; its
Congress gave a reduction of less than 4
per cent. 1t processes the protection Of
American manufactures it has subjected
them to an increasing food of manufac-
tured goods, and hopeless competition
with manufacturing nations, not one Of
which taxes raw materials. 1t processes
to protect all American industries; it has
impoverished many to subsidize few.
1t PROCESSES the protection OF American
labor; it has depicted the re'urns Of
American agriculture-an industry FOL.
lowed by half our people. 1t processes
the equality Of all men before the law; !;
attempting to fix the status OF colored
citizens, the acts OF its Congress we're
o,erset by the decisions Of its Courts.
1t accepts anew the duty OF leading in
the work OF progress and reform" It's
caught criminals are permitted TO escape
through contrived delays or actual con-
nivance in the prosecution. Honeycomb,
ed with corruption, outbreaking expos
ures no longer shock its moral sense. It's
honest members, It's independent jour.
nails, no longer maintain successful con-
test for authority in its counsels or q
vote upon bad nominations.
That change is necessary is proved
by an existing surplus of more than
500, 10000 which has yearly been col.