Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-09-18
The Platform of the National Demo.
cratic Party.

REPRESENTATIVES, In National Convention assem- bied,
recognizes that, as the nation grows der new is
sues are born OF time and progress and old issues
perish. Bot the fundamental principles OF the
Democracy, approved by the united voice OF the peo-
only security for the continuance OF free govern
ment. The preservation Of personal rights; the
eaaty Of all citizens before the law, the reserved
-sts OF tne States and me supremacy OF the red
ton, will ever form the true basis of liberties
and can neser be surrendered without destroying
that balance Of rights and powers which enables a
continent to be developed, aud social order to be
maintained by means of local self government.
But it Is indispensable for the practical applica-
tlon and enforcement Of these fundamental princi-
pies that the Government should not always be con-
trolled by one political party. Frequent change of
administration Ia as necessary constant recur-
renee to the popular will. Otherwise abuses grow,
and the Government, instead of being carried for
the general welfare becomes an instrumentalty for
imposing heavy burdens on the many who are gov
erned for the benefit Of the few who govern Public
servants thus become arbitrary rulers.
This Is now the condition df the country-hencea
change is demanded. The Republican party, so far
as principle is concerned, Is reminscence In prac-
tice IL is an organization for enrichinR those who
control Its machinery The frauds and jobbery
which have been brought to light in every depart
ment of the Government are sufficient to have called
for reform within the Republican party. Yet those
in authority male reckless by the long possession
Of power, have succombed to its corruping influence
and have placed In nomination a ticket against
which the independent portion of the party are in
open revolt.
Therefore change is demanded. Such change
alike necessary in 1873, but the will of the peO-
pie was then defeated by fraud which can never be
forgotten nor condoned. Again, in 1880, the change
demanded by the people was defeated by the lavish
use of money contributed by INSCRIPTIONS contrac-
tors and shameless iobbers who had bargained for
unlawful profits or for high office.
The Republican party during its legal, its stolen,
and its bought tenurcs of power, has steadily de-
cayed in moral character and political capacity Its
platform promises are now list of Its past failures
1t demands the restoration of our navy: it has
squandered hundreds of millions to create navy
thate does not exist.
II calls.upon Congress to remove the burdens un-
der which American shipping has been depressed; /;
1t imposed and has continued those burdens.
1t processes the policy of reserytng the public
lands for small holdings by actual settlers; it has
given away the peoples heritage till now few rail-
roads and nonresident aliens, individual and corpo
rate posses larger than that of all our farms
between the two seas.
1t processes preference for free institutions; it
organized and tried to legalze a control of State
elections by Federal troops.
1t processes desire to elevate labor; it has sub
jected American workingmen to the competition of
convict and imported contract labor.
It Processes gratitude to all who were disabled or
died in the war; leaving widows and orphans 1t left
TO Democratic House Of Representatives the first
effort to equalize both bounties and pensions.
It proffers pledge to correct the Irregularities OF
Nour tariff it created and has continued them.
Its own Tariff Commission confessed the need Of
more than twenty per cent. reduction; its Congress
u
1t processes the protection of American manufac
lures; 1t has subjected them to an increasing flood
of manufactured goods and hopeless competition
with manufacturing natiOns not one OF which taxes
raw materials.
1t processes to protect all American industries; II
has impoverished many to subsidize few.
Itprofesses the protection of American labor; II
has depleted the returns of American agricutu e.
an industry followed by half our people.
1t Processes the equality of all men before the law
attempting to fix thestaus of coiored citizens, th'
IVo,, hvt tha dapiop n
the courts.
It s'accepts anew the duty Of leading in the worl
of progress and reform" its caught criminals arr
permitted to escape through contrived delays o.
actual connivance In the prosecution.
Honeycumbed with corruption, outbreaking ex
posures no longer shock its moral sense Its homes
members, its independent journals, no longer main
tain successful contest for authority In Its coun
ellis or a veto upon bad nominations.
That change Ia necessary is proved by an ex1stlnt
surplus of more than 1900, 900, which has year
been collected from suffering people. Unnecessar
taxation is Unjust taxation.
We deuouuce the Republican party for havinl
failed to relieve the people from crushing war taxes
which have paralyzed business, crippled industry
and deprived labor of employment and or Just re
The Democracy pledges itself to purify the ad
mnistration from corruption, to restore economy
to revive respect for law. and to reduce taxation
thelowest limit consistent with due regard to tn
preservation of the faith of the nation to its cred
ors and pensioners.
ing the operations of the people should be caution
and conservative In method, not in advance of pub
lie opinion, but responsive to its demands, the DEN
ocratc party is pledged to revise the tariff in spir
of fairness to all interests.
But in making reduction IN taxes it is not pro
posed to injure any domestic industries, but rather
promote their healthy growth. From the foundatio
af this Government taxes collected at the Custol
House have been the'chief source OF Fedeaal rev'
nue.. Such they must continue to be. Moreove
many industries have come to rely upon leglslato
for successful continuance, so that any change
law must be at every step regardfu of the labor an
capital thus involved. The process of reform mu
he subject in the execution, to this plain dictate
Justice All taxation shall be limited to the requir
rents of economical government. The necessal
reduction in taxation can and must be effected witt
ont depriving American labor of the ability to con
pete successfully with foreign labor, and witho,
imposing lower rates of duty than will be ample
cover any increased cost of production which ms
exist in consequence of the higher rate OF wag
prevailing in this country. Sufficient revenue to ps
all the expenses of the Federal Government econ
mically administered, including pensions and inte
est and principal of the public debt, be got und
our present system of taxatien, from Custom Hou
taxes on fewer imported articles, bearing heavle
on articles of luxury, and bearing ighest on articl
OF necessity. 80,
tariff, and subject to the preceding limitations,
demand that Federal taxation shall be exclusive
for public purposes, and shall not exceed the nee
of the Government economically administered. -.
The system of direct taxation known as the ''i
tnrnAl
continues the money derived therefrom should
sacredly devoted to the relief Of the people from u
remaing burdens of the war and be made fund
defray the expense OF the care end OF Wort
soldiers disabled in the line of duty in the wars of
republic, and for the payment OF such pensions
Congress may from time to time grant to such &c
diers flike fund for the sailors having been alrea
nroyided, and any surplus should be paid into t
treasury
upou more intimate commercial and political re-
tions with the fifteen sister republics OF Morn
Central, and South America but entangling allianc
We believe in honest money, the gold and silly
coinage of the Constitution, and a circulating me
nm convertible into such money without loss
Asserting the equality of all men before the la
we hold that 1t is the duty of the Government in
dealings with the people to mete out equal and c
act Justice to all citizens of whatever nativity, RAJ
color, or persuasion, religious or political.
We believe in free ballot and fair count, a
we recall to the memory of the people the mol
struggle of the Democrats in the Forty-hfth a
Forty.sixth Congresses, by which reluctant
publican opposition was compelled to assert To II
islation making everywhere illegal the presence
troops at the polls, as the conclusive proof tina
Democratic administration will preserve liberty W
order. Co.. .,,o ,c,u.,.o,
should be restricted to citizens previously reside
therein. 49, ~.
We oppose sumptuary laws which vex the citize
and interfere with individual libertv
We favor honest civil service reform and the co
OanSlUOn Otuu UD1tti StuNe ouCoi5 pS hAeu
aries, the separation of church and State, and
diffusion of free education by common schools,
that every child in the land may be taught the rig
and duties of citizenship.
While we favor all legislation which will tend
the equitable distribution of property, to the
vention of monopoly. and to the strict enforcem
ofindividual rights against corporate abuses,
hold that the welfare Of society depends upo
scrupulous regard for the rights of property as
fined by law. We believe that labor is best rewar
where Il ia freest and most enlightened. 1t shor
therefore be fostered and cherished We favor
~aaaal MA restricting the free action of laf