The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-07-19
'rAEE PLATFORM.
Declaration Of Principles Adopted by
the Democratic National
Convention.

the Democratic National
Convention.
The Democratic party of the Union, through
Its representatives in national convention as
sembled recognizes that ms the nation grows
older; new issues are born OF time and progress
and old issues perish. But tha fundamental
principles of the Democracy, approved by the
united voice OF the people, remain and will ever
n. remain as the best and only security forthc con
tinimce OF free government. The preservation
of personal rights, the equality OF all citizens be-
lore lRs g S EsssHsq FSa 81 5hs Satss
within the lmitsof the. CONSTITUTION .will-ey
form the true basis of orr liberties and can new.
er be surrendered without destroying that bal
7r ance of rights and powers which enablesa cQn=
.tnent to be developed in peace and sotidforicr
a To be maintained By means OF local selfgoyern-
ment. But II is indispensable for the practical
operation and enforcement OF these fundamen-
tai principles that the government should not
always be controlled by one political power
~ Frequent change Of administration is as ncres-
Rary us constant recurrence To the popular will.
Otherwise abuses grow and the government, in
stead of being carried on for the general welfare
becomes an 5nstr,nentality for imposing heavy
burdens on the many who are governed for the
benefit of the few who govern. Public servants
thus become arbitrary rulers
gTy Ey CHANGE DEMANDED.
This is nowthe condition of the country hence
IL change Is demanded The Republican party,
so far as principle is concerned, is remins-
cence. In practice II is an organization for en-
richng those who control its machinery. The
M frauds and 1ODbely when have been Brought to
lightin every department Of the government are
sIiicept to hayecaled for reform Within the
Republican party yet those in authority, made
shSeSmised to ssorrTSpting SEQ inaencs ana have have
placed in nomination a ticket against which the
independent portion Of the party are in open re.
volt I.
Therefore o change is demanded. Such a
change was alike necessary in 1876 but the will
of the people was then defeated by Il fraud
which can never be forgotten nor condoned.
Again In 1880 the change demanded by the peo-
pie was defeated by the lavish use of money
eSatE6uted Sy scTpRplp%us % cGnEaGtoTs TT etc and
full profits or for high office.
REPUBLICAN FAILURES.
The Republican party, during its legal Its sto-
len and its bought tenures of power has steadily
decayed in moral character and political capac-
ity. Its platform promises are now list of its
,Aist failures. 1t demands the restoration Of our
navy; 1t has squandered hundredsO Of millions to
create navy tnat does I not e6isI. G IL Gas 9goh
American shipping has been depressed 1t inn
posed ana mas continued those burdens. ltpro-
fesses the policy OF reserying the public lands
for small holdings by actual settlers; it has given
away the people, heritage till now a few rail,
roads and nonresident aliens individual and
corporate, possess larger area than that OF all
our farms between the two seas. 1t processes q
preference for free institutions; II organized
and tried to legalize control of State elections
by Federal troops II processes desire TO ele-
vate labor; it has subjected American working.
men to the competition OF convict and imported
contract labor. 1t processes gratitude to all who
were disabled or died i'll the war leaving wild
ows and orphans; it left to n Democratic House
of Representatives. the first effort TO equalize
both bounties and pensions. ltprotcrs pledge
10 correct the Irregularities of our tariff; 1t crea
ted and has continued them, Its own Tariff
Commission confessed the need OF more than
twenty per cent reduction; its Congress gave a
reduction of less than four per cent. 1t profess
cs the protection Of American manufactures; II
W. has subjected them 10 an increasing hood o
A manufactured goods and hopeless competition
with mn ring nations net Ot which
taxes raw amaterlals It tpr0fcsses to protect al
American industries; 1t has impoverished many
10 SubsidEc al few, IL processes the protection
of American labor; it huS depleted the returns
OF American agriculture an industry followed
by half OF our people II Processes the eqnallt.
of men before the law; attempting to fix the
status OF eolored citizens the acts OF its Congress
were overset by the decisions of its court. Il
"ncceptS anew the duty Of leading IN the work
rat uf progress aud reiurn;' Its caught criminals
1 aru permitted Ia escape through continued dc
~ lnys or actual conniyancc in the prosecution.
li,nivl lcoinbcd " it'll corruption, Outbrcakinl
II exposures no longer shock its moral sense IT.
honest mclnbcrs, It's independent Journals, nt
lngcrinnntain successful contest for author
tIya.. IL in II. councils or veto "p" '"a ""p''"'
psi 1hat changc is necessary is proved by an ex
~ ihing surplus uf moro than SlOO00O,0OO, whicl
has yearly been collected from IL suffering pep
FA pie. NnlecesSHy TAXATION. is unjust taxation
. i'll We dcilounce TIE Republican party for having
= failed TO relieve the people from crushing Wa
taxes, which have parnlyzcd business crippled
Wv industry aud deprived labor of employment an'
sl!.4l Of just reward. ,3,i9g m
REDUCING TAXATION. .i .tiN
Tho Democracy pledges itself to purify the ad
Ministration from corruption, 70 restore ccono
my to revive respect for law and tosreduee tax
alton to the lowest limit consistent with due re
gard to the preservation of the faith of the ma
ton to It's creditors and pensioners, Knowing
fun we'll however, that legislation affecting tn
occupations Of thepeoplc should be cautious am
lie ofinion b;i. rsspollsf,ito its demands, tn
fl Democratic party is pledged to revise the taril
In spirit OF fairness to all interests But ii
Is Aiinalhg reduction in taxes it is not proposed +
injure any domestic industries, but rather t.
iai promote their healthy growth From the founda
ti0n OF this government taxes collected at tn
Custom House have been the chief SOURCE O
81. sFedefal revenue such theYTaRt enthue to be
sou Moreover I. many industries lane cone to rel
:, Upon legislation for sndce&hil c0nhAyance 81
that any change OF law nurse bo ~ every step re
gardful OF the labor and capital thus involved