Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-07-17
should be restricted to citizens previously res

should be restricted to citizens previously res
ident therein.
We oppose sunptuary laws which vex the cit
izen and interfere with individual liberty.
We favor honest civil service reforms, and the
compensation 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 citi-
Zenship.
While we favor all legislation which will tend
to the equal distribution of property, to the pre-
vention of monopoly and to the strict enforce
ment of individual rights against cooperate abus-
es we hold that the welfare of society depends
upon scrupulous regard for the rights of prop
erty defined by the laws. We believe that Ia
Dor is best rewarded where it is freest and most
enlightened. 1t should be fostered and cherish
ed. We favor the repeal of all laws restricting
the free action of labor, the enactment OF laws
by which labor organizations may be incOrpOrat-
ed, and of all such legislation as Will tend to
enlghten the people as to the true relations Of
capital and labor
we believe that public land ought, as far as pos
sible to be kept as homesteads for actual settlers
that all unearned lands heretofore improvident-
ly granted to railroad corporations by the action
of the Republican party should be restored to the
public domain and that no more grants OF land
shall be made to corporations or be allowed to
fall into the ownership Of alien absentees.
We are opposed to all propositions which, upon
any pretext would convert the General Govern
ment into machine for collecting taxes to be
distributed among the States or citizens thereof
In reaffirming the declarations ofthe Democratic
platform of 1876, that the liberal principles en-
bodied by Jefferson in the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, and sanctioned in Convention, which
makes our land of liberty an asylum of the op-
pressed of every nation, have ever been the car
dinal principles in the Democratic faith, we new
ertheless do not sanction the importation of
foreign labor, or the admission of servile races
untitled by habits, training, religion 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 the Government to protect with equal
fidelity and vigilance the rights of its citizens
| native and naturaized, at home or abroad, and
to the end that this protection may be assured
United States papers of naturalization issued by
the Courts be respected by the executive and
legislative departments of our own governments,
| and by all foreign powers 1t is an imperative
duty Of the Government to efficiently protect all
the rights of person and property of every Amer
lean citizen in foreign lands, and to demand and
enforce full reparation for any invasion thereof.
An American citizen is only responsible to his
own Government for any act done in his own
country or under her flag, and can only be tried
thereupon ON her own soil and according to her
laws, and no power exists in this Government to
eXpatrate an American citizen to be tried i'll
| any foreign land for any such act. This country
| has never had well defined and executed for
eign policy save under Democratic administra-
tion. That policy has ever been i'll regard to
| foreign nations, so long as they do not act det-
rimental to the interests OF the country or hurt
| full to our citizens, to let them alone. Ihat as
the result of this policy recall the acquisition
of Louisiana, Florida, California and adjacent
| Mexican territory by purchase alone, and con-
| trast these graded acquisitions of Democratic
craftsmanship with the purchase OF Alaska, the
sole fruit Of Republican administration OF nearly
a quarter Of a century.
The Federal Government should care for and
improve the Mississippi River and other great
water ways of the Republic, so as to secure tor
the interior States easy and cheap transportation
to tdewater.
Under a long period of Democratic rule and
policy our merchant marine was fast overtak1ng
and on the point of outstripping that of Great
Britain. Under twenty years OF Republican rule
and policy ourcommerce has been left to British
bottoms. and almost has the American flag been
| swept OFT the high seas. Instead OF the Republl-
can party's British policy, we demand for the
people of the United States an American policy.
Under Democratic rule and policy, our mer-
chants and sailors flying the Stars and Stripes IN
every port successfully serached out market
for the varied products of American industry.
Under a quarter of century OF Republican rule
and policy, despite our manifest advantages over
all other nations in high paid labor, favorable
climate and teeming soils; despite the freedom
of trade among Of all these United States: de-
spite their population by the foremost races OF
men, of an annual immigration of the young,
thrifty adventures of all nations; despite our
freedom here from the inherent burdens OF LIE
and industry in the Old World monarchies, their
costly war navies, their vast tax-consuming,
nom producing standing armies, despite twenty
years Of peace, 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 Democracy an American policy.
Instead of the Republican party's discredited
scheme and false pretence of friendship for
American labor, expressed by imposing taxes,
we demand in behalf of the Democracy freedom
for the American laborer by reducing taxes, to
the end that these United States may compete
with unhindered powers for primacy among the
nations in all the arts Of peace and fruits OF
liberty.
With profound regard we have been apprised
by the venerable statesman through whose per-
son was struck that blow at the vital principle OF
Repubics-acq IN the Will OF tne ma
iority-that he cannot permit us again to place in
his hands the leadership of the Democratic hosts,
for the reason that the achievement OF reform In
the administration of the Federal Government is
an undertaking now too heavy for his age and
failing strength Rejoicing that his life has been
prolonged until the general judgment OF our fel-
low -cOuntrymen is united in the wish that wrong
were righted in his person, for the Democracy OF
the United States we offer him in his withdrawal
from public cares not only our respectful sym
pathy and esteem but also that best homage OF
freemen, the pledge of our devotion to the prin-
ciples and cause now inseparable in the history
Of this Republic from the labors of Samuel ).
Tilden.
With this statement of the hopes, principles
and purposes Of the Democratic party, the great
issue Of reform, and change in the administra-
ton, is submitted to the people in the calm con-
fidence that the popular voice will pronounce IN
favor of new men, and new and more favorable
conditions for the growth of industry, extension
of trade and employment and due reward of
labor and of capital, and the general welfare OF