The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-07-19

est members its independent journals, no longer
maintain successful contest for authority IN l1
counsels or q veto upon bad nominations
That change is necessary is proved by an exist
ing surplus of more than O0,CO0,0O0, which has
yearly been collected from suffering people
Unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation. We de-
nounce the Republican party for having failed TO
relieve the people from crushing war taxes which
have paralyzed business crippled industry, and
deprived labor OF employment and OF just re-
ward.
The Democracy pledges itself to purify the ad-
mnistration from corruption, TO restore economy.
70 revive respect for law and 10 reduce taxation
to the lowest limit consistent with due regard to
the preservation of the faith OF the nation TO tu
creditors and pensioners.
Knowing full we'll however, that legislation
affecting the occupations of the people should be
cautious and conservative in method, not IN ad-
vance OF public opinions, but responsive TO It's
demands. the Democratic partv Il pledged TO
revise the tarin in aspint OF fairness 10 all IN
terests.
But In making reductions In taxes II is not pro-
posed to injure any domestic industries, but
rather TO promote their healthy growth. From
the foundation of this goyernm ment taxes collected
the custom house have been the chief source Of
federal revenue. Such they must continue to be.
Moreover, many industries have come TO rely
upon legislation for successful continuance, 80
that any change of law must be at every step re-
gardful of the labor and capital thus involved
The process of reform must be subject in the ex-
ecution 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
TO compete successfully with foreign labor, and
without imposing lower rates of duty than will
be ample 10 cover any increased cost of produc-
ton 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 administered,
including pensions, interest and principal OF the
public debt can be got, under our present system
OF taxation, from custom house taxes on lever
imported articles, bearing heaviest on articles OF
luxury, and bearing lightest on articles OF neces-
sity: -. .,,-.
ing tariff; and, subject to the preceding hmita-
tions, we demand that federal taxation shall be
exclusively for public purposes, and shall not
exceed the needs of the government economically
administered.
The system of direct taxation known as the
"internal revenue" is war tax, and so long as
the law continues the money derived therefrom
should be sacedy devoted to the relief Of the
people from the remaining burdens of the war,
and be made fund to detray the expense of the
care and comfort OF worthy soldiers disabled in
line of duty in the wars of the republic, and for
the payment of such pensions as Congress may,
from time to time, grant 10 such soldiers, like
fund for the sailors having been already pro-
vlded; and any surplus should be paid into the
treasury
We favor an American continental policy based
upon more intimate commercial and political re-
lations with the fifteen sister republics of North
Central, and South America, but entangling alH-
ances with none.
We believe in honest money, the gold and Sill
yer coinage of the constitution and circulating
medium convertible into such money without
loss
Asserting the equality of all men before the
law we hold that II is the duty of the govern
ment, in its dealings with the people, to mete out
equal and exact justice TO all citizens of whatever
nativity, race, color, or persuasion-religious or
political,
We believe in free ballot and fair count and
we recall to the memory of the people the noble
struggle of the Democrats in the forty fifth and
forty-sixth Congresses by which a reluctant
Republican opposition. was compelled to assent to
legislation making everywhere Illegal the pres
ence of troops at the polls the conclusive PROOF
that Democratic administration viii preserve
liberty with order.
The selection of federal officers for the terri
tories should be restricted to citizens previously
resident therein.
We oppose sumptuary laws which vex the citi-
zen and interfere with individual liberty; we
favor honest civil-service reform; and the COM
pensation of all United States officers by fixed
salaries: the separation of church and state; and
the diffusion OF free education by common
schools SO that every child in the land may be
taught the rights and duties of citizenship.
While we favor all legislation which viii tend
TO the equitable distribution Of property, to the
prevention of monopoly and to the strict en-
forcement of individual rights against corporate
| abuses, we hold that the welfare Of society de-
pends upon scrupulous regard for the righu Of
property defined by law.
We believe that labor is best rewarded where It
is freest and most enlightened. 1t should there
fore be fosteTed and cherished. We favor the re-
peal of all laws restricting the free action Of
labor and the enactment of laws by which labor
organizations may be incorporated, and of all
such legislation will tend to enlighten the
people as 10 the true relations OF capital and
labor.
We believe that the public lands ought, as far
as possible, to be kept as homesteads for actual
settlers; that all unearBed lands heretofore i'm
providently granted to railroad corporations by
the action of the Republican party should be re-
stored TO the public domain; and that no more
grants of land shall be made to corporations, or
be allowed 10 fall into the ownership of alien ab-
sentees.
We are opposed to all propositions which upon
any pretext would convert the general govern
ment into a machine for collecting taxes to be
distributed among the states, or the citizens
thereof
In reaffirming the declaration of the Demo-
cratic platform of 1885, that 1.-THE liberal prlnci-
pies embodied by Jefferson in the Declaration of
lndependeI &c and sanctioned in the constitution
which makes ours the land of liberty and the
asylum of the oppressed OF every nation, have
ever been cardinal principles in the Democratic
faith" we nevertheless do not sanction the i'm
portation of foreign labor, or the admission Of
seryile races, unified by habits, training, relig-
ion, or kindred for absorption into the great
body of our people, or for the citizenship which
our laws confer. American civilization demands
that against the immigration or importation OF
MongOlians TO these shores our gates be closed.
The Democratic party insists that it is the duty
of this government TO protect, with equal fidelity
and vigilance, the rights of its citizens, native
and naturaliZed at home and abroad; and TO the
end that this protection may be assured, United
States papers of naturalization, issued by courts
of competent jurisdiction must be respected by
the executive and legislative departments of our
own government, and by all foreign powers.
1t is an imperative duty of this government TO
efficiently protect all the rights of persons and
property of every American citizen in foreign
lands, and demand and enforce full reparatlOn
for any invasion thereof.
An American citizen is only responsible to his
own government for any act done IN his own
country, under her flag, and can only be tried
therefor on her own soil and according 10 her
laws; ana no power exists IN TINS government TO
expatriate American citizen to be tried in any
foreign land for any such act
This country has never had a well defined and
o. pi prn
administration; that policy has ever been, in re-
gard to foreign nations, so long as they do not act
detrimental to the interests Of the country or
hurtful to citizens, TO let them alone; that
the result of this policy recall the acquisition
of Louisiana, Florida, California, and OF the sd.
jaceni Mexican territory by purchase alone and
contrast these grand acquisitions of Democratic
| craftsmanship with the purchase of Alaska, tt .
sole fruit of a Republican administration OF
nearly quarter OF century
The federal government should care for and
improve the Mississippi River and other great
waterways of the republic, so as TO secure for the
interior states easy and cheap transportation to
tidewater.
Under long period of Democratic rule and
policy, our merchant marine was fast oyertaking,
and on the point of outstrtpping, that of Great
Britain.
policy our commerce has been left 10 British bot
toms, and almost has the American flag been
swept off the high
Instead of the Republican party's British policy
We demand for the people OF the United States an
Under Democratic rule and policy, our mer.
chants and sailors flying the stars and stripes In
every port successfully searched out market for
the varied products of American industry.
Uuder q quarter century of Republican rule
and policy, despite our manifest advantage over
all other nations in high-paid labor, favorable
climates and teeuling soils; despite freedom Of
trade among all these United States, despite their
population b. the foremost races of men. and an
annual immig grafton of the young, thrifty and
adventurous of all nations; despite our freedom
here from the inherited burdens of life and f-i-
dustry in old world monarchies--their costly war
uAyies their vast taX-consuming, non producing
standing armies; despite twenty years OF peace
thai Republican rule and policy have managed
to surrender TO Great Britain, along with our
commerce, the control OF the markets OF the
world.
Instead of the Republican party's British policy
we demand IN behalf of the American Democra~
cy an American policy.
Instead of the Republican pauys discredited
scheme and false pretense OF friendship for Amer
ican labor expressed by imposing taxes, we de-
rnand in behalf of the Democracy, freedom for
American labor by reducing taxes, TO the end thsi
these United States may compete with unhin
dsred powers for the primaey among nations ir