The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1884-10-25
The Democratic Platform.

press and old issues perish. But the funtla- |
mental principles of Democracy, approved by |
the united voice OF the people. remain and
will ever remain Us the best and Ouly securi |
~ for the continuance OF FREQ government. |
The preservation of personal rights, the
equality OF all citizens before the law, the
reserved rights of the States, and the supre-
macy of the Federal government within the
limits of the constitution Will ever form the
true basis OF our liberties. and can never be
without destroying that balance
of rights and powers which enables IL conti-
nent to be developed i'll peace and social or.
der-to be maintained by measures OF local
self.government but it is Indispensable for
the practical application and enforcement
of these fundamental principles that the gov
ernment should not always be controlled by
one political party. A frequent change OF
administration is as necessary as constant
recurrence to the popular will. Otherwise
abuses will grow and the government, instead
of being carried on for the great welfare, be-
comes an iustrumentality for imposing heavy
burdens on the many who are governed for
the benefit of the few who govern. Public SER
wants thus become arbitrary rulers This is
now the condition of the country. Hence
change is demanded. The Republican party,
so far as principle is concerned, is reminls-
csnce in practice. 1t is an organization for
enrichlng those who control it's machinery.
The frauds and jobbery which have been
brought to light in every department OF the
government are sufficient 30 have called for
reform within the Republican party. Yet
those iu authority, made reckless by the long
possession of power, have succumoed to its
corruptive influence and have placed in nom
ination a ticket against which the indepen-
dent portion of the party are in open revolt.
Therefore, o change is demanded. Such
change Was alike necessary in 1876, but the
will of the people was then defeated by
fraud which can never be forgotten nor con-
doned. Again, in 1880 the change demanded
by the people was defeated by the lavish use
Of money contributed by unscrupulous contrac-
tors and shameless jobbery, who had bargain
ed for unlawful profits or for high offices.
The Republican party, during ITS legal, lte
stolen and its bought tenure OF power has
steadily decayed in moral character and
political capacity. Its platfo promises are
now a list of its past failures. 1t demands
the destI uction of eur navy. 1t has squan-
dered hundreds of millions to create navy
that does not exist. It calls on Congress to
remove the burdens nnder which American
| shipping has been depressed. 1t imposed aud
has continued these burdens. 1t processes
the policy of reserving the public lands for
small holders by actual settlers. 1t has given
away the peoples heritage till now few
railroads and NONRESIDENT aliens. individual
and corporate, possess larger area than
| that of all our farmers between the two seas.
! 1t processes Il preference for free institutions.
/ It organized aud tried te legalize control of
| State elections by Federal troops. 1t profes
ses a desire to elevate labor. 1t has subjected
/ American wurkingmen to the competition OF
| convict and imported contract labor. 1t
I Processes gratitude to all who Were disabled
i or died at wpr. leaving wIdaws aiiat orphants.
| Ii lett to Democratic House OF Represen-
/ tat:yes The fist effort to e4ualize both b0uu-
ties and peiisiuus. Ii pratesses pledge tn
correct The irrrgutarit,saxAf our tariff Ii
created and has continued them. Its own
| tariff commission confessed the need of more
| than 20 l,er cent reduction. Its Congress
! gave a reduction OF less than per cent. III
! Processes the protection af American manu-
fast urers. II has objected them TO AN increas
ing e ,od oil manu Incurred goods and hope
less competition with manufacturing nations
not one of which taxes raw materials. II
pr8tesSes to protect all American industries
1t has impoverished many to subSidlze few
II professes The protection af American labor
/ II has depleted the returns of American ag
rieulture-an industry followed by half o
our people. 1t professes tue equality of al
men before the ltw--attempting tG nx the
status of colured citizens. The acts If its
! Congress were overset by the decisions OF 1T;
courts. 1t accepts new theory OF leading
i iu the world of reform" It's caught criminals
are permitted TO contrive delays or actua
caulivance in the prosecution. Honeycombed
/ with curruptiOD and 0utbreaking exposure
no longer shock its moral sense. Its hones
members-its independent janrnals-no lon
ger MAINTAIN a SUCCESSFUL COHltSe tOt
tY in its causes, or a veto upon bad namina
tions That a change is necessary Is proved
by an existing surplus of more than $lo0.
000, 900 which has yearly been collected iron
u suffering people. Unnecessary taxation !
unjust taxation. We denounce the Repub
lican party for having failed 10 relieve the peo
pie from crushing war taxes which hav
paralyzed business, crippled industry and de
prived labor Of employment and OF its JUS
reward
The Democracy pledges itself to purify th
administration from corruption aud restor
economy, to revive respect for law and to re
dnce taxation to the lowest limit conslsten
with due regard to the preservation OF tn
faith of the nation to creditors and pension
ers, knowing full well, however, that legisa
tion affecting the occupations OF the peopl
should be cautious in method-not in advanc
of public opinion, but responsive to its de
mands.
The Democratic party is pledged to revis
the tariff in spirit of fairness 10 all interest
ed But in making u reduction in taxes lt ]
not proposed oinjnre any domestic Industries
but ra her TO praln1te their healthy growth
From the foundation OF the government va va
collecting ut the custam-house have been TN
: chief source of Federal revenue. and SUCH Tue.
must continue 20 be. Moreover, many indiis
tries have come to rely upon Legislation 10
successfnl continuance, SO that any chang
of the law must be at every step regardtni .
of reform must be subject III the execution t
the plain dictates of justice. ALI taxation
shall he limited to the requirement OF eco
ponsical government. The necessary redue
tion in taxes can and must he effected with
out deprying American labor of the abllf.
90 cullIpete successfully without imposih
lower rates of duty than will be ample 3
cover any increased cost reproduction whic
may exist in consequence of the high rate Q
wages prevailing in the couutry. Sufhcien
revenue tn pay all the expenses OF the FEEDER
al government. economically administered
including pensions. interest and principal Q
public debt. can be got under our pre>en
sysirm of taxatioi from Gust 0tihoiises, take
on few milDFtetl articles hearing heaviest o.
!. articles of luxury aud lightest o.
articles ef necessity.
! We tleratnre .leueuuca the abuse OF th
i existing tariff aud subject to the precedln
limitation, we tielmand that Feesal taxatio
shall be exclusively for pphic purposes, an
shall not exceed the needs OF gavernmen
economically administered. The system q
direct taxation known as the internal revt
nue. is a war tax, and ~ long as the law cor
tiunes tue money derived fherefrom shout
, be devoted to the relief IT the people froi
i the remaining burdens of the WAR, and
made q fund to defray the expense OF th
, care and comfort uf the worthy soldiers dl
, abled in the line of duty in the wars of til
republic, aud for the payment of such per
: siuils as Congress may. frnM time t1 TIM
grant to sncll soldiers. A like fund for fh
/ sailors having been already provided, an
] surplus should be paid infn the treasury.
We fayor an amended continental pnlIc,
based upon more intimate commercial az
political relatinis with the fifteen sister ~
: publies of North, Central and South Amerlc
: but entangliHg alliances with none.
We helieye in holest money; aii the goi
! and silver euinage af he constitution aud ci
i, fn