Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-07-17
DEMOCRATIC PrArFoE1.
The PIs Norm Adopted by the Democrats
I'm National Convention Assembled.

issues perish, but the fundamental principles of
the democracy, approved by the united voice Of
the pc pie, remain, and will ever remain, the
best and only security for the continuance of free
government. The preservation of personal rights,
the equality of all cit zens be fore the law, the
served rights of the States, the supremacy of the
Federal Government wi hin the proper limit, will
ever form the true basis of our Hber les, and can
never be surrendered without destroying that bal
ance OF rights and powers which enables content
ment TO be developed in peace and sorrow. Order
to be maintained by means Of local self govern
ment put II Is indispensable for the practical ap-
phcation and enforcement of these
mundane ntal principles that the government
should not always be controlled by one
political party. Frequent change of admins
trat1on is as necessary constant occurrences to
the popular WILL otherwise abuses grow and the
Government instead of being carried on for the
general welfare becomes an instrumentality for
imposing heavy burdens on the many who are
governed for the benefit of the few who govern.
Public servants thus become arbitrary rulers.
change is demanded.
The Republican, party, so far as prin-
practice; it is an organization for enIiching
those who control 1t. Machinery and frauds and
jobbery which have been brought to light in
every department OF the Government are sufficient
to have called for reform within the Republican
party. Yet those in authority. made reckless by
the long possession of power have succumbed to
its cOuupting influence and have placed in NOM
tnatiOn ticket against which the Independent
portion of that party are In open revolt; therefore
a change is demanded. Such change was alike
necessary in 1876, but the will of the people was
then defeated by the lavish use of money, con-
less jobbers who had baTgained for unlawful profit
or for high Office. The republican party during its
legal Its zen, and It's bought tenures OF power,
has steadily decayed in moral character and POI
lttical capacity. It's platform promises are now
list Of its past failures. 1t demands the restora-
ton OF our navy; 1t has Squandered hundreds of
millions TO create a navy that does not exist. 1t
calls on Congress to remove the burdens under
which American shipping has been depressed; it
imposed and has continued those burdens. It
processes the policy OF reserVtDg the public lands
for small holders, actual settlers; it has given
"a IayU howl
few raj roads and nonresident aliens, indi-
vidual and corporate, possess larger area
than that of all our farms between the two seas,
1t processes preference for free institutions; 1t
organized and tried to legalize control of State
election by Federal troops. 1t processes desire
to elevate labor; 1t has subjected the American
WOrkingmen to the competition of convict and
imported contract labor. II processes gratitude to
all who were disabled or died in the war, leaving
widows and orphans: It LETT to q Democratic
House of Representatives the first effort to equal
ize both bounties and pensions. 1t processes
pledge to correct the Irregularities of our tariff;
1t created and has continued them. Its own Tariff
Commission confessed the need of more
e. an twenty per cent reduction; its Congress
gave reduction of less than per cent. 1t pro-
feSses protection of the American manufacturer;
it 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; it has impoverished many
to substitute few. It processes the protection of
American labor; 1t has depleted the re-
turns of American agriculture, the industry
the equality Of all men before the law; attempt
ing to fix the status Of the colored citizens the
acts of its Congress oVerset by the decisions
of its courts. It accepts anew the duty of leading
in the work of progress and reform; its caught
criminals are pc united to escape through con-
triVed delays or actual connivance in the prose
cution. Honeycombed with corruption, out
breaking exposures no longer shock lis morality
Its honest members, lis Independent Journals no
longer maintain successful contest for authority
in its councils, or put veto upon bad nomlna-
tons. That a change is necessary is proved by an
lIop of mo W
has early been collected from a suffering people,
Unnecessary taxation is unjust. We denOunce the
Republican party for having failed to relieve the
people from crushing war taxes which have para
lyzed business crippled industry, ana deprived
lobor of employ ment and ofjust reward,
The Democracy pledges itself to purify the ad-
ministratiOn from corruption, 10 restore economy,
10 revive respect for the law, and to reduce taxa
ton to the lowest limit consistent with due regard
20 the preservation OF the faith Of the nation to
creditors and pensioners. Knowing full well that
legislation affecting the occupation Of the people
should be cautious and conservative in method,
in response to its demand the
Democracy is pledged to revise the tariff
in spirit of fairness to all interests But in ma
king reduction in tax it is not proposed to
1njure any domestic industries, but rather to pro-
mote their healthy growth. From the fOunda-
ton of this Government taxes cole cled at the
Custom House have been the chief sources of
Federal revenue such they must continue TO be.
Moreover, many industries have come TO rely on
legislation for successful continuance, so that
any change of law must be at every step regard
process OF reform must be subject, in the eXecu-
ton, 10 this plain dictate of justice. Alienation
should be limited TO the requirements of econo-
m1cal government. The necessary reduction in
taxation can and must be effected without
depriving American labor of the ability to
compete successfully with foreign labor and
without imposing lower rates of duty than will be
ample to cover any increased cost of production
which may. exist in consequence of the higher
rate of wages Prev ling in this country. Sufic-
lent revenue to pay all the expenses of the +, d.
eral Government economical y administered in
GLIDING pensions interest and principal of the
public debt, can be got under our present system
of taxation from Custom House taxes on fewer
imported articles, bearing lightest on articles
of necessity. We therefore, denOunce the abu-eS
of the existing tariff, and subject to the preceding
limitations, we demand that Federal taxation
and shall not exceed he needs OF the Governs
ment, economically administered. The system OF
direct taxation known as internal revenue" is a
war tax and so long as the law continues tbc
money derived theTeirOm should be devoted To-
the relief of the people from the remaining bur
dens of the war, and made fund 10 defray the
expense of the Gaze and comfort of worthy SOL
diers disabled in the line of duty in the war OF
the Rep bic, and for the payment of sNch pen
Bons as Conpress may from time 10 time grant 10
such soldiers, q like fund for the sailors having
been already provided, and any surplus should De
We favor an amendment to the Continental
policy based upon more intimate commercial
and political relations with the fifteen sister Re
publlcs of North, Central and South America
but entangling alliances with none.
We believe in honest money, all the gold and
silver coinage of the Constitution, and circu-
hating medium convertible into such money with
out loss.
In asserting the equality Of all men before the
law, we hold that il is the duty OF the Govern
ment in Its dealings with the people to mete Ouj
equal and exact justice to all citizens, of what
ever 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 Demt Gratis in the FOrty-ffth aud
Fofty-Sixth Congresses by which 8 reluctant Re
publican opposition was compelled to assent TO
legislation making everywhere illegal the pres
ence of troops at the TO Is the conclusive proof
that Democratic administration will preserve
liberty with order.
The selection of Federal officers for the Terrlto-
ries should be restricted to citizens previously
resident therein.
We oppose sumptuary laws which vex the citi-
Gems ana interfere with individual liberty.
We favor an honest count, civil service reform,
the com pensation Of 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
inr,,hh tho rinhla and dmIias of niIizanshir