Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-07-11
&S}sS55
ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCHES.
National Democratic Convention.
NOMINATION OF GOV'R. GROVER
CLEVELAND FOR THE
PRESIDENCY.

At the session Of the convention last night
the committee on platform made its report
which was adopted.
The platform commences with declaring
that the democratic party believes in the
preservation OF personal rights, the equality
of all citizens before the law, the reserved
rights of the States, and the supremacy of
the federal government within the limits of
the constitution. 1t Traigns the republic
can party for corruption and having had
too long lease of power and refers to the
great fraud of 1876"
1t pledges the party to purify the admin
istratiOn from corruption, TO restore econ
omy, to revive respect for law and to reduce
taxation TO the lowest limit consistent with
due regard to the preservation of the faith
of the nation to its creditors and pensioners,
knowing full well, however, that legislation
affecting the occupations of the people
should be cautious and conservative in
method, not in advance Of public opinion,
but responsive to it's demands.
The democratic party is pledged to revise
the tariff in spirit of fairness to all in
terests. But, in making reduction in taxes,
it is not proposed to injure any domestic
industries, but rather to promote their
healthy growth. From the foundation of
this government taxes collected at the GUS
tom house have been the chief source of
federal revenue; such they must continue
10 be- Moreover many industries have come
to rely upon legislation for successful con-
:inuance, so that any change of law must
he at every step rcgardful Of the labor and
capital thus involved.
The process Of reform must be subject in
the execution to this plain dictate of justice.
All taxation shall be limited to the require.
ments of economical government. The
necessary reduction in taxation can and
must be effected without depriving Ameri
can labor of the ability to compete success
fully with foreign labor, and without i'm
posing lower rates Of duty than will be
ample to cover any increased cost of pro-
duction which may exist in consequence of
the higher rate of wages prevailing in this
country.
Sufficient revenue TO pay all the expenses
Of the federal government economically ad-
ministered, including pensions, interest and
principal of the public debt can be got un-
der our present system Of taxation from
custom house taxes on fewer imported artl-
cles, bearing heaviest on articles of luxuries
and bearing lightest on articles Of necessity.
We therefore denounce the abuses of the
existing tariff, and, subject to the preceding
limitations, we demand that federal taxa
lion shall be exclusively for public purposes
and shall not exceed the needs of the gov
ernment, economically administered.
The system Of direct taxation known as
the internal revenue, is q war tax, and so
long as the law continues the money de-
rived therefrom should be sacredly devoted
to the relief of the people from the remain
ing burdens of the war, and be made fund
to defray the expense of the care and com
fort of worthy soldiers disabled in the line
Of duty in the wars Of the republic, and for
the payment of such pensions as Congress
may from time to time grant to such SOL
diers, like fund for the sailors having been
already provided, and any surplus should be
paid into the treasury.
General Butler offered his minority report
which the clerk commenced reading by
enuuciating slowly and distinctly the words,
General Buffers PLATFORM" which caused
Il general laugh.
The principal planks of General Buffers
plat form which differ from the majority re-
port are that no taxes, direct or indirect,
can he rghtfully imposed upon The people
except to meet the expenses of an economi-
cally administered government and that
the people will tolerate direct taxation for
the ordinary expenses of the government
only in case of dire necessity or war.
The resolutions reported by Mr. Morrison
were signed by every member of the COM
niltee, with the solitary exception of Gen.
Butler, and consequently his report bore
only his individual signature
The convention then, Mt 1906, proceeded
to take The first ballot, with the following
result: Whole number of votes cast, $50
necessary to a choice, 81; Cleveland re.
cev.d 392, Bayard ITO, Randall IS, Thur
man S. Mcdonald 5G Carlisle u, Hoadly
), Flower 1, Tilden |, Hendricks |.
On this ballot Virginia voted Cleveland
Is, Bayard 9, Thurman |, Mcdonald !.
AT Ito the convention adjourned till this
morning ut 10 o'clock.