The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1884-07-13
III Will HOLD US ALL,
The Democratic Platform Adopted
at Chicago.


son, from the committee on resolutions,
and adopted by the convention is as fol-
lows:
The democratic party Of the Union,
through its representatives in national
convention assembled, recognize that rs
a nation grows older, new issues are born
of time and progress, and old issues per-
ish. But the fundamental principles Of
democracy, approved by the united vo &c
of the people, remain, and will ever e.
main, as the best and only security or
the continuance Of free government.
The preservation of personal rights, tie
equality of all citizens before the law, the
reserved rights of states, and the supre,a-
acy of the federal government withint 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 n
peace, and social order to be maintained
by means Of local self-governments.
But it is indispensable for the practical
application and enforcement of thee
fundamental principles that the govern
ment should not always be controlled by
one political party. Frequent change Of
administration is as necessary as con
slant recurrence to the popular will.
Otherwise abuses grow, and the govern
ment, instead of being carried on for
the general welfare becomes an instru-
mentality for imposing heavy burdens
upon the many who are governed 1or
the benefit of the few, who govern public
servants, and thus become arbitrary rul-
ers. This is now the condition of tie
country. Hence change is demanded.
The republican party, so far az principle
is concerned, is a reminiscence, nprSc-
tice it is an organization for enrichiag
those who control its machinery. Tue
frauds and iobbery which have been
brought to light in every department IF
the government are sufficient to have
called for reform within the republic N
party. Yet those in authority, made
reckless by long possession of power,
have succumbed to its corrupting inf T.
ence, and have placed in nomination
ticket against which the independe ut
portion of the party are in open revolt;
therefore change is demanded. Sue
change was alike necessary in 1876; lat
the viii Of the people was then defeated
by fraud which can never be forgotten
or 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 iobber5, who had bargained for tn
lawful profits or for high Office. The e
publican party during its legal, its stol n
and bought tenures of power has steadily
decayed in moral character and political
capacity. It's platform promises are now
a list of its failures. It has squandeIed
hundreds OF millions to create a nay
that does not exist. 1t calls upon cen
grass to remove burdens under which
American shipping has been depressed.
1t imposed and has continued those bur-
dens. 1t processes q policy of reserviug
public lands for small holding by actla
settlers. 1t has given away the peoples
heritage, until now very few railros is
ana nonresident aliens, individual AID
corporate, possess q larger area than Ill
our farms between the two seas. 1t o.
fesses preference for free institutions. 1t
organized and tried to legalize control of
state elections by federal troops. It p-o-
fesses q desire to elevate labor It las
subjected American workingmen to the
competition of convict and imported cen
tract labOr. 1t processes gratitude to IL
who were disabled or died in the war,
leaving widows and orphans. It left 10
the democratic house of representati, es
the FIRST effort to equalizo both bount,es
and pensions. 1t profers a pledge TO
correct the Irregularities of our tariff. 1t
created and has continued them. j is
own tariff commission confessed the need
of more than 90 per cent. reduction. It's
congress gave a reduction of less than
per cont, Il processes the protection of
American manufactures. 1t has SUD
iected them 10 an increasing flood Of
manufactured goods and hopeless COM
petition with manufacturing naJlonS, Lot
one OF which takes raw material. 1t
processes to protect all American ind $
tries, 1t has impoverished many to sub
sidize few. It processes the protection
OF American labor. 1t has depleted ne
returns Of American agriculture, an m
dustry followedby half our people. Itpro-
feSsos the equality of ali men before me
law, attemptiugto tix the status of col
orad citizens. The acts Of congress We're
set aside by the decisions of its courts. It
accepts q new duty of leading in ne
work of progress and reform. Its caug Mt
criminals are permitted TO escape throu gh
continued delays or actual connivance in
prosecution. Honeycombed with COR
ruption, outbrealing exposures no longer