Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-07-18

we're 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 un-
Ill Thursday, the 10th inst. On Thurs
day the following platform was re
ported apd adopted:
THE PLATFORM.
The democratic party of the union, through its
representatives in the national convention Assem-
bled recognizes that the nation grows older.
new issues are born Of time and progress and
Old issues perish.
BIT the fundamental principles or the de
mocracy, approved by the voice of the people
remain and VIII ever remain the hest and only
security for the continuance of free government
the preservation of personal rights the equality Of
ali citizens before the law. the reserved rights of
The states, and the supremacy Of the federal gov
eminent within the limits Of the constitution, viii
ever form the true basis OF our liberties and can
never be surrendered without destroying the bal
anc- of the rights and powers which eE2 hle a
cont u"nt to be Developed in peace and social
order 10 be maintained by means of a loyal SELF
government, but it is Indispensable for the practi-
cal application and enforcement Of these tulIa-
not always be controlled BY On9 political party.
and frequent charge Of administration is
necessary, and constant recurrence 10
tie popular will: otherwise ;buses grow and the
government instead of being carried on for the.
general welfare becomes an iustrumcutaiity for
imposing heavy burdens on the many who are
governed, for the benefit Of the few who govern.
Public servants thus become arbitrary UlcrS.
This is now the condition Of the country, enc.
a change is demanded
The republican party. SO far as principle is con-
IA N it,4
Il is organization for erIicling
thoS" who control its machinery The frauds
and jObbcry which have been brought t. light in
every drpa tmeut Of the government, ar SG:ti-
rient to have called for reform within i,r r,puD
lcan party, yet those in authority, made t,hles,
hy thrir long possession of power, have sue
cumbrd to its coriupting influence, aGd have
placed IN nomination a ticket against which tie
independent portion of the party are in open re-
volt Therefore, u change Is demanded; such Il
change was alike necessary IN 1876 but the viii
of the people was then defeated by q fraui rhjrh
en- never he forgotten nor CuudOueI; saiI
in 1880 the change demanded by the p,uDln was
defeated by the lavish use of money c'utrIhntud
by INSCRIPTIONS contractors and shameless job
bcrs who had barSained for unlawful lr, fits or
for high office. The republican party duriug its
illegal. its stolen and its bought tCuurrs Of power
has steadily decayed in morality, character AID
political capacity Its platform promises arr now
a list of lis present failures 1t demands 1l!A res
toratiOn OF our navy. 1t has squandeTed hundreds
Of millions to create q navy that does
not exist. II called upon congress to re
shipping has been depressed. il imposes aud has
cnntinue! those burdens. 1t rofeSScS the policy
of reservin% the public lands for small holding
by actual settlers 1t has given away the people 5
heritage till now few railroads and nonresident
aliens individuals, and corporations possess Il
larger area than that all of eur farmers between
the two seas.
1t prufeSscs preference for free institutions
1t organized and tried 10 lrgaliZs a control Of
-tatr elections by federal troops. lt processes a
d'I r. to elevate labor 1t has subjected A"Ieri
Frrr,g4T T.. OF,
and imported contract labor. 1t Processes graft
tuI" tu all who were disabled or died in the war.
leaving widows and orphans. 1t left to II dem"
cratir house of representatives, the first
effort to Cqllaze both bountleS and pensions, II
pry'iers pledge to correct the irregularities Of
uu' tariff 1t created and has continued them
Its own tariff commission confessed the need of
uluTc than 20 per cent reduction. It's congress
gave II reduction of less tban four per ccut.
processes the protection OF American manutaC
urers 1t has subjected them tn an increasing
flood of imports from manufacturing nations not
one o which taxes raw materials. 1t processes to
protect all American industries 1t has inpover
ished many to subSidize few. IL pr"fesSes
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 Coorcd citLeuSth thr acts q"
its congress were reversed by the decisions OF
its courts. 1t accepts anew, the du'E
of leading in the work of progress and reform. lis
criminals are permitted 10 escape through contriv.
ed delays or actual connivance. in the prosecution
ltS with corruption. ITS on llDtelklig
exposures no longer shock the moral sense. Its
honest Sersc its honest members, its journals no
longer maintain successful contest rt authority
in its CounSrlS or influence its npmluul ms.
That Il change is necessary is proved by an eN-
isting surplus of more than SluOGOO 900, which
mas yarly been collected from n suffering prop,"
Unnecessary taxation Is unjust taxation. We
den0unce the republican party for having failed
To relieve the people from crushing war taxes.
which have pdralyZed business crippled industry.
aud deprived labor of empluymc It ard its iusI
I tn
the administration from corruption, to re
store economy, to revive IeSpcc. i'r
law to reduce taxation 10 the lowest limit consist
cut with due regard to the pretery ttinn Of tile
faith of the nation to its creditors and pell~inn
crs knowing fun we'll however, that iel,&Iatih
affecting the occupations Of the people shoulj be
cautious and cuuversatlya in method, aud not in
advance "f public opinion but responsive te lis
'-mPuds
The demacratiG party is pledged to revise ne
tariff in spirit OF fairness to all Interests.
But in making reduction in iaN $, ii is not pro
posed to iniure any DOM ,tic industries. hut
rather to promote their healthy growth. From
the fo ndatinn of this government taxes collected
at the custom house have been the chl"f source
OF federal +, venue. Such they must continue To
he Moreover. many industries have come To
rely on legislation for successful continuance. SO
of the labor aud capital thus involved. The pro
cess of reform must be subject in its execution
TO the plain dictate OF justice. All
taxation shall he limited to the requirements OF
an economical government The necessary
reduction in taxation cas- and must be effected
without deprlvlnE American labor of the ability
to compete successfully with foreign labor, with
out imposing lower rates of duty than will be am
Pile to cover any increased cost of production
which may exist in consequence of the higher
rate of wages prey yailing III chs country. Sutii
Cient revenue to pay all expenses of the federal
government economically administered, includ-
ing pensions, interest and principal of the pub
lie debt. can he got under our present
system Of tlyation from custom house taxes or
fewer imported AIT cles, bearing heaviest on ar
1 H., 49,, . ,v.fft a.. .,f
necessity. We therefore denounCe the abuses of
the existing tariff, and subject it 10 the proceed
ing limitations. We demand that federal
taxation shall be exclusively for public purposes,
and shall not exceed the needs of the govern
mcut, economically administered. The system
of direct taxation known as the internal revenue,
is war tax, ard 50 long as the law continues
the money derived therCfrum should be SiCredy
devoted 10 the relief of the people from the re-
naming burdens of thE war and be made a fuEd
to IGtray the expenses OF the care and CONT rtS
vt worthy Sol,lIerS disabled in line of duty in
the wars of the republic, and for the payment Of
such pensions aS congress may from time 10 time
grant II such SaldierS, like fund fer III. sailors
having been already provided and any SGrp "
should be pad lutp tne treasury. We
favor an American continental policy
based upon more intimate comWerIaC ard poNt
iCal relations, with the fifteen sister repuG les uf
the North, Ceuta and South America, buJ en-
taugling alliances with naue We believe in honest
mou-y. The gold and silver coinage nj the cna-
sttutIon and a circntati : 0caiUm convertible u
such money without oSS
Asserting the rights III all WrU before thc Law we
hodt in tie duty of the government in its dea in :
with the people, 10 meet cut rqu 4 aul exact JUS
tlCS to all citizens 0f whatever nationality. r.cv
color. or persuasion religious or political.
We believe in a free ballot aud fair count and
we recall Ia the memory of the people the noble
struggle of the democrats in the 45th and 45th
congress and by which reluctant republican OPP
position was compelled 10 assent - legislation
making everywhere Illegal the presence of
troops at the polls as the conclusive proof that a
democratic administration will preserve liberty
with order.
The selection Of federal officers for the territory
shHtld be restricted 70 citizens previously resident
ther, in.
We oppose sugnptUGry laws which vex the cit
zen and Interfere with Industrial liberty. We fa
vOr an honest civil service reform and the com
penSation of al United States officers by fixed
salaries; the separation OF church and state and
the diffusion OF free education by common
schools. 50 that every child in the land may be
taught the rights and duties OF citizenship
While We favor all legislation which will tend
10 the equitable Distribution OF property,
70 the prevention Of monopoly and
to the strict enforcement OF Individual rights
against corporate abuses We hold that the welfare
" society depends upon scrupulous regard for
the rights Of property defined by law.
We believe that labor * best rewarded whe- {
il is trreSt and most enlightened. It should there
fore be fnStersd and chez iShed. We favor the re-
peal ot all laws restricting the free action of labor
zationS may be Incorporated, and of all such
legislation as viii tend 10 enlghten the people as
/ 10 the true relations Of capital and labor.
We believe that the public lands ought, as fal
/ as possible, TO be kept as homeSteadS for actual
/ settlers: that all unearuei ianis heretofore inn
proyldentIy granted to the railroad corporations
oy the action OF the republican party should be
I tn ha fas1nli and that mOrf