The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-11-08
DEMOURaTTO PLATF0RM.

recognizes IAli9h
born Of time and progress and old issues persh but
the fundamental principles of Democracy, approved
b. the united voice OF the people, remain, and Iii
ever remain, the best and oniy security for the
on,naance offes goysrEnielt The preservation o.
personal ts the equality a citizens before the
ay te reserved rights o. the states aud the suprc
macy Federal Government Nishin the limits Of
the Constitution will form tfe true basis of
liberties, and never be surrendered without de-
stroj ing til1t balance of rights and powers which
abiej contiseit be developed in peace AID social
order to be maintained b means OF loe1l selsogsrn-
Heut.
But it is Indispensable for the practical applica-
tIon and enf5rcesasnt of these fundamental prin-
ciples, that TIE Government shutId Rot always BE
controlled by political party. A frequent change
OF administration Is necessary the constant
ctrrence - the popular viii. otherwise, abuses grew
,.ud Government, instead OK being carried Tor
She general wc!iare, becomes instruaen.at5 fo-in
posing heavy burdens tie Inay who governed
for the benefit af tho few who govern. Pubic ser
wants thus bec1Ele aruitrsry rulers.
This is now the coniitei OF the country
Hence q change IS demanded. The Republican
party, So far as Principe i3 concerned, ls
renliIiscanee; i'll practice, it is al organiza-
ton Tor enriching tGose who control its ma
chinerY. The frauds and jobbary which Lave been
bfou .ht to light IN every department IL the Govern
nlens s3i lent to have called for reform witha
the Republican party; Yet thoso IN authority 'ade
reckless BY tie iofg possession OF power, have sue
cpnbe 10 is ruptiag i;inoaoe, aI.a have placed
in nomination ticket against Which 5he independent
portion OF ae party are in ofea resoit Therefore
cl2lge i deiaahued sGch a change vas ailke aces
sity IA 1876, but the viii OF he people thcn de-
fe;.tSd fraud, "lEga 10 forgotten
coudonei. Again In 1850 the change demanded by
tne people dee4ted By ths laS.9a Of money
contributed by u!tserapaGus contractors AMI shame
less j;i5bers, w,lo had barsained Tor aA"iul profits,
o. for high Office.
The Re etublicaa party, during lis legal, its
| stolen, and its bonshs tenufes Of power, ha5
steadily decaycl III ii9ral chtiaeter sna political
cap3aity is platform promises list Of il
past failures. IL demands tbs restoration of eur
ate q navy that II calls upon to.grea5
toremoYe the burdens under hoh Aaaericanshifrine
has beea depressed; 1t imposed aid has eoAtnlad
| those bnrdens.
Il PROCESSES the policy OF rosory;ng tho public lands
for small holding by acIu&l s2tsla.s. i. hasg gF6n
a,vay the psople, heritage till now Il few railroads.
and NONRESIDENT aleas iRIivilutl ami cooperate pos
larger area than that 9f al our FARMS between
tue seas. 1t profe;ses preference for free insttn
tions it organized and tried 30 iegaliZo contr6i Of
state elections by federal troops 1t processes Ge
Sire elevate labor. iEhas subjected American work
insmen to the composition OF convict ana imported
contract labor. II processes gratitude TO all Who
were disabled died in the wai, leaving widows and
| orphans; it left TO Democratic House OF Represen
the first eifoft to oqualize both bounties y
pensions. Ii proIferS pleI@e to correct the rrcgu
isrities of tariff; it created and has continued
| them Its tariff commission confessed the need
OF than 20 per reduction, its Congress gaze
reduction OF less tha1 per cent. 1t processes the
protection of American manufacturers; il has sub
iected them to Increasing food OF manufactured
goods and hopeless c0nlpct ton with lliauufactur-
Ing nations not one of which taxes material. 1t
Processes to protect all American industries; il has
Impoverished many TO sansiazc fey. 1t rrotosses
the protection OF American labor it has depleted the
returns of American agriculture All industry followed
by half people 1t processes the equality OF all
men beEoget the law. Attempting To fix the atlls
colored citizens the acts OF its Congress
bv the csionS OF its courts 1t accepts anew the
duty OF leading in the work OF progress and rcfurn
its caught criminals permitted to escape through
4 contriyed delay actual cennyance in the prose
cution. Honeycou3bed with corruption ot;tbre2Einl
exposures longer shock its moral sense. Its hal-
est members, its sePelert ourlals, longer 3a
tain successful contest ion authority in its counse.
or veto upoa bad nomina5 Tist change IS nee
es<ary proved by existing sur plus Of more thar
5i0o eco, 800, which mas yearly collected from
= suffering people. Unnecessary taxation is unjust
taxation.
. We denonace the Republican party for tayin failed
to relieve the people from crushing war taxes which
have pardiyzei bnst9eSs, crippled industry and de
u pri@e1 labor Of employment and 81 j1sG Ihe
Democracy ple1se3 itssf to purify the admin
= istraton from corruption to restore econ
ony, 10 revive respect for law ami to re-
II duce taxation to the lowest lIt istent m due
regard Tie preservation OF TIE faith OF the nation
to It's creditors and pensioners; knowing fuH veil
however, that legislation affecting the cccapa tom
~ of the people should be cautious a3d conser
= vative IN method, not Ii atNancc OF pub
opinion but responsive 20 its demands the Demo
cratic party IS pledged to revise the tariff in spirit
fairness 10 al. interests bat III making reduction Il
Il taxes 1t is NOT proposed 10 ia jfe any domestic indus
tries bit rather promote their healthy grow From
Foundation Of ths NoveFEnent the taxes collee{e,
" at the Custom ho1se haze been the chef soi.ree o
e. FeueTti revenue. Such tileF must ccftiaue 10 b.
Mare3yer, many industries hive Come to rely Us ol
d lesiu successful coltinsaf ee go that am
change q law tist te 40 eFe5 ste fasaTtfa OF !sbo
= ana ital t2i;s Involved. the E.T0cess of recrp
q
of jastiecA!i taxation shall be limited TO tie
quiretncnt5 ~ economical Government. Jh
necessary reduction III taxation and must be al
fecte1 without GepfVlnc American labor the ab:!
ty TO compete successfully with foreign labor am
without Imposing lower rates OF duty than will b.
ample to cover any Increased cost OF production whic
III may exist in consequence the higher rate OF waa
-, prevailing in this euItf. Sufficient to IA
/" all the expenses Of The Federal Government econol
icaIiy administered, including pensions, interest an,
principal of the public dcGt, be got under on
present system OF taxation FROM Custom house take
II fewer imported articles, bearing the heaviest o.
articles of luxury and bearing lighest articles
necessity We therefore denoulee the abuses OF tn
existing tariff aud subject to preceding limitation
- demand that Federal taxation shall be exclusively fo
subtle purposes, and sh3l not exceed the neeGs Of tn
e government economically administered Tie sys TEN
direct taxation, known as the "Dterhal revenue"
@ tax and long the law continues the none
received terefrom should he sacredlv devoted to h
relief of the people from remaining burdens OF tn
war; and be made fund to defray the expense Of tn
{. and comfort OF worthy soldiers disabled in til
tine OF duty III the of the Republic and for TIL
payment OF such pensions Congress may from tin
TO time grant to such soldlcrs-a like fund for tn
sailors having been already protided-and any sur
plus should lie paid into the trea< ury.
We favor an American continental policy base,
upon Intimate commercial aft political relation
with the fifteen sister Republics OF NJgth, Central AM
South america, bus entanglng alliances with none.
We believe Ill honest money-the gold and siave
coinage OF the constitution AMI circulating medium
convertible iEto such money without loss.
- Asserting the equality OF ali men before the LAY
we hold that it Is the duty Of the Government, il
dealings with the people, to mete out equal and e.a
justice to all citizens, whatever nativity race co!
l. or or persuasion. religious or political.
We believe III a tree ballot and Il fair count an,
T. recall to the memory OF the people the nabt
struggle Of the Democrats in the Forty fifth and For
tYsi&th Congresses, bJ which int Repubical
opposition was compelled to assent to legislation
making everywhere illegal the presence Of troops
the poiiS the conclusive pro1 that a DeInocrati
administration viii preserve liberty with order IN
selection OF Federal officers Territories; sho
be restricted TO citizens previously resident thereof
{ We oppose sunptuary laws, w.Ich Yex The citizen
.eiere WITH 1HdlFntuat liberty.
We favor an honest civil service reform in cafapen
sation OF all nlted states Offices by fixed s4lares
separation OF CnuFcn and State ana the diffusion o
free education By comm schools 80 tlat.eVery chill,
III iand may be taught the rights and duties o
citizenship.
Wnile Ne favor I'll legislation which will tend t,
the equitable distribution properly proven
tlon oi monopoly, aad to the strict enforcement d
11difidual rights against corporate abuses, we hole
that tue v eiIafe Oh society depends scrul}uou
regarl for the rights OF properly defied by
We believe tflaJ lab0E is best rewarded where it j
freest ana enlightened. II should Re f0sttrct
and cherished. We favor the repeal OF all the law
restraining the free of labor, the enact
ment of laws by which labor organizations nav b
increased and o all stIe;I legisatIon as viii tend t.
enllgnlea people to relations Of cal;
itaI and labor.
We believe that the public lands ought as far a
possible, to be kept homesteaus actual settlers
that all unealned a1lds heretofore iinrroytfentl,
granted TO railroad corporations BY the fepab{ssl
party should be restored to the public domain and Il
more grants shall be made corporations or be al
lowed to Ltli into ownership alien absences
We are opposed 10 all propositions winch, upon am