Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-07-17
DEM0CRATIC PLATFORM.

in Chicago, July 10, 1884:
The Democratic party of the Union, through
it's representatives in National Convention as
sembled recognize that as the nation grows old
er new issues are born oftime and progress, and
old issues perish. But the fundamental Prlncl-
Piles Of Democracy, approved by the united voice
of the people, remain, and Will ever remain, as
.'e best and the only security for the continuance
of trae government. The preservation OF per-
sona rights, the equality of all citizens before
the law, the reserved rights OF the States, ana
the supremacy of the Federal Government with
in the limits of the Constitution will ever form
the true basis of our liberties and can never
be surrendered without destroying that balance
of right and power which enables the continent
to be developed in peace and social order to be
maintained by means Of local self-governments.
But it is indispensable for the practical appi-
ton and enforcement of these fundamental prln-
ciples that the Government should not always be
controlled by one political party. Frequent
change of Administration is as necessary as con-
stant recurrence to the popular WILL OtherWlse
abuses grow and the Government instead OF be-
ing carried on for the general welfare becomes an
instrumentalty for imposing heavy burdens up
on the many who are governed for the beneht OF
the few, who govern public servants ana thus
become arbitrary rulers. This IS now the conai-
ton of the country. Hence a change is demand
ed. The Republican party, so far as principle IS
concerned, is reminiscence. In practice it is
an organization for enriching those who control
it's machinery. The frauds and Jobbery Whlcn
nave Dc0n DrOupuG 10 llSlG III oNCly
of the Government are sufficient to have called
for reform within the Republican party. Yet
those in authority, made reckless by long posses
sion Of power, have succumbed to its corrupt
ing influence and have placed in nomination a
ticket against which the Independent portion OF
the party are in open revolt, therefore change is
demanded. Such change was alike necessary IN
1876 but the will of the people was then defeated
by fraud which can never be forgotten nor
condoned. Again in 1880 the change demanded
x,sct ~
money contributed by unscrupulous contractors
and shameless jobbers, who had bargalned 1or
unlawful profits or for high office. The Repub-
lican party during its legal, it's stolen and bought
tenures Of power has steadily decayed in moral
character and political capacity. Its platform
promises are now list of its failures. 1t has
squandered hundreds of millions to create ma
w that does not exist. It calls upon Congress to
remove burdens under which American snip
ping has been depressed 1t imposed and , has
of reserving public lands for small holding by
actual settlers. 1t has given away the people 8
heritage, until now few railroads and non-resl-
dent aliens, individual and corporate possess q
larger area than all our farms between the two
seas. 1t processes preference for free institu-
tions It organized and tried to egalize control OF
State elections by Federal troops. 1t proteses Il
desire to elevate labor. 1t has subjected Amer1,
can workingmen to the competition OF convict
and imported contract labor. 1t processes graf
itude to all who were disabled or died in the war,
leaving widows and orphans. 1t leftto the Dem
ocratic House of Representatives the first effort
to equalize both bounties and pensions. Ii prof.
fers pledge to correct the irregularities OF our
tariff 1t created and has continued them. Its
own tariff commission confessed he need OF more
than 20 per cent reduction. Its Congress gave a
reduction of less than per cent. 1t processes
the protection of American manufactures. 1t
has subjected them to an increasing 1lood OF
manufactured goods and hopeless competition
with manufacturing nations not one OF which
takes raw material. 1t processes to protect all
American industries. 1t has Impoverished many
to subsdize few. 1t processes the protectlon 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, attempting to fix the status
of colored citizens. The Acts of its Congress
were set aside by the decisions Of it's Courts. 1t
accepts new duty of leading in the work ofpro-
gress and reform. Its caught criminals are per-
mitted to escape through continued delays or ac-
tual connivance in prosecution. Honeycompeu
with corruption, outbreaklng exposure no longer
shock it's moral sense. It's honest members, its
independent journals no longer maintain a sue
cessful contest for authority in its counses, or
veto upon bad nominations. That change IS nee
essary is proved by an existing surplus OF more
than 10000, 600 which has yearly been conec!eu
from the esutferngpeople. Unnecessary taxation
is unjust taxation. Wedenounce the Republican
party for having failed to relieve the people from
crushing war taxes which have paralyzed bust.
ness, crippled industry and deprived labor OF
employment and of Just reward.
The Democracy pledges itself to purify the ad-
ministration from corruption, to restore econo-
my, to revive respect for law and reduce taxa
ton to the lowest limit consistent with due re-
gard to the preservation OF the faith OF the ma
ton to it's creditors and pensioners. knowing
full we'll however, that legislation affecting the
occupations of the people should be cautious
and conservative in method, not in advance or
public opinion but responsive to its demands,
the Democratic party is pledged to revise the
tariff in spirit of fairness to all interests, Dut
in making reductions in the taxes 1t IS not
proposed to iniure any domestic industries.
but rather to- promote their healthy growth.
From the foundation Of this Government taxes
collected at the customhouse have been Inc
chief source of Federal revenue. Such they
must continue to be. Moreover many lnduS-
tries have come to rely upon legislation for
successful continuance, SO that any change or
the law must be at every step regardful OF the
labor and capital thus involved. The process OF
reform must be subject in execution to this PLAIN
dictate Of Justice. All taxation should be linn
tied to the requirements OF an economical gov
ernment. The necessary reduction in taxation
can and must be effected without deprlVlng
American labor Of the ability to compete sue
cessfully with foreign labor and without lmpos-
ing lower rates of duty than will be ample to
cover any increased cost Of production which
may exist in consequence of the higher rate or
wages prevailing in this country.
Sufficient revenue to pay all the expenses OF
the Federal Government economically admin
istcred, including pensions, interest and princi-
pal of the public debt, can be got under our
present system Of taxation from customhouse
taxes on fewer imported articles, bearing heaVl-
est on articles of luxury and bearing lightest on
articles Of necessity. We therefore denounce
the abuses existing in the tariff; and subject to
the preceding limitations, we demand that Fed
eral taxation shall be exclusively for public pur-
poses and shall not exceed the needs or the Gov
crnment economically administered.
The system Of direct taxation known as IN
ternal Revenue" is 4 war tax and as long us the
tax continues the money derived there1rom
should be sacredly devoted to the relief of the
people from the remaining burdens OF the war
and be made fund to defray the expense of the
care and comfort of worthy soldiers, disabled IN
the line of duty in the wars of the Republic and
for the payment Of such pensions as Congress
may from time to time grant to such soldlersIa
like fund for sailors having been already provid-
ed-and any surplus should be paid into the
treasury.
We favor an American continental policy bas-
ed upon more intimate commercial and political
relations with the fifteen sister Republics of
North Central and South America, but entang-
ling alliances with mono.
We believein honest money, the gold and silver
coinage of the Constitution, and a circulating me-
dium convertible into such money without loss.
Asserting the equality of all men before the
law, we hold that it is the duty of the Govern
ment in it's dealings with the people to mete out
equal, exact Justice to all citizens of whatever
nativity, race, color or persuasion, religious or
political.
. We believe in a free ballot and fair count, and
we recall to the memory Of the people the no.
Bile struggle of the Democrats in the 45th and 46th
Congress by which the reluctant Republican
opposition was compelled to assent to the leg
islation making everywhere illegal the presence
of troops at the polls conclusive proof that
a Democratic administration will preserve libcr-
ty with order.
The selection of Federal officers for Territories