The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1884-10-18

naraiy8ed business, crippled industry and de- |
prived labor of employment aud OF Its just
reward.
The Democracy pledges iBoif TO purify the
administration fom corruption aud restore
economy. to revive respect for law and TO re-
duce taxation TO the lowest liuit consistent
with due regard to the preservation Of the
faith OF the nation to creditors aud pension
ers knowing full we'll, however, that legiSla-
tou affecting the occupations Of the people
should be cautious i'll rnethod-not In advance
of public opinion, but responsive to its de-
mande.
The Democratic party is pledged to revise
the tariff in spirit Of fairness TO oil INTEREST
ed But In making Il reduction i'll taxes it is
not proposed to oinjure any domestic industries,
but ra her to promote their healthy growth.
From the foundation of the government tax
collecting at the custom-houSe have been the
chief sourceIof Federal revenue. and such they
must continue to he. Moreover, uany indus.
tries have come to rely upon legislation for
successful continuance, so that any change
of the law must be at every step regardtul OF
laborand capital thus involed. The process
of reform must be subject in the execution TO
the plain dictates of justice. All taxation
shall be limited to the requirement. of eco'
nonical government. The necessary reduc'
> tion in taxes can and must be effected with
out deprivin9 American labor of the ability
TO compete successfully without imposing
lower rates of duty than will be ample to
cover any increased cost OF produotioh whien
may exist In consequence of the high rate or
wages prevailing in the coantry: sufnclent
revenue to pay all the expenses OF the FEEDER
al government, economically administered,
including pensions, interest aud principal OF
public debt, can be got under our present
system of taxation from customhouses, taxes
on few imported articles. bearing heaviest on
articles OF luxury and ltgltest on
articles OF necessity.
We therefore deuounce the abuse of the
existing tariff and subject to the preceding
-Iimitation we demand thar Federal taxation
shall be exclusively for public purposes and
shall not exceed the needs of government
economically adminst cred. The system OF
direct taxation known as the internal reVe.
nue. is a WAR tax, and so long as the law con-
/ tinues the money derived therefrom should
be devoted to the relief af the people from
the remaining burdens of the war, and be
made a fund to defray the expense OF the
care and comfort of the worthy soldiers dis
abled In the line of duty In the wars OF the
republic. and for the payment of such PEN
sious as Congress may. from time to Tune.
I grant to such soldiers. 4 like fund for the
! sailors having been already provided, any
! surplus should be paid into the treasury.
/ We favor an amended continental policy,
| based upon more intimate commercial and
! political relations with the fifteen sister he
publics of North, Central and South America,
but entangling alliances with neue.
We heiieve in honest money; all the gold
/ and silver coinage of the constitution and CIR.
! eulattnR medium convert bic into such money
wiEhout loss.
Asserting the equality OF all men before
the law. we hold that it is the duty OF the
government il lts dealings with the people
to mete cut Equal and exact justice to all
citizens, of whatever nationality, race, cuiof OF
persuasion religious. or political.
We believe in a free ba3as2 and fair count
and we recall TO The memo = of the people the
akr nf fts. tbfs- fapfy
ffth aud forty-sxth Congress by which a re
Iuctaut Republican opposition was compelled
to assent TO legislation making everywhere
illegal the presence of troops 1T the polls al
the conclusive proof that u Democratic ad
ininistratinn was preserved with order.
The selection of Federal officers for ths
Territories should be restricted to citizen;
previously resident therein.
We oppose sumptuary laws which nex th'
citize and interfere with individual liberty
We faver honest civil service retsrm, ant
the compensation of United States officers b.
fixed salaries. the separation OF church ano
State and the diffusion OF FREQ edneittlon by
cuinmon schools, so that every child in th
land may be taught the right andlduties 0
citizenship.
While we favor all legislation which tend
to the euull distribution OF property. to til
prevention of monopoly, and GO the strict On
forcsment of individual rights against corpo
ratio GUGS6t we DDlu tHdS ktc HciInlO oA SoStS
~ depends upon serupulous regard Tor th
rights of property as defined by law w
believe that labor is best rewarded where
is free and most enlighten. 1t should there
fore be cherisheded. We favor the repeal OF a
laws restricting the free action OF labor, ant
the enactment of law by which labor organ
izations may be Incorporated and OF such ies
islation as will tend to enlighten the peopl
as TO the true relations of capital and labor.
We believe that the public lands ought. o
far as possible, to be kept as hoinesteads Tor o.
tuai settlers. that all unearned lands herets
fore inprovidentily granted to railroad co
porations by the action OF sthe Repuoilca
party, should be restored to the public d.
main. and that no more grants of lands sha
] be made TO corporations, or shall be alioWe
: TO fall into tho ownership of alien absentees.
We are opposed TO all propositions, whie
upon any pretext will convert general COVER
: ment into machine for collecting taxes, tot
: distributed among the States or the citlzei
Z thereof.
! Iu reafiirming the declaration OF the Del
ocratic party OF 1865. that the liberal prime
!. pies embodied by jefferson In the declaratl,
i Of Independence and sanctioned IN Il
: constitntion which makes ours II
: iaud of liberty and the asylum OF the o
pressed of every nation. have ever been Cd
dIual principles IN the Democratic party. "
!. : navertheiess, do not sanction the inportatii
: of foreign labor or the admission of seFyI
a
: : Kindred, for absorption III the great hefig
! our people or for the citizenship which o.
! : laws e0nfef. American civilization dealant
: TINT against the immigration or impartHfit
4 OF Mongoiulians to these shores our gates
= closed. The Democratic party insists that
4 is the duty of the government to prote
= with equal fidelity and vigilance the rich
:, of it's eitizens. native audnaturalizetl, at hof
= = and ;sbroati and to the end that, this prate
~ tion may be asserted, United States papers
!, naturalization issued by courts Of compete
i Jurisdiction must he respected by the exec
) i've and egislative departments OF orr oE
! government and by all foreign powers. It
- an imperative duty oil this government
! efficiently protect all the rights OF perso
Il aud property of every American citizen
f foreign lands aud demand and enforce full
T. partition for any invasion thereof. An Ane
Il can citizen is only responsible to his o.
= government for any act done IN his own cor
Z. Z. try or nuder her dtg. and can only be tris
= therefor, ON her soil aud according to her lav
- and 20 power exists n this g0vernlnenmt
~ sxpatrtate all American citizen to be tried
=, aiIv foreign land for any such act This col
-. 70 try has never had well defined and exec
~ 80 ed foreign policy, save under Democratio &
u uinisfratian. That policy has ever been.
=. - regard To foreign nations, that So long as tf
=. do not net detrimental to the interest of
y. country or hnrtful TO our citizens, TO let TIL
< alone. That rs the result OF that policy
=, recall the acquisition of Louisiana. Flori
s Califurnia, and of the aiacsnt Mexican Ttl
ss tory By purchase alone. aud eonstrast th
e. - grand Acquisitions Of Demoeratic statesm
= =, ship with the purchase of Alska-the sole fr
e of q Republican, administration of nearly
all quarter Of century.
l,a The fetleral government should care for .
Its improve the Mississippi river anl other gr
its waterways Of the republic, SO az to sec