Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-07-17

were appointed, and the convention
adjourned until the 9th. The con-
ventioH met pursuant to adjournment
and permanently organized with Col
VIM. T. Villas, of Wisconsin, as per
manent chairman. The committee on
resolutions not being ready to report
platform, the convention, after
some routine business. adjourned I'M
Ill Thursday, the 10th inst. On Thurs
day the following platform was re
ported and adopted:
THE PLATFORM.
The democratic party of the union, through its
representatives in the national convention assem-
bled recognizes that as the nation grows older
new issues are born of time and progress and
Old issues perish.
Bat the fundamental principles of the de-
mocracy, approved by the voice of the people
remain and will ever remain as the best and tnIv
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 states, and the supremacy of the federal gov
eminent within the limits of the constitution, will
ever form the true basis of our liberties and can
never be surrendered without destroying the bal
auce OF the rights and powers which enable a
cont nent to be developed in peace and social
order u be maintained by means OF q loyal sell
government, but it is INDISPENSABLE for the practi-
cal application and enforcement of these funda-
ItiGiiIdl pIluciDlcS, THU J1t government should
not always be controlled by one political party.
aud frequent change of administration is
necessary, and constant recurrence 10
ire popular VIII; otherwise abuses grow and tl.
government instead of being carried on for the
general welfare becomes an inStrUmentaIty for
imposing heavy burdens on the many who e"e
governed. for the benefit of the few who govern
Pubic servants thus become arbitrary IulerS
THIS is now the condition of the country Leii,.4
a change is demanded.
The epIblican party, SO far as principle is con
cerned, IS "reminiscences In llr1crire
pit Is an organization for eiLIiching
those who control its machinery. Tao FRAUD,
every depa tment OF the government ar suffi-
Gent to have called for reform within the repub
lean party, yet those in authority. made eckiesS
by their long possession of power, have sue
cumbed to its corruptinG influence and have
placed IN nomination q ticket against which the
independent portion of the party ere in UIien re-
volt. therefore. q change is demanded: such a
change was alike necessary in 1876, bur the will
OF the people was then defeated by fraud which
can never DE forgotten nor condODed again
IN 1850 the change demanded by the people was
defeated by the lavish use of money c attributed
by INSCRIPTIONS contractors and shameless, Job
berS WAC had bargained for unlawful pr fits or
for high office. The republican party during its
illegal. its stolen and its bought tenureS of power
has steadily decayed in morality, character and
political capacity. Its platform promises are now
a list OF its present failures It demands the res
toration Of our navy. it has sQuandered hundrr DIS
Of millions to create a navy that does
not exist. It called upon congress to re-
move the burdens under which American
shipping has been depressed. 1t imposes and has
continued those burdens. 1t processes the policy
OF reServing the public lands for small holding
by actual settlers 1t has given away the peoples
heritage till now few railroads and nonresident
aliens individuals, and corporations possess d
larger area than that all of cur farmers between
the two seas.
It processes & preference for free institutions
1t organized and tried to lUgaliZa a control of
desire to elevate labor. 1t has subjected Arneri
can Worklngmen to the competition of cOnvictS
aud imported contract labor. 1t processes graft
tude to all who were disabled or died in the war,
leaving widows and orphans. 1t LETT to a demo
cratic house of representatives the first
effort to eQUalize both bOuntieS and pensions It
protferS pledge to correct the irregularities of
ouS tariff. lt created and has continued them
Its own tariff commission confessed the need Of
more than 70 Per cent reduction It's congress
gave reduction of less tAan four per cent.
processes the protection OF American manufac.
urers. 1t has subjected them to an increasing
flood Of imports from manufacturing nations not
protect all American industries. It has inpOver
ished many to subsidize q few. 1t processes
the protection of American labor. 1t has
depleted the returns of American agriculture an
industry followed by half our people 1t processes
the equality of all men before the law Attempt
ing to fix the statues of cOlOred citizens the acts OF
its congress were reversed by the decisions of
its courts. 1t accepts anew, the duty
OF leading in the work of progress and reform. Its
criminals are permitted to escape through cOniv-
ed delays or actual connivance in the prosecution
Its combinations with corruption; its Outbreakiug
exposures no longer shock the moral sense. Its
honest sense It's honest members, its Journals no
longer maintain q successful contest IF authority
! in its counselS or influence its nominations
That change is necessary is proved by an ez--
iSting surplus of more than S100000.0O0, which
Eas yariy been collected from a suffering people
Unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation We
denOunce the republican party for having failcd
to relieve the people from crushing war taxes,
which have paralyzed business. crippled industry,
and deprived labor of employment ard its just
reward. The democracy pledges itself to purify
Mimic fTQfI OT lTIfT1
store economy, to revive respect for
law to reduce taxation to the lowest limit consist
ent with due regard to the preservation of tie
faith of the nation to its creditors and pension
ers Knowing full well however, that legislation
affecting the occupations of the people should he
cautious and conversatiYe in method, and not in
advance OF public opinion, bat responsive te is
<@mands.
The democratic party is pledged to revise tie
tariff i'm q spirit of fairness to all interests
But in making reduction i'll tax s, it is not pro,
posed to injure any domestic industries, but
rather to promote their healthy growth. From
the Foundation of this government taxes collected
at the custom house have been the chief source
of federal revenue. Such they must continue to
be- Moreover, many industries have come to
rely legislation for successful continuance. SO
that any change OF law must be regardtul
of the labor and capital thus involved. The pro-
cess of reform must be subject III its execution
to the plain dictate of justice All
taxation shall he limited to the requirements OF
an economical government The necessary
III ldAeIIiOu CAd uAuoV w CLOCOCu,
without depriving American labor of the ability
to compete successfully with foreign labor, with
out imposing lower rates of duty than will be am
pie to cover any increased cost of production
which may exist in consequence of the higher
rate of wages prevailing in This country. Sufh-
Gent revenue to pay all expenses of the federal
| government economically administered, includ-
ing pensions. interest and principal of the pub
| lie debt be got under our present
| system of taxation from custom house taxes OF
fewer imported art cles, bearing heaviest on ar
tices of luxury and bearing lghteSt articles of
| necessity. We therefore denOunce the abuses OF
the existing tariff, and subject it to the proceed
! ing limitation, we demand that federal
taxation shall be exclusively for public purposes,
| and shall not exceed the needs of the govern
ment, economically administered. The system
/ of direct taxation known as the internal revenue
! is war tax, and SO long the law continues
| the money derived therefrom should be sacredy
/ -EA IL