West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-07-18

Tho Democracy pledges itself TO purify the
administration from corruption, TO restore
economy, to rcviVe respect for law, aud to re-
ducc taxation To the lowest limit consistent
with due regard To the preservation of the
soncrs, knowing full well, however. that
legislation affecting the occupations of the
people should De cautious and conservative
In method, not In advance OF public opinion,
but responsive To It's demands.
The Democratic party Is pledged 10 revise
the tartn In spirit of fairness 20 all inter
Csts' but I'm making reduction in taxes IL Is
not proposed To inIurc any domestic indus
tries. hut 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 rev.
cnue. such they must continue. Moreover.
many Industries have come To rely upon legis-
latOn Tor successful continuance, so that any
of the labor and csnitoi Tins n SP Tbn
process of reform must be subject. I'm the OK
ecution, To this plain dictate of justice.
All taxation shall bc limited to the require
mcnts of economical government. The ncccs-
sary reduction in taxation can, and must, bc
effected without dcprivinV American labor OF
the ability To compete successfully with for
cign labor, and without imposing lower rates
of duty than will be ample To cover any In
creased cost OF production which may exist I'm
consequence of thu higher rates of wages pre-
Nuiling in this country. Sufficient revenue To
pay all the expenses of the Federal Govern
ment economically administered. including
pension, interest and principal of tho public
debt; can be got under our present system of
taxation from CustOm-hOusc taxes on fewer
imported articles, bearing heaviest on articles
of luxury and bearing lightcSt on articles of
necessity. We therefore dcnOuncc the abuses
OF the existing tarin. and, subject To the pre-
CcdinR limitations, we demand that Federal
taxation shall bc exclusively for public pur-
poses, and shall not exceed the needs of the
Government, economically administered.
The system of direct taxation known us the
internal Revenue Is war tax, and so long
as the law continues, the money derived
therctrom should be sacredly devoted TO the
RELIEF of the people from the remaining bur
dens of the war, and be made fund TO dcfray
a. he ps ,ra md fnp ~ Vvnr
soldiers disabled i'm line of duty I'm the wars OF
the Republic, and for the payment of such
pensions rs Congress may from time TO time
grant To such soldiers, a like fund for the sail
orS having been already provided; and any
surplus should bc paid into tho treasury.
We favor an American continental policy
based upon more intimate commercial and
political relations with the fifteen sister
America, but cutangling alliances with none.
We believe i'm honest money, the gold aud
silver coinage of the Constitution, and n cir
culnttng medium convertible into such money
without loss
Asserting the equality Of all mon before the
law, we hold that II Ia In the duty of the Gov
eminent, Ia its dealings with the people, to
mctc out equal and exact Justice to all citizens.
81 whatever nativity, race, color pcrsua-
sion, religious or political.
We believe in a free ballot and fair count.
ana we recall to the memory of the people
the noble struggle of the Democrats in the
FOrty-ntth ana EoTty-siNth Congress, 10y
which "A reluctant Republican opposition was
compelled TO assent to legislation making
everywhere Illegal the presence OF troops at
the polls, OF the conclusive proof that a Dem
ocratic administration will preserve liberty
with order.
The selection OF Federal officers for the
territories should bc restricted to citizens
previously resident their in.
We oppose sumptuary laws which vcN the
citizen and interfere with individual liberty.
We favor honest civil service reform and
the compensation OF all L. :. officers Ivy fixed
salaries; the separation of Church and State.
and the diffusion of free education by com
mon schools, so that every child i'm the land
may be taught the rights and duties of citizen
ship.
Whilc we favor all legislation which III tend
to the equitable distribution of property, to
the preservation OF monopoly and to the
strict enforcement of individual rights against
corporate abuses. we hold that the welfare of
society depends upon "A scrupulous regard for
believe that labor Is best rewarded where IL is
frecst and most enlightened. IL should there
! fore be fOstcrcd and cherished. We favor the
repeal of all laws restricting the free action OF
labor, and the enactment of laws by which
labor organizations may be Incorporated, and
all such legislation rs will tend TO eulghtcn
the people as To the true relations of capital
and labor.
We believe that the public lands ought, as
Tar as possible, to be kept ~ hOmesteuds for
actual settlers; that ,all unearncd lands here
tofore lmprovidcntly granted to railroad cor
pOratiOnS 10y the action of the Republican
party should lie restored TO the puhicdomain,
ana that no more grants of land shall be made
| To corporations, or be allowed to fall into the
! ownership of alien ahsentces. We are opposed
/ 10 bli Propositions WINCH, upon any pTetcNt,
! would convert the general Government into a
| machine for collecting taxes to he distributed
among the States or the citizens thereof.
In reaflirming the declaration of the Demo
| cratic platform of 1856 that, THE liberal prin-
| cipes embodied 10y jefferson in the Declara-
ton of Independence. and sanctioned i'm the,
Constitution, which makes ours the land of
| liberty, and the asylum of the oppressed OF
every Nation, have ever been cardinal princi-
pies I'm the Democratic faith" we nevcrthe-
less do not sanction the importation of for
elgn labor or the admission of servilc races,
UNITED by habits training, religion or kin
dred for absorption into the great body of our
people, or for the citizenship which our laws
confer American civilization demands that
against the Immigration or importation OF
MongoiianS 10 these shores, our gates be
closed.
The Democratic party insists that it IS the
equal fidelity and vigilance, the rights OF it's
citizens, native and naturaliZcd. al home and
abroad, and to the end that this protection
may be- assured. United States papers OF nat
uruiZ1tiOn, issued by courts of competcnt
jurisdiction, must hc respected by the ExccIi-
/ tive and Legislative Departments of our own
/ Government, and by all foreign Powers. II
/ is an imperative duty of this Government To
} efficiently protect all the rights of persons and
property of every American citizen In foreign
/ lands, and demand and enforce full reDara.
/ ton for any invasion thereof. An American
/ citizen ia only responsible 10 his own Govern.
ment FOR any act done in his own country. or
under her flag, and can only be tried therefor
\ on her own soil and according to her laws
l and no power exists in this Government In o \.
| patriate AN American citizen to be tried i'm
any foreign land for any such act
Ihis country has never had a well defined
ana executed foreign policy save under Dem.
Ocruuc administration; that policy has ever
been, IN regard TO foreign nations, so long az
/ they do not act detrimental 20 the interests of
I inc country or hurttul TO our citizens. TO lot
them alone: that as the result Of this policy
We recall the acquisition OF Louisiana Flori-
ia California, and OF the adjacent Mexican
territory by purchase alone: and contrast
/ these grand acquisitions Of Democratic
/ statcsmHnship with the purchase Of Alaska,
/ inc sole fruit OF Republican administration
OF nearly quarter Of q century.
Inc Federal Government should care for
ana improve the Mississippi River and other
. great waterways Of the Republic. so as to -c.
. cure Tor tho interior States cnsy and Chcap
transportation 10 tide water.
Under long period Of Democratic rule and
I poutl our merchant marine vas fast Ovrrtak-
ing and ON the point Of Outstripping that of
+ Great Britain. Undcr twenty years uf Re
publican rule AMI policy our commerce has
been left 10 British bottoms and almost has
seas
Instead ~ the Republican party's British
. rpil'FtW' demand Tor tho people Of tho United
states an American policy. Under Democratic
ril' Hud policy, our merchants and sRiIors
lying the Stars and Stripes fu every MORT
'"ricd products OF American industry Under
quarter ol century Of Republican rulo
ana policy, despite our manifest ADVANTAGE
over aIl other nations in high.paid labor
favorable climates r. 1d toominR soils. dpgpitc
freedom OF trade among sll these United
States; despite their population by the fore.
most rac"s 81 men and annual Immigration of
tDu-; despite our freedom hero from tho in.
NfI'frI burdens ~ lffo and fudrIafry iu ,fJ