The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-08-09
DEMOURaTIO PLATFORM.


representatives in National Convention assembled.
that the naon grows older issues
born OF time and progress and old issues perish, but
the fundamental principles OF Democracy, approved
ever remain, as the best and only security for the
con inuance Office goyernmeat The preservation OF
personal rights, the equality OF all ctizeus before the
law the reserved rights of the states and the supre
macy OF tae Federal Government within the limits OF
the Con stituton, will ever form the true ba is Of
liberties. and can never be surrendered without de-
stroying that baiaac. of rights and powers which
abes continent to be developed in peace and social
order to be maintained By means of local sel:govern
ment.
But it is indispensable for the practical applica
tIon and enforcement OF these fundamental prin-
ciples, that the Government should not always be
controlled b. one political party A frequent change
of administration IS :eSaary the constant
currence to the popular WILL otherwise, abuses grow,
aud the Government. instead OF being carried on for
the general welfare, becomes nstrunentality for inn
posing heavy burdens on the many who governed
for the benefit of the few who govern. Public
wants thus become arbitrary rulers.
This is the conditie of the country.
Hence change is demanded. The Republican
party, far prineiple is concerned, is
"reminiscences; IN praetiee, it is an orsaaiza-
cEinery. The frauds and jobbery which lave been
brought to light in every department of the Govern
ment sui ;ieat to have called for reform within
the Republican party; yet those in authority made
reckless b. the 10 lg possession of power have
cumbei It's corlupting influence, and nave placed
i'll nomination ti.ket against which the independent
II. u
change is demanded. Such ehqnge was alike nece5-
sity il 1875, but the VII; OF tho people then Ge
fea.ed By frlui, which can nevec be forgotten nor
condoaeI Aglia ii 1880 the change demanded by
the people defe ttel by the lavish Of money,
contributed By uasceupulous contractors and shame-
less j"bbers, who iai harsainei for unlawful profits
for high office.
The Re 'ubiican party, during its legal, its
stolen, AID its bonsht te"ures Of power, ha,
sead,ly decayed in moral character and po.itich
acity. It's platform promises list of its
demands >
navy; it has sqHaEGered hundreds ii millions to ere
navy tnat does not exist 1t cais upon coaEre5s
torenoTe t1e bur lens under which American shipping
has been depressed; Is imposed aad has continued
those barless.
II profe the policy of reserving tae publ: lands
Tor small holiiss By aelud settlers It has gTel
away the peoples heritage til n1w few railroads
and alieas individual AID corpcr.te pos
sesS -s ser area tnan that o; al farms between
tie seas 1t Processes preference for free instisl
ton5 it organized and tried 10 lie gai.ze coatrl of
State elections hy federal troops 1t professcs de
sire to elevate LABOR; ithas subjected American work
ingmen 20 the competition OF convict and imported
contract labor. 1t prafaases gratitude to all who
were disabled died in the war, leaving widows and
orphans; it lett to Democratic House of Renresen-
t.tves the first effort to eqaalize both bnntes a d
pensions. 1t nrlffefs pie ge TO correct he rreg
larities Of our tlrif; it created and has continued
them. Its tariff commission confessed the need
OF than % PEI cent reduetionit Congress gave
a reduction Of less than per cent. 1t profeSses the
protection OF american manufacturers; il has sub
Jecsed them tn an Increasing Hood Gf manufactured
goods and hopeless comDet ton with Tla!iufactur
iii nations, not OF which taxes raw material. Il
Processes TO protect all American industries; il has
Impoverished many to subSidiza few. Il processes
the protection Americ labor it has depleted the
returns of American agriculture an industry followed
by half our people. 1t processes the equality OF az
before the laW. Attempting to fix the ttus OF
colored citizens, the % lis Congress
BY the decisions of its II .ccapts anew the
duty of leading in the work OF progress and ref ,rn
its caught criminals permitted to escape through
eontrived delay actual connivance in the pro.e
cution Honeyconbed with corruption. outbreaking
exposures no longer shock its moral SENSE It's hon
est members, its indepeent journals no longer main
tain successful contest for authority in its conSels
o veto upon bad nominations. That change is
essarily proved by existing surplus OF more than
SlC0, 600 000 which has yearly been coectcl from
suffering people Unnecessary taxation Is unjust
taxation.
We denonnce the Republican paIt for having failed
to relieve the people from crushing taxes which
have parllyZed business. crippled industry and de-
prived labor os employment aid OF Just reward. The
Democracy pledges itsslf to purify the admin
| omy, to revive respect for law and to re-
dure taxation to the lowest limit conss:e 1t with due
regard to the preservation of the faith of the nation
to its creditors and pensioners; knowing full WELL
however, that legislation affecting the occupations
of the people should be cautious and conser-
vative in method, not in advance OF public
| opinion, but responsive soi its demands the Demo
cratic party is pledged to revise the tariff in spirit Of
fairness To all interests: but III making reduction in
taxes it is not proposed to injure any domestic indus
tries but rather to promote their thy growth From
TIE Foundation of this Government the taxes collected
at the Custom house have been the chief source OF
| Federal revenue. Such they must continue to b..
Moreover, many Industries have to rely upon
legislation for a successful continuance, that any
change law be every step sardful labor
and capital thus involved ,'The. proces; OF refyrm
must be subject in its execution to this plain dictate
OF justce-Ail taxation shall be limited to the re-
quiremcnts Of economical Government. The
necessary reduction in taxation can and must be af-
fected without deprivg American labor OF the abil-
ty to compete successfully WITH foreign labor, and
without i'm .osng lower rates of duty than will be
ample any increased cost of production which
may exist in consequence Of the higher rate OF
prevailing in this country. Sufficient revenue tn pay
all the expenses of the Federal Government econQ.
icay admins cred including pensions, interest and
| principal of the public debt be got under our
present system OF taxation from Custom house taxes
on fewer imported articles bearing the Eeavlest on
articles Of luxury and bearing ightest articles df
necessity We therefore denounce the abuses of the
existing tariff and subject proceeding Imitation,
demand that Federal taxation sha be exclusively for
public purposes, and shs no: exceed the needs of the
government economically administered. The system OF
direcS taxation known as the "interna revenue, Is
wal tax and long tle law continues the money
received thercfrom should be sacredly devoted the
relief of the people from remaining burdens of the
war; and be made fund to defray the expense Of the
and comfort of worthy soldiers, disabled in the
line Of duty in the wars OF the Republic "nd for tho
payment of such pensions Congress- may from tim
to time grant to such soldiers-a like fund for the
sailors having been already provided-and any sur
| plus should be paid into the treasury.
| We favor American continental policy, based
upon intimate commercial and political relations
with the fifteen sister Republics OF N1rth Central and
south America, but entangling alliances with none
We believe in honest money-the g,lf and silver
coinage of the constitution AMI acTcuating medium
| convertible into such money without loss.
Asserting the equality of all men before the law
We hold that it is the duty CT the Government, in
leangs with the people, to pete oat equal and exact
Justice to all ctzeDs of whatever nativity race, col
persuasion, religious political,
/ We believe in a free ballot al1 fair count, end
We recall to the memory OF the people the noble
struggle Of the Democrats III the Forty fifth and For
tTsixth Congresses, by VIII c reluctant Reub!!ca2
opposition compelled to assent to legislation
making everywhere Illegal the presence Of troops at
| the polls the conclusive IToi that Democratic
administration will preserve liberty with or!e-. The
selection OF Federal officers for the Territories sh0uil
&c restricted to citizens previously resident thereof
We oppose sumptuary laws, which vex the citizens
! and lefeTe with individual liberty.
We flFnr honest civil service reform in corpen-
ati9n of all CI:t1d States offices by fixed lTieS. the
separation OF Church and 5 AMI the diGuion OF
Fee eiua1ion b. schools, 50 that every chill
~ tfe I'd may Ee t4usat the rights and duties OF
citizenship
Wals :. favor all lessiaion waicl vi! tend to
ha aluitahe distribution Of pro a}eTy t. the pgeyen-
rial OF monopoly, a;li to the strct csoceanent OF
tItigtIl rights agan i corobftte abuses, we 1o'd
hat the welfare of society depends On scrupnl KS
re:ard for the rights of property def ed by iaW.
We believe that labor is bes: rewarlel where il is
rcest aud most e,liehteaei II saoutl he fD5t rel
AL cherished Ee favor the repeal OF all the laws
restraining the free action of labor, &H t5 enact
nent OF laws by which labor org lnizatiohs may be
increased AMI of all suc e slation will tend to
eathten the people TO the true relations Of cap
!tal and labor.
We believe that the public l1nls OUGHT as far az
~ossible To be kept home tends for aeuli settlers
that all uncarnej lands haret pfp:e in ,rovidealy
granted to railroad eorporat;ons by the Republican
arty should be restored to the publc domain ami
more grants shall be made to corpora ols. or be al
lowe to full into the ownership Of alien abs
a "A n. n