Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-08-22
POLITICAL.
The Democratic Platform.

its representatives In National Convention as
sembled, recognizes that as the nation grows
older new issues are born oi time and progress
and old issues perish, but the fundamental prin
ciples Of the Democracy, approved by the united
voice OF the people, re main, and will ever remain,
rs 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 States and the su-
premacy OF the feieral Government within the
limits Of the Constitution, will eser form the
true basis Of our liberties and can never be sur
rendered without destroying that balapce Of
rights and powers which enables continent 70
be developed In peace and social order and to be
maintained by means Of local self government.
But it is il dispenssble for the practical applics
tion and enforcement o. these fundamental prin-
ciples that the Government should not always be
controlled by Que political party. Frequent
change Of administratio, Is a. necessary as con.
abuses grew and the floVernrent fundamentally
is used Tor imposing heavy burdens on the many
who are governed for the benefit Of the few who
goyegn. Public servants thus become arbitrary
rulers. This Is now the condition Of the coun.
try; hence change 10 demanded.
| The Republican party, 90 far as principle ID
concerned, Ia reminiscsnce In practice, 1t il
an organization for enriching those who control
| its machinery, The frauds and jobbery which
| have been brought to light In every departmen,
| ef tbs Government are sufficient TO have called
| Tor rsfoym within the Republican party, ye
possession Of power, have succumbed TO its cor
| fuptiDg Influence and have placed In nomination
a ticsot sgainst WHICH tho independents portion
| OF the party are IN open revolt, Therefore {
change Is demanded. Suoh a change was alik'
necessary in 1876, but the will OF the people Wal
1 then defeated by fraud which can never be for
gotten or condcned Again In 1880 the chang
demanded by the people was defeated by tn,
| lavish use Of m sney contributed b. unscrupulou
coptraetors and shameless jobbers who had bar
gained ,or unlawful psos' r. lS' hga q oss 'n n
stolen and its bought tenures Of power has steadi
| ~ decaysd In moral chamcter and policical CO
pacity. Its platform promises arc now list o
| its past failures. 1t demands the restoration Q
our navy. 1t has squandered hundreds Of nil
lions to create navy that does not exist. !
calls upon Congress /, remove the burdens unde
which American shipping has been depressed.
imposed and has continued those burdens. l
| Processes preference for free Institutions. !
organized aud tried to legslize control Of Stat
elections by Federal troops. 1t proiessvs dc
siTe to elevate labor, II has subjected American
wofkingmen to the composition 'of convict an
imported contract labor. II processes gr -titud
to all who were disabled or died In the war. leas
ing widows and Orphans 1t LETT TO Democrati
House Of Representatives the first effort ;
equslize both bounties and pensions. II proifeI
ed pledge 70 correct the Irregularities Of ou
tsrid. 1t created am has continued them. II
own Tariff Commission confessed the need Q
more than 20 per cent. reduction. lts, Congres
gave reduction Of less than por cent. II pre-
fes-es the protection OF Amarican manufacturer
1t has subjected them to an increasing hood Q
manufactured goods and hopeless compettio
with manufacturing nations. not one Of whicl
taxes raw materials. Il Processes TO protect q
American industries; 1t has impoverished man
to subsidize few. 1t processes the protection {
American labor IL has depleted the returns {
American agriculture, an industry followed b
half our people. 1t profcsses the equality of .
citizens before the law. Attempting 70 hx th
status Of colored citizens, the Acts OF Its Cor
grsss were oyerset by tn decisions Of its court
Its caught criminals are permitted TO escAI
through contriyed delays cy actual connivance
the prosecution. Honeycomsed with corruption
outrageous exposures no longer shock Its NOR
sense. Its honest members and it, indepensier
journals no longer maintain successful contc,
Tor authority In its connses or veto on BE-
noipinations.
That change Is necessary is proved by an e,
icing surplus Of more than 800, ,000, ,01, whic
has yearly been collected from suffering pet
pie. Unnecessary taxation Is unjust taxation
We denounce the Republican party for havin
failed 10 relieve the people from the crushing wa
taxes, which have paraiyEed bBsiness, cripple
industry and deprived labor Of employment an
OF its Just reward.
This Democracy pledges itself /, purify tie Az
ministraiion from oorruptlon, 10 restore economy
70 revive respect for law, and 10 reduce taxstio
to the lowest limit consistent with due regsr
to the preservation OF the faith OF the nation I
its creditors and Its pensioners, knowing fu
well. however, that legislsiion affecting the we
fare of the people should be cautious and col
| sentative iD method, not in advance of publ
opinion. but responsive - Its dcmAnus.
The Democratic party Is pledged TO revise th
tarif In spirit Of fairness to all interests, bu
in making . reduction In taxes II is not prvpose
to injure any domestic industries, but rather I
promote their healthy growth From the four
dation Of this Government, taxes collected at tn
custom house have been the chef source Of Fed
eral reve ue, and such they must continue to BE-
Moreover many industries have come 10 rely ur
on legislation Tor their successful continuance,
that any change Of the law must be at every ste
regardfnl Of the labor and capital thus involved
The process OF reform must be subject to the exc
cution Of this plain dictate Of justice. All tsxa
tion shall be limited to the requirements Of n
economical Government. The necessary reduc
tion In taxation can and must be effected with
out depriving American labor Of the ability +
ccmpete successfully with foreign labor. an,
without imposing lower rates Of duty than vii
be ample TO cover any increased cost OF produc
tion which may exist In consequence Of II
higher rate Of wages prevailing in this country
| Sufficient revenue 10 pay all the expenses OF tn
| Federal Government, economically administered
including pensions and interest and principal Q
the pbblic debt, can be got under our prescn
system OF taxation from custom house taxes o.
| fewer imported articles, bearing heaviest on al
| ticies Of luxury and bearing lightest on article
| OF necessity. We therefore denounce the abuse
OF the exis Ing tarin, and, subject to these limi
tations. we demand that Fedsfsl taxation shal
be exclusively for public purposes and shall no
exceed the needs OF the Government, economl
| caly administered.
/ The system OF direct taxation known as Tn
internal revenue Is a war tax and so long as tn
| law continues the duty derived therefrom shoul,
be sacredly devoted 10 the RELIEF Of the peopl
| from the remaining burdens Of the war and b
| made q fund 10 oefray the expense Of the car
| aud comfort Of worthy soldiers disabled In tn
| line Of duty in the wars Of the republic and 10
the payment OF sucn pei sions as Congress ma,
| from time TO time grant 10 such soldiers, q lik
| fund for the ssilon having been already provid
| ed, and any surplus should be paid into tn
| Treasury.
based on more intimate commercial and politca
| relations with the fifteen sister republics o
| North, Central and South America, but entangin,
| alliance With none.
| We believe In honest money, the gold and sill
yer coinage, and Of the cultivation and circula
| tion Of q M dium convertible into such money
without loss
Asserting the equality Of all men before th.
| law. we hold that 1t Is the duty OF the Govern
ment in its dealings with the people 10 mete ou
equal and exact Justice to all citizens. Of what
ever nativity. race, color or persuasion, religion
or political.
We believe In tree ballot and fair count
and we recall to the memory Of the people ths
noble struggle Of the Democrats In the Forty
| fifth and forty-sixth Congresses, by which . re
luctant Republican opposition was compelled tt
assent to legislation making everywhere illega
| the presence Of troops at the polls, . the con
elusive proof that q Democratic administration
will preserve liberty with order
| The election Of Federal officers Tor the Terri
tories should be restricted 10 citizens previously
| resident therein.
We oppose sumptuary laws. which vex the citi.
zen and Interfere with Individual liberty.
Ne favor houast ,tvfl aarxica raforpa. the ron,.