The Dillon tribune., 1884-07-19
Ghe AMon G Tribune,
lssuKp EVERY SATURDAY MoRxiNc
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Adopted by the National Democratic Com
vention Mt Chicago.


that as the Nation grows older, new issues
are born Of time and progress, and old is
sues perish, but the fundamental principles
Of the Democracy, approved BY the united
voice OF the people, remain, and will ever
remain, as the best and only securities for
the continuance Of free government. The
preservation Of personal rights, the equality
of al, citizens before the law, tie reserved
rights Of the States, and the supremacy Of
the Federal Government within the limits
Of the Constitution, will ever form the true
basis OF our liberties, and can never be sur.
rendered without destroying tina, balance
If rights and powers which enables a con.
,inent to be developed in peace and social
order, to be maintained by means Of local
self government. But it Is necessary for
the practical application and enforcement OF !
these fundamental principles that the Gov
ernment should not always be controlled bv
one political party. Frequent change of
administration Is as necessary as constant
recurrence to the popular will, otherwise
abuses grow, and the Government becomes
the instrumentality for imposing heavy
burdens ON the manv who are governed,
for the benefit Of the few who govern.
Public servants thus become arbitrary ru-
lers. This is now the condition OF the
country; hence, a change is demanded
The Republican party, SO far as principle is
concerned, is reminiscene III practice. 1t
is an organization iior enriching those who
control its machinery. The frauds and
jobbery, which have been brought to light
in every department Of the Government
are sufficient to have called Tor reform with
in the Republican party: vet those in auth.
GRITTY, made reckless by the long possession
of power, have succumbcd 10 its corrupt.
my t"Hu.''e-'and have placed in notnina.
n ~
portion of the party are in open revolt;
therefore a change Is demanded. Such
change was alike very necessary in
1876, but the will Of the people was then
defeated BY fraud which can never be for.
gotten nor condoned. Again in 1880 the
change demanded BY the people was de-
feated bv the lavish use Of money contrib
utcd by INSCRIPTIONS contractors and by
shameless jobbers who had bargained for
unlawful profits or for high office. The
Republican party during its Illegal, its sto.
len and its bought tenures Of power, has
steadily decayed in moral character and po.
litical capacity. It, platform promises are
now list Of its past failures 1t demands
the restoration Of our navy. 1t has squan-
dered hundreds Of millions OF dollars to
create navy that does not exist. 1t calls
on Congress TO remove burdens under
which American shipping has been de.
pressed. 1t imposed and has continued
those burdens. 1t processes preference
for free institutions. 1t organized and tried
to legalixe control Of State elections by
Federal troons II nrotes.es n desire to Il.
.va,. lahor II hae euh;,.cted American
worL ;r.r,.n y, ,he c,r,ns,;,;on of couv;ct
and imnorted contract-iabor. 1t processes
a vrntitud.. to ali Who were disabled or
died in the war, leaving widows and or
rhnns II lef1 to a Democratic House of
Renrrsentat;ves the 3rst effort to eouajiz.
b,th bounties and pensions. It profferet a
pledge to correct the irregularities OF our
tariff. II created and has continued its
own tariff commission, who confessed the
need of more than a twenty per cent re.
duct;on r. convr.s. pav. a reduction Of
less Than four per cent, II prott.sses the
,.ro,ection Of American manufactures. 1t
has subjected them to an increasing flood
Of manvtactured goods and hopeless com.
petition with manufacturing nations, not
one of which taxes raw materials 1t pro.
f.ss.s IN nrntert ali American industries.
1t has impoyerished the many to subsidize
a few II prot.sses the protection Of Amer
lean labor: it has depleted the returns of
American agriculture, an Industry follow
ed by half our peorle. 1t Processes the
equality of all citizens before the law, by
attempting to fix the status Of colored citi.
zens ,Th. acts Of its Congress were over.
SET by The decisions OF lis courts. 1t sac.
cents an..v the .iu.v of leading in the work
Of progress ana reform." Its caught Grim.
inais ar,. p.rmi,tcd To escape through con.
,trued DELAYS or actual connivance in the
prosecutim. noneycon,hvd with corrup.
.;on th. o,,hr..akinv of exposures no long.
.r shock its moral sense. Its independent
journals maintain a success stul contest for
authority in its counsels or a veto on bad