The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1884-07-17
The Democratic Platform.

Inc ltninGTNAiG party VI tue 0hloh tHInuhl
its Representatives IN National Convention |
assembled recognizes that, MS the Nation grows
older, new issues are born OF time and prog |
ress and old issues perish, but the fundn- |
mental principles of Democracy, approved by /
the united voice OF the people, rcma n and
will ever remain as the best and only security
for the continuance OF free government. The
preservation of personal rights the equality
Of all citizens before the law, the reserved |
rights of the Sta es, and the supremacy Of the
Federal Government within tie limits OF
the Constitution will ever form the true
basis of our liberties, and can never he
surrendered without destroying that bal
ance of rights and powers which enables 4
con inent to lie developed in prac and social
order to be maintained by means OF loca self
governments; but Il is indisptn sabc for the
practical applica ion and enforcement OF
these fundamental ~ principles that tic Gov
ernment Should not always be controlled by
one political party. Frequent change of ad-
ministration is as necessary as constant re-
currence 70 the popular Will otherwise abuses
grow, and the Government inst al OF heing
carried on for the general welfare becomes an
iustrumentality for imposing heavy burdens
on the many who are governed forthe benebt
of the few who COVE N. Public servants thus
become arbitrary rulers: this Is now the CON
ditlon Of the country. Hence change is de-
rnE REPUBLICAN PARTY
The Republican rarity SO far as principal is
| concerned, "a Il reminisceace; IN practice II y
an organization for enriehing those who con.
| which have Il zen brought to light in every de-
| partn4ent of the government are sufficient TO
1 have called Tor reform WltnlIl inc htpnulchu
party, yet those in antl ority, made recklessh hy
| the long possession of ! over, have sue
| cnmbe 10 It's co.rupting influence and have
| placed In nomination ticket against which
| the iuder endent portion of the party are in
| open revolt. Therefore a change Is demand
| ed. such a change was alike ne essnty in
| 1876. hut the will Of the people was then de.
/ feated by fraud which can never be forgot
tim nor cond1ne Again, in 1870, the change
demanded Py the people moncR w8s de1sas %
/ ted by unscrupulous contractors and
4 shameless iohbers who had bargained for
i unlawful profits or for hgh Offices The lie.
4 publican party during its legal. Its stolen and
1 its bought terms of power, has steadily de-
4 eared in moral character and political chpa-
1 city. Its platform promises are now list OF
| its past failures. 1t demands the restoration
o our navy; it has sqnandered hundreds OF
| millions to create navy that does not exist
| 1t calls on Congress 70 remove the burdens
| under which american shipping has ben de.
| pres e /; il imposed and has continued these
| burder s. II processes the policy Of reservng
the public lands for small holders by actual
settlers: IL has gwen away the peoples her
| itnee till now few railroads ana nOn- cs-
dent aliens individual and corporate, possess
| lar4er area than that OF all our farms be-
s"ss FALSE PRErENsEs.
1t processes preference for free institu-
| dOns; ii organ zed and tried TO legalize IA con-
| troll OF state elections by fet esal troops II
Processes II desire to elevate labor; It has sub
| jected American workingmen to the compe l.
ton of the co .vict and imported contrac5 la
Dor 1t processes gra itnde TO all who were dis
! aDIeu or dieu IN war leaving WIDOWS anu or
phans: it left TO Democratic House Of Rep
resen' ives the first effort TO eIualize both
bounties and pensions. II proders Pledge
to correct the ire ularities of our ta i'll; i
create and has continued them Its own
tariff commission confessed the need Of more
than twenty per cent reduction; its Congress
gave reduction Of less than four per cent.
II processes the protection OF American man
ufactures; il has subjected them to an un-
ceaslnG Hoe d OF u Manufaeln ca goods ana
hopeless competition with manufacturing
nat ons, not one of which taxes raw
materials. it processes to protect all
! American industries; it has Inn
poverishcd many to subsidize few. 1t pro-
fesses the protection OF American labor; it
has depleted the returns of American agricul-
ture, I'M industry followed by half our people.
| II processes the equality OF I'LL men b fore the
| law, attempting to fix the status of colored
citizens; the acts OF its Congress we're overset
by the decision Of its courts. IL accepts anew
the duty of leading in the work of pioRress
and reform;" its caught criminals are per-
| mitted to escape through contrived de-
lays or actual eonniyance In the prosecution.
Honey with corruption, outbrcaking
exposures no longer shock its moral sense. Its
| honest members Il independent journals no
| longer maintain successful contest for aIl-
thority IN its counsels or veto upon bad
| nominations.
That change is necessary Is proved by an
eyist ng surplus of more than sl0000,OO0
which ha: yearly been collected from suffer
ing eople unnece sary tn xaIion Is unu {
taxat on. We denounee Inc Republican
party Tor having failed 10 relieve tie people
from crushing war taxes which have par
/
priv Q ! labor of employment and Of tust re-
, ward The Democracy pledges itself 10 puri-
fly the Administration from corfur ti0n. to
re tore economy, to revive respect for law,
and to reduce taxation to the lowest limit
consistent with due regard TO the reser-
vat on of the faith OF the Nation to credi-
J however. that legislation atfecttrg the otcu-
pations Of ihc people should be cautious and
conservative in metfol, not in advance OF
public opinion, but expensive to its demand.
TARIFF REVISION
The Democratic party is pledged to revive
the tariff in a spirit of fairness tOall interests
, But in making reduction in taxes 1t is not
proposed TO injure any domestic industries
but rather to promote their healthy growth.
! From the foundation OF this Government
tlxes collected at the Custom house have been
| the chief source of Federal revenue; such
they must continue to he; moreover many IN.
dustries have come 10 ely upon legis alton
for successful continuance. so that any
change of law must % AT every .ep fegardful
, of the labor and capital thus involved. The
process of reform must be sub eet in the exc
cution to this plain dictate of Justice All
tqxation shall be limited TO the requirements
/ | OF economical governments. The nee
essary reduction in taxation can and must
Q be effected without deprving American labor
of the ability TO compete successfully
lower rates OF duty than will be ample II
4, | cover any increased cost Of production which
a may exist In consequence of the higher rate
of wage pfeyaing in this country Sufc ent
, revenue to pay all the expenses of the Fed
eral Government. eeopomicaliy administered
including pensions, interest and pttncipa
J. | of the pubic debt can be got undo ouI
4 present system Of taxation from Custom
house tayes on fewer imported articles bear
ing heaviest on articles oi luxury and bearr :
Z lightest ON articles OF necessity. We theie
fore denonnce the abuses Of the exi TINS
tariff, and, subject 10 the preceding limtat ons
we demand that Federal taxation saai bs
exclusively for public purposes and shall moi
. exceed the neeis of the Government, econom
}. ically administered.
1 INTERNAL REVENUE.
The system Of direct taxation known as the
Ainternal revenue is a war tax, and 80 iona
Z as the law continues the money derived there
a from should he devoted TO the rclief Of tns
: people from the rems ming burdens OF tn,
u war aud be made tund to detray ne snI eT
diers disabled in line of duty in the wa o.
the Republic and for the payment OF sncI
n pensions as Congress ay from time e liils
: grant to such soldiers like fui Tor the san
y nrs having been already provided, ana ava
lg surplus should be paid into the treasury.
y. We favor an amendment of continental poi
= Icy based upon more intimate commercial am
g political relations with the fifteen sister he
~ ! NH -ofN rail- and SQIltU Amef1c