The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-07-18
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Some Excerpts from That Remarkable
Document.

The Platform adopted by the National
Democratic Convention makes up In quanti-
ty what it lacks in quality.
Its first assertion is: Gas the Nation grows
older new issues are born of time and pro-
gress aud old issues perish" (Very true, but
surprising the Democracy have discovered
the fact.)
at is indispensable for the practical appli.
cation and enforcement of these fundamen-
tai principles that the Government should
not always be controlled by one political
party" (Which means that the Democracy
being "out" want "in.")
"The Republican party, so far as principles
are concerned, is "reminiscences" (To some
extent, trus. The old "principles" of the
Republican party have been made establ d
facts by the Nation, and the party stands by
10 see that they continue to exist as such.
Tho .'principles" were the flowers and the
facts are the fruit. The fragrance Of the
flower Is q "reminiscences, and we do not pro-
pose bad boys shall knock off the fruit until
II matures.)
"The Republican party during Its legal,
Its stolen, and its bought tenure, of power,
ETC., ETC., etc."-(about a yard of this. That
is all right. 1t was your turn to say some
thing.)
"That change is necessary is proved by
m existing surplus of more than 500 ,G0O,-
900, which has yearly been collected from
suffering people," Care we to understand
the Democracy that 1t is necessary for 1t to
get in power to spend this surplus. You
charge us In one breath with being profit
gate, corrupt, aud extravagsnt, and in the
next say we should be ousted because by
care, honesty, and economy q surplus Of
money has accumulated in the Treasury.
The country is still vastly In debt; this sur
Plus is not wasted; il necessary, 1t can be
applied to liquidating that debt. Fit had
been squandered or stolen there would be
ground for complaint. It Is the first time In
the history of this couRtry that political
party in power was pronounced untrust-
worthy because it did not squander the Gov.
eminent revenues.)
"The Democratic party is pledged to re-
wise the tariff In spirit Of fairness to all in
terests, but In making reduction in taxes It
is not proposed to injure any domestic in
dustries, but rather to promote their healthy
growth. From the foundation of this gov
eminent, taxes collected at the custom house
have been the chief source OF Federal reve.
nue., and such they must continue to be.
Moreover, many industries have come to rely
upon legislative for their successful continu-
ance, so that any change Of the law must be
at every step regardful Of the labor and capt.
tai thus involved. The process of reform
must be subject to the execution of this plain
dictate Of justice. ALI taxation shall be
limited to the requirements of an economi-
cal Government. The necessary reduction
In taxation can and must be effected without
depriving Americas 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.wsges prevailing in this
country. Sufficient revenue TO pay all the
expenses Of the Federal Government, eco.
nomically administered, including pensions
and interest and principal of the public debt,
can be got under our present system Of taxa
ton from custom house taxes on fewer i'm
ported articles, bearing heaviest on articles of
luxury and bearing lightest on articles of ne
cesslty. We therefore denounce the abuses
of the existing tariff, and, subject to these
We demand that Federal taxa
lien shall be exclusively for public purposes
md shall not exceed the needs Of the Gov
economically administered"
(This 10 the great Tariff Reform plank over
which 90 much ado has been made, and with |
which the Democracy were going to ground
well the country. 1t is simply slushy |
ambiguity that means nothing - the her.
offspring Of compromise without |
! tangible proposition In 1t that binds the
party TO anything, or that is not centralized |
~ qualification. 1t has not 1.-THE Of the |
Stamina in !, that characterizes the Republic
AN plank on that issue. No wonder Ben |
Butler In discussing It asked any Democrat |
n the convention to tell him what It meant |
md received no response. The Democratic
Tariff plank Of 1884 IL no bettsr and no worse
han those Of 1876 and 1880. Nothing for
he good Of the country was ever accom-
'lished BY them and none will be BY this.
We had sufficient demonstration on that
'oint In the recent nasco In the House. That
! Is mere clap trap 70 catch votes = we'll IN
Ierstood, but II The bait couldn't be made
p IRE attractive than the above u would have
'een better to leave II out altogether.)
The Platform contains some good rlanks,
mt none that we have noticed In which the
'riLciples we're not IS we'll or better enun-