Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-07-19
THE PLATFORM.

The democratic party of the Union, through
| Its representatives, In National Convention as
sembed. recognize that as the nation grows
and old Issues perish. But the fundamental
principles of the democracy. approved by the
united voices OF the people, remain and will ever
remain a5 The best and only security for the con-
tinuance Offree governn ent. The preservation of
personal rights the equality OF all citizens before
the law the 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 surrpn-
dtred without destroyin that balance of rights
and powers which enables n continent to be de-
veloped Ia peace, and social order to be main
tained by means OF local self-gOvernnent; but 1t
10 Indispensable tor the practical application
and enforcement OF these fundamental princi-
piles that the government should not always be
controlled by one political party. Frequent
change OF administration is as necessary con-
stant recurrence to the popular will. Otherwise
/ abuses grow, and the government, instead OF
comes Instrumentality for imposin. heavy
burdens on the many wh0 are & Iverned, Tor the
benefit Of the few who govern. Public servants
thus become arbitrary rulers. This ls now the
condition OF the cOuntry-hence change is de
IDandrd The republican party, so far II prin-
ciple is cOncerntd. ia u remtn-.cence. Iu prac-
tice IL Is organization iur enrichIng those who
control Its machinery The frauds and jObbery
which have been brought to lient in every de-
partment Of the gove' Einent are sufficient tu have
called for reform within the republican party.
Yet these IN authority, made reckless by the
long possession OF power. have snccnmhcl To
its cOrrnpting Influence and have placed IN
nomination II ticket against which III" Interend-
ent portion OF the party are in open revolt.
A CHANGE DEMANDED.
Therefore change is demanded. Such n
change was alike necessary in 1876, l ut The " i'll
OF the people was thrn defeated by q fraud
which can never be forgotten nor condoned.
ARain. in 1850, The change demanded by the
people was defeated by the lavish use of money
contributed by unsc, upniOus contractors and
shameless j0btIers who had bargaInrt for un-
lawful profits OF for high Office. The republican
party during Its legal, Its stolen and j = bought
tep,lres OF poWer has steadily iecayed IN moral
character and pOlical capacity. Its platform
promises are now list of its past failures. 1t
squandered hundreds OF millions to create II
navy that does not exist Ii calls upon congress
to remove the burdens under which American
shipping has been depressed; it imposed and
has continued those burdens. 1t proiessrs the
policy OF reserving the public lands for small
holdings by actual settlers; il has given away
the peoples heritage till now u few railroads
and non resident aliens, individual and cOrpu-
rate, poss.ss larger area than that OF all our
farms between the twuseas.
REPUBLICAN FALSE PRETRNsEs.
1t processes II preference for free Institutions;
it organized and tried to legalize u control of
state elections by federal troops. IL prOless-s u
desire to elevate labor; it has subjected Ameri-
and imported contract labor. 1t processes grati-
tude to all who were disabled or died III the
war, leaving widows and orphans; 1t left to IL
both bounties and pensions. 1t proff,.rs pledge
to correct the Irregularities of our tariff; It
created and has continued them. It's own tariff
commission confessed the need OF more than 20
per cent. reduction its congress gave reduction
Of less than per cent. IL processes the prOtee-
tiOn of American ianufactures, II has subjected
them to nn increasing Hood OF manufactured
goods and q hopeless competition with manu-
featuring nations, not one Of which taxes raw
materials. 1t processes to protect all Am 'rican
industries; II has impoverished many To subsl-
dIZe few. 1t PROCESSES the protection OF Amer
lean labor; ii has depleted the returns OF Amrrl-
can ugricullure-an industry followed by half
our people IL PROCESSES the equality Of All men
before the law ;atenpting I" fix the status OF col
Ol e cltzens the acts OF its congress We're oserset
by the decisions Of its courts. IL accepts anew
the duty Of leading in the work of progress and
Its Caught criminals are permitted to
ESCAPE through contrived delays or actual con-
nivance III the prosecution. fionry-combed with
corruption, Outbreaxing exposures no longer
shock Its moral sense. It's honest members, its
independent journals no longer maintain a SUE
cessIul contest for authority in its councils or Il
veto upon bad nominations. That change is
is proved by an existing surplus oil
more than 4lO0 900, 100. which has yearly been
collected from suffering proPle. Unnecessary
la aXaiiOn 10 u. just taxallOn. We d-nnlnce tia"
republican party lor h ivinK ia,ei to relieve the
people from crushing war taxes which have
paralyz-d business crippled industry ana de-
piiv. d labor OF employment and OF just reward.
The democracy pied 'es itself TO purify the adm
Illustration from corruption. to restore economy,
to revive respect Tor law and TO reduce taxation
to the lowest limit consistent with due regard
To tne preservation oil the Ialtn oil hhtton 10
ITS creditors and pensioners.
THE TARIFF PLANK
knowing full well, however. that Legislation
affecting The operations OF the people should be
cautious aud conservative in method. not in adj
vance of public opinion but responsive TO It's de-
mand~, the demacratic narty is pledged to
wise the tariff in spirit ut fairness to all inter-
tsts. But IN making reduction in taxes, il is
not proposed to mi ure any domestic Industries,
but rather to promote their healthy growth.
From the foundat' of this 'vernnent. taxes
collected At the custom house have been the chiei
source OF federal revenue. Sncn they must con
tisue TO be. Moreover, many Industries have
come TO rely upon legislation for successful Con-
tinuance, So that any change oil law must he Ut
every step resardiul of the labor and capital
THUS involved, the process OF reform must be
subject in the execution to this plain dictate of
justice A taxation shall be limited to the re-
uuirement5 of economical government The
nccess ,ry reduction in taxation can aud mus,
be enrcle,i without deprlving American labor
Of the ability to comp. te succe 'siuilv with iur-
eign labor, and without imp 'sing lower rates of
duty than will be ample to cover any increased
cos OF production which may exist In conse-
quehce of the higher rate OF wages prevailing in
lnis country. Sufficient revenue to pay all the
expenses of the federal government econOmi-
caily administered, inc'niing pensions. inter-
est and principal of the public debt. can be got,
under our pIes,n sys stem of taxation, from Gus
tom-hOuses taxes on fewer imported articles,
bearing heaviest on articles OF luxury and bear
ing III htesl articles OF necessity We there
fore denounce the abuses of the eSising tariff
and, subject to the preceding limitations. we
ly for public purposes, aud shall not exceed the
net ds of the government economically admins
tered. The system OF direct taxation known as
the ''internal revenue' Id war tax, and. 81
long as the law continues, the money levied
ther.from should be sacredly devoted IL The re-
| liet Of the people from the lenlaing burdens o
the war and be made fund to d.. fray the pens.
| oil the and comfort OF worthy soldiers dsa-
bled in line oil duty in the wars Uf The republic
and for the payment Of such pensions con
gress may from time to time grant to such SOL
diCrs-n like fund for the sailors having been al
| ready provided-and any surplus should be paic
into The treasury.
| THE DEMOCRACY BELIEVES IN HONEST MONEY
| We favor an American continental polio,
| based upon more intimate commercial and pn
ii,Icai relations with the fifteen sister republics
| OF North, Central and South America, but en-
tanHlng alliances with none. We believe il
honest money. the gold anu silver coinage of tn,
| constitution, and II circulating medium convert
| lille into such money without loss ASSERTING
| the equality OF all men before the law, We hol,
thai II Is the duty OF the government IN its deal
| inSs with the people. to mete out equal and eN
act Justice To al citizens, Of Whatever nativity
race. color or persuasion, religious or political
| We believe in II free ballot and fair count. an,
| We recall to the inemory of the people the nObI
struggle OF the democrats IN the Forty fifth AN
F"Ity- congresses by which Il reluctant re
| publican opposition was compelled Ia assent 1
legislation making everywhere illegal the pres
ence OF uoups at the polls, as The conclusiv
proof that democratic adm nlstraliOu will pre-
serve liberty with order. The selection OF Ted
eral officers for the territories should he rr
| HONEST CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
| We oppose sumptuury laws which vrx Il.
| citizen and lnterIer. with individual liberty
| we favor honest civil service reform, and III
| compensation Of all United States officers h
liked salaries; the separation Of church IN
state, ami the diffusion of free education h
| cummun schools, SO that every child IN The Ian
may he taught the rights and duties of cilILrr
ship While we Iavor al! Legislation which WI
tend to the equitable dlstr hutton Of property.
| the prevention of monopoly unl Lo the strict
fOrcrnlenL Oi individuals rights against curp1
rate abuses, we mold that the wrliar. ui socirt
depends upon IL scrupulUus regard Tor ihG rsh
OF property as dl fined by law
PROTECTION TO LABOR.
We believe that labor is best rewarded whel
ii Is reest and most enlightened II shnui
therefore be tOstrr.d anh cherished. We tay,
the repeal OF all laws Ie,triciinn the free uclIn
Of labor ani the enactment OF laws by wis,
lab Dor organizations may be Incorporated. an
OF all such legislation a. VIII tend 10 rnlIghtt
the people AS to the true relations oi capital nn
labor. We believe That the public Land "mah
us far !, possible, to be kVpt rs hnm"-irnis +.
actual settlers; hat all nneurhed lands hrr"i'
fore ImprOvIdeniiy granted 10 rnIiIo,d c"rIni;
tons by the aciion al The republican pari
should br restored |" the rnhic ,inInnin. nI
that no m"r- grants III land sha hr ma'ir
corporations or hr alinw,d L" iaii Iuin iiir oHi
ership oil alien ab-rnirrs W" upn"rtd
all propositions which upon amy rr"t"Ai Won
COVERT the u n.ral government into Il n"chiI
for cOliectID. tAN.s to he distributed among Il
| states or the citizens thereof.
orrus ED TO IMPORTED rAUpER LaErR.
In Ieaihi ming the declaration of the dem,
pies embodied by =. nrrs'n in the D-,IuruiI. .
Of lndepr n.ienre, in'i sanctioned III tn" c"nsti
ItiUn which makrs uuIs The band al liberty Al
the asy lum OF the oppressed al every nni,u,
have ever been cardinal principles IN the dem,
cratic faith, nevertheless 'iu not sanction Ct
importation OF inr.'sn labor or III. admission