The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-08-30
DEMoo3aTIc PLATFORM.

representatives III National Convention assembled,
recognizes that naioa growsoder new are
born OF time and progress, AMI old issues perish but
the fundamental principles OF Democracy, approved
by tie united voice Of the people, remain and will
rentin, rs the best and enly sacdrlty for the
liulce Office government. The pre- orvatinn OF
perso rights the equalit, o all citizens before the
Inv. th reserved rights of the states, and the sfF
macy Of the Federal Government Within the limits OF
the constitution will form the true ba rs Of our
iibe.eIes. and can ne:er be surrendered Without de-
ing that balance of rights anl powers which
ates continent 70 BE- deseoped i'll peace and spela
order to oe maintained bs lleans Of ocal ssgosern
| Ileat
! But it Is Indispensable for the practical appca
tloa and e.force:nonJ OF these fundamental rn
| cipcs, that the Government saoiud not always be
controlled by political party A fre!lcat change
of llil,istrat,il Is As he e,sary the constant
currcnce to the poaul1r viii: Otherwise aDiaes grow
aud the Government instead Of beng carried on Tor
the general weif ire, becomes nstrumsataiItS Tor I'M
posi!l@ heavy buren, the many who are governed
for the bene it .. the few who govern. Public ser
wants ti,l7 become arbitrary rulers
This Is the contVica OF the country.
| Hence change is demanded. Tne Republican
party, So fAr as prntipe is concerned, is
rein;.,s ;ence il practice, il IS nrs1nza
ton for enriching those who control its
| chaery. The frauds anl jobbery which Lave been
brought to light il every dep .rtaent II The Govern
sGif lent To haze called foT refofn within
the held6lcAl paftI yes those III a>iSaoElt%, MADE
reckless By the 10 lg pEses5on OF poTe-, have sue
cumbed to is conupting Influence, and have placed
III nomination &tcke against which the independent
portion of the party are III oen revolt. Therefore
changeis demanded. Such change was alike neces
! sity in 1876, but the wsbf the people then dc
fcateli by frtul which Uevef be forg ten nor
con,.o5e!. Again in 1880 tbs change de,ntIded by
the people detected by the lavish use OF money,
contributed by unsc.upuGas contractors and shlnle
less johbers, wd1 had barsa.ned ior unlawsul profits
| or for high Office.
The re ,nblican party, duras its legal, its
stolen, AID its bous!it teaures of power. ha,
! steadily de:aye1 in moral character ana political
capacity. It's platform promises are now list of its
! past failures. 1t demands the restoration of
| has StfIu tn
navy that does not exist II calls upon Congress
toremove the burdens under which American shipping
has been depressed; it imposed aal has continued
| those bnrdens,
1t profe ssos the policy of rcservng the public lands
for small holding by actual settlers 1t has given
away the peoples heritage till few railr )ads
and president Aliens individual and corcr.t pos
larger area than that of all our farms between
the seas 1t processes preference for free in,ttu-
tions; it organized AMI tried 70 le cza control Of
State elections by feleral troops. 1t ptafesses de-
sire elevate labor; thas subjected American work
inymen to the competition OF convict and imported
contract labor. 1t Processes gratitude to all who
were disabled or del in the war; leaving widows and
orphans; it left to Democratic House OF Bepresen-
ttiyes the first effort to equaZe both bount!es az
pensions. 1t prdffafs pie ge correct THO irregl-
l.rities Of tariff it created and has continued
them It's own tariff commission confessed the need
OF more than % pei cent reGucton its Congress gave
reduction Of less than per cent. 1t processes the
protection Of American manufacturers; it has sub
jected them to Increasing flood If manufactured
goods, aud hopeless compel ton with manuf ,ct1ir-
Ing nations, not OF which taxes m1terial 1t
Processes to protect all American industries; it has
impoverished many to su5'idze II few, 1t processes
The protection of Ae:ic fbor it has depleted the
returns "f American agriculture, industry followed
by half people. 1t profeSes the equality of all
men before the law. Attempting to fix the a5us of
coorcl citizens the acts OF lis Congress
BY the decisions of its H. 'lccapts the
duty Of leading in the work OF progress and ref rm' .
its caught criminals are perEittedt to escape through
coutrived delays actual coinivance in the prose
cution Honeycombed with corruption, outbreaking
exposures no longer shock its moral sense. It's hon
est members, its ndepe lent journals no oAger main
tain successful contest for authority i'll IFS colnselS
or veto upon bad nominations. Taat change is Ge:-
essary proved by existing sur ,iuS OF more than
SlQG eco, which has yearly been collected from
suffering people. Unnecessary taxation is unjust
taxation
We denonnce the Republican pa-ts fo- having failed
to relieve the people from crushing taxes which
have paralyzed business, crippled industry and de-
prived Labor of mpoynlert aad OF iI;t rd. The
Democracy pledges itself to purify the admin
istiation from corruption, to restoTa econ
omy, to revive respect for law ani to re-
duce taxation to the lowest limit consistently with due
regard to the preservation of the faith OF the nation,
to It's iitnrs aaI pensioners kaoang full well,
however, that legislation affecting the occupations
Of the people should be cautious and conser-
vatve i'll method, not in ativaacc nj plb!ic
opinion but responsive It's demands, the Demo
cratic partys pledged revise the tariff in spirit of
fairness to all Interests bat making reict;ol in
taxes it is not proposed to injure anT domestic indus
tries but raher to promote their halthy growth From
the Foundation of this Government tae take; collected
attna Custom house have been the chief source of
Federal reveaue Such they mus5 continue to b..
Moreover many industries have come to rely upon
legislation for successful continuance so thai any
change f law must be at every step regarfu of labor
and capital thus involved The prncesS of reform
must DC subject in its execution to this lin dictate
of justice4ilt taxation shall b. limited to the re
quirements of economical Government. The
necessary reduction in taxation and must be al
fected without deprivint American labor nj the abl
ty to compete successfully with foreign labor, anJ
without imposing lower rates of duty than will be
ample to any increased cost Of production which
may exist 10 consequence of the higher rate OF wages
prevailing this country. SutClpnt to
all the expense; of the Federal Go1ernm eeo9om
icai!y administered hlcd.ng pensions interest and
principal Il the public debt, can be got under ou
present system of taxation from Custom-house taNe,
: fewer imported articles, bearing tie heaviest OF
articles of luxury and bearing :htcst articles q
necessity. We therefore denouace the abuses of tt
existing tariff and subject pre- eediaglimtaop,
demand that Federal taxation shall be exclusively fo
cubic purposes and sll not eXceel the needs of th
government economically administered. The system o
dree. tax tt,n, kHown as the ''interfal revenue l.
war tax aal so long as the law c1nnreS the money
received terefrom shonld be sGcreGv deTo ed to the
relief OF the people from remaining burdens OF tht
war, and he made fund to defray the expense IF III.
and comfort OF worthy soldiers, disabled in thu
line OF duty in the wars o the Republic, and for tins
payment OF such pensions Congre5, may from tal
to time grant TO such soldiers "a like fund for thu
sailors having been already proviIe,i-aiId any sur
plus should he paid into the treasury.
We favor an American continental policy, haSet
upon more intimate commercial and political relation
with the fifteen sister Republics OF North Central aiit
South America, but entangling alliances with none.
We believe in honest money-the god and svc
coinage oI the constitution ami acifta0ll5 EieulI
convertible into such money without loss.
Asserting the equality of all men before the Law
hold that it is the DUTY Of the Government, ii
dealings with the people, to mcte out equal and eXa-
justice to all citizens OF whatever nativity, race, col
or or persuasion, religious political
We bce9e in free ballot aa1 fair count, an;
we recall to the memory OF the people the n1b
struggle If the Democrats in the Forty fifth aad For
tvsiXth Congresses, b. which reluctant Republican
opposition comTeled to assent to Legislation
making everywhere Illegal the presence Of troops
the polls the conclusive proof that Democrati
administration will preserve liberty with order. Th
selection of Federal officers for the Territories shou>
be restricted to citizens iousy resident thereof
We oppose sumptuary laws, which the citizen
y ami inteere with Individual liberty.
We favor an honest civil service reform in compen
sation OF AL United States Offices by fixed tres tn
separation of Church and S5ate, and the diffusion o
free education b" schools, that chic
IN the Land may be tau sht the rights ana duties
C citizenship.
Wnle We favor all legislation which viii tend t.
the equitable distribution of property, tU the preFe
ton of monopoly, and the strict enforcement %
individual rights against corporate abuses we hoit
that the welfare of society deiends on scrupuiou
regard FOR the rights of property dcti ed by law.
We belevs that labor is best rewarded where it i
freest and most enlightened 1t should he fosterec
:. and cherished. We favor the repeal OF all the law
restraining the free action of labor, and ths enact
ment of laws by which labor organizations may b
increased, snI Of all such eg gslason viii tend t.
enlishte, the people to the true relations OF cap
ital and labor.
n We believe that the public lands ought. far a
possible to be kept home tels for actual settlers
= that all uncarned lanils heretofore innrovGently
granted to raiiread corporations by the Republican
party should be restored to the public domain and
more grants shall be made to corporations or be al
$ lowed to fall into the ownership of alien absentee'
We are opposed 10 al propositions which, upon AM
= pretext would convert the general Government int
machine for the collection of taxesto be distribute