Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-07-11
THE CONVENTION.
TcoNr1suED FROM FIRST PAGE.l

coed the needs of the Government, economically
administered The system of direct taxation,
known as the internal revenue" is war tax,
and so long as the law continues the duty re-
ceived therefrom should be sacredly devoted TO
the reliefof the people from the remaining burd-
ems of the war, and be made a fund to detray the
expense of the care and comfort of worthy sol
diers disabled in the line of duty in the wars OF
| the Republic. and for the payment of such pen
sions as Congress may from time to time grant
to such soldiers-a like fund for the sailors hay
! ing been already provided-and any surplus
| should be paid into the treasury.
We favor an American continental policy,
| based upon more intimate commercial and
political relations with the fifteen sister Repub-
| lies of North, Central and South America, but
entailing alliances with none.
We believe in honest money-the gold and
silver coinage of the cOuntry-and a circulating
| medium 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 its dealings with the people to meet
out equal and exact justice to all citizens, of
whatever nativity, race, color or persuasion, re-
ligious or political.
We believe in free ballot and fair count,
and we recall to the memory of people the
noble struggle of the Democrats in the Forty
| fifth and Forty-siXth Congresses, by which Il re
! luctant Republican opposition was compelled
| to assent to legislation making everywhere lille
| gal the presence of troops at the polls. As the
| conclusive proof that Democratic adminlstra-
| ton Will preserve liberty with order, the cleo
|
| he restricted to citizens previously resident
| thereof
| We oppose erlmptuary laws, which ycX the
| citizen and interfere with individual liberty.
We favor an honest civil service reform IN
| compensation of all United States offices by
| fixed salaries, the separation of Church and
state and the diffusion of free education by
| common schools, 50 that every child IN the lana
| may be taught the rights and duties of citizen
| ship.
While we favor all legislation which will tend
| to the equitable distribution of property, TO the
prevention of MONOPOLY and to the strict en-
| forccment of individual rights against corporate
abuses, we hold that the welfare of society de
| ponds on Il scrupulous regard for the rights OF
property rs defined by law.
We believe that labor is best rewarded where
| il is freeSt and most enlightened. II should be
| fostered and cherished. We favor the repeal of
all the laws restraining the free action OF labor,
and the enactment of laws by which laoor or
carnations may be increased, and of all such
| legislation as will tend to enlighten the people
as to the true relations OF capital and labor.
We believe that the public lands ought, as far
as possible, TO be kept as homeSteads for actual
settlers; that all unearned lands heretofore i'm
providently granted to railroad corporations by
the action ofthe Republican party should be re-
stored to the public domain. and no more
| grants shall be made TO corporations, or be al
| lowed to fall into the ownership OF alien aO-
| sentces.
We are opposed to all propositions which,
| upon any pretcXt, would convert the General
Government into machine for the collection
| of taxes to be distributed among the States, or
| the citizens thereof In eifecting the platform
of 1856 the liberal principles embodied by Jefler-
son in the declaration neutrality-suspicious. and sane
| toned in the Constitution, which make ours the
| land of liberty and the asylum of the oppressed
of every nation, have ever been cardinal prin-
ciplcS in the Democratic faith. We nevertheless
do not sanction the importation of foreign labor
or the admission of seryile races untitled by
| habits, training, religion or kindred for absorb
ton into the great body of our people, or TO the
| q American
civilization demands that against he immiSra-
| ton or importation of Mongolians to these
| shores our gates should be closed. The Demo
cratic party insists that 1t is the duty of
| the Government TO protect with equal
| fidelity and vigilance the rights of
| its citizens, native or naturalized, at home or
| abroad and TO the end that this protection may
| be assured, United States papers of naturaliza-
ton, Issued by Courts of competent jurisdiction,
must be respected by the executive and legisla-
tive departments OF our own Government, and
by all foreign powers. 1t is an imperative duty
ofthiS Government to efficiently protect all the
rights of her sons and the property of every
American citizen in foreign lands, and demand
and enforce full reparatlon for any invasion
thereof An American citizen is only RESPONSE
bic to his own Government for any act done
in his country, or under her flag and
law, only TO be tried therefor
on her own soil, and according to her laws.
And no power exists in this Government TO ex-
patriate an American citizen, to be tried III any
foreign land for any such act. ibis country has
never udtt II wen anu SuiCdleu foreign
policy save under Democratic Administration;
that policy has ever been just in regard to for
cign nations, so long as they do not act detri-
mental to the interests of the country or hurtful
to our citizens, or to let them alone. That
as the result of this policy we recall
the acquisition of Louisiana, Florida, California
and of the adjacent Mexican territory. by pur-
chase alone, and contrast these grand acquisi-
tons of Democratic craftsmanship with the
purchase of Alaska-the sole fruit of a Repub.
lican administration of nearly n quarter of
M. fnn TI,,, 4
care for and improve the Mississippi
river and other great waterways of. the
Republic, 50 as TO secure for the in
terror States easy and cheap transportation
cratic policy cur merchant marine was fast
ovcrtaking, and on the point of outstrippng
that of Great Britain. Under twenty years of
Republican rule and policy our commerce has
been lost to the British, and almost has the
American flag been kept OIL the high seas.
Instead of a British policy, we demand for
the people of the United States an American
policy. Under Democratic rule and policy
our merchants and sailors were flying the stars
and stripes i'll every port, successfully searching
out market for the varied products of Ameri-
can industry. Under quarter of a century of
Republican rule and policy, despite our mani
fest advantages over all other nations in high
paid labor, favorable climates and tceming sails
despite freedom of trade among all these
United, States, despite their population
of the foremost races OF men and
annual immigration of the thrifty and
freedom here from inherited burdens OF life
and industry in the old world monarchies their
costly wars and naYieS, their vast taX-consum-
ing standing armies, despite twenty years of
peace, that Republican rule and policy have
managed to surrender to Great Britain along
with our commerce, the control of the markets
of the world. Instead of the Republican party's
British policy we demand on behalf of
the American Democracy, an American policy
instead of the Republican party's discredt,
shame and false prctense of friendship to Amer
lean labor, expressed by imposing taxes we de
mand III behalf OF the Democracy, freedom for
American labor, by reducing taxes to the end
that these United States may compete with I'M
hindered powers torpcrnancncy among nations
in all the arts of peace and fruits OF liberty
With profound regret we have been appraised by
the venerable statesman, through whose person
was struck that blow at the vital principle of
the neutrality-suspicious. in the will of the
majority-that he cannot permit us again
| to place in his hands the leadership
of the Democratic host, for the rea-
son that the achievement of reform
| in the administration of the Federal Govern
mcnt is undertaking now too heavy for his
age and failing strength Rejoicing that his life
has been prolonged until the general judgment
of our fellow cogntrymen is united
in the wish that that wrong
were righted in his person for the
Democracy of the United States we offer to
| him in his withdrawal from those cares not
only our respectful sympathy and esteem but
also that best of homage of freemen, the
pledge OF our devotion TO the principles and
the course now inseparablc in the his
tory of this Republic from the name
of Samel J. Tilden. With this state
ment of the hopes principles and pur-
poses of the Democratic party, the great
issue of reform and change in administration is
submitted to the people in calm confidence, that
the popular voice will pronounce in favor of
new men and new and more favorable condi-
lions for the growth Of industry, the extension
of trade, the employment and due reward of
labor and of capital, and the general welfare of
the country.
Butler introduced substitute, and vote by
States being taken, ii was rejected-Aycs VIZ
noes No..
BALLoTING COMMENCED.
The platform was then adopted, and balloting
commenced:
First ballot-Bayard 10, Cleveland S92 Nc
Donald %, Randall IS, Thurman S. Carlisle %.
Hoadly 8, Hendricks !, Tiden l, Flower 1. To-
tai, SD
ADJOURNMENT.
| a. Mater the result of the first ballot a
motion was made 70 adjourn, which was carried.