San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-07-24
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

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The following is the document CON
plete.-Ep. FREE Pass.
The Democratic party Of the Union
through itsrepresentatiyes in Nationa
Convention assembled, recognize
that as the Nation grows older ne,
issues are born of time and progress
end old issues perish. But tn
fundamental principles Of the Democ
racy, approved by the united voice o
the people, remain, and will eve
remain, as the best and only securit,
for the continuance of free govern
ment. The preservation of persona
rights, the equality of all citizen'
before the law, the reserved rights o
the States, and the supremacy of tn,
Federal Government within the limits
of the Constitution, will ever form
the true basis of our liberties, ant
can never be surrendered without
destroying that balance of rights
and powers which enables the contin
ent to be developed in peace, anc
social order to be mai u by
means of local self gover Mon Put
it is indispensable for rSrnnr0,s,v6a q q
application and enforcer~S RAPIDLY
fundamental principles VI. :,
Government should not always be
controlled by one political party
Frequent change of administration is
as necessary as constant recurrence
to the popular will. Otherwise
abuse grow, and the Government,
instead of being carried on for the
general welfare, becomes an instru-
mentality for imposing heavy burdens
on the many who are governed for
the benefit of the few who govern.
Public servants thus become arbitrary
rulers. This is now the condition OF
the country; hence change is
demanded.
The Republican party, 30 far as
principle is concerned, is reminis-
cence in practice; it it an organiza-
tion for enriching those who control
it's machinery. The frauds and
jobbery which have been brought to
light in every department of the
Government are sufficient to have
called for reform within the Republi-
can party; yet those in authority,
made reckless by the long possession
of power, have succumbed to it's
corrupting influence, and have placed
in nomination a ticket against which
the independent portion of the party
are in open revolt.
Therefore, a change is demanded.
Such a 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
by the people was defeated by the
lavish use of money contributed by
unscrupulous contractors and shame
less jobbers, who had bargained for
unlawful profits, Or for high Office.
The Republican party during its
legal, it's stolen and it's bought ten
ares OF power, has steadily decayed
in moral caracter and political capa-
city. Its platform promises are now
. list of it's past failures. 1t demands
the restoration of our navy. 1t has
hundreds of millions to
create navy that does not exist. 1t
calls upon Congress to remove the bur
lens under which American shipping
mas been depressed. 1t imposed and
mas continued those burdens. 1t pro-
fesses the policy Of reserving the
public lands for small holdings by
actual settlers. 1t has given away
jhe peoples heritage till now q few
'ailroads and nonresident aliens,
Individual and corporate, posses a
arger area than that of all our farms
between the two seas. 1t processes
/ preference for free institutions. 1t
and tried to legalize q
control of State elections by Federal
;roops. 1t processes desire to ele-
yate labor. 1t has subjected Ameri
,an workingmen to the competition
If convict and imported contract
abor 1t processes gratitude to all
Who were disabled or died in the war,
eaving widows and orphans. 1t left
% Democratic House Of Representa-
ives the first effort TO equalize both
and pensions. 1t proffers
pledge to correct the irregularities of
,ur tariff. 1t created and has con
inued them. Its own tariff commits
ion confessed the need of more than
wenty per cent reduction. Its Con-
yress gave q reduction of less than
our per cent. 1t processes the
ofAmerican manufactures
has subjected them toan increasing
Iood of manufactured goods and
competition with manufactur-
ng nations,not one of which taxes raw
materials. 1t processes TO protect all
american industries. It has i'm
,overished many to subsidize a few.
{ Processes the protection of Ameri-
an labor. 1t has depleted thereturns
4 American agriculture-an industry
ollowed by half our people. 1t
,rofesses the eqality Of all men before
be law. Attempting TO FIX the status
4 colored citizens, the acts Of its
congress were overset by the de
isions Of its courts. 1t accepts a
lew the duty Of leading in the work
{ progress and refOrm-' Its caught
riminals are permitted to escape
hrough continued delays or actual