, 1884-07-11
soldiers disabled in line Of duty in the

5olulerS ulSaDleu IN line oil duty IN the
wars of the Republic, and for the pay
ment of such pensions as Congress may
from time to time grant to such soldiers,
a like fund for the sailors having been a.
ready provided, and any surplus should
be paid into the Treasury.
We favor an American Continental pol
icy based upon more intimate commercial
and political relations with the fifteen sis
ter republic of North, Central and South
America, but e%ntailing alliances with
none.
We believe in hoGest money, the gold
and silver coinage of the constitution 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 government
in it dealing with the people to mete out
equal and exact justice to all citizens of
whatever nativity, race, color or persua-
sion, religious or political.
We believe in 4 free ballot and a fair
count, and We recall to the memory of the
people the noble struggle of the Demo
Gratis in the forty-ffth and forty-sixth
Congresses, but which a reluctant Repub-
lican opposition was compelled to assent
to legislation, making everywhere illegal
the presence of troops at the polls, as the
conclusive proof that 4 Democratic ad-
ministration will preserve liberty with
order.
The selection of
FEDERAL OFFICERS FOR THE T%ERRrToRIEs
should be restricted to citizens previously
resident therein.
We oppose sumputary law which vex
the citizens and interfere with individual
liberty.
We favor honest civil service reform
and the compensation of all United States
officers by fixed salaries, the separation of
church and state, and the diffusion of free
education by common schools, so that
every child in the land may be taught the
rights and duties of citizenship.
We believe hat labor is best rewarded
where it is freest and most enlightened.
1t should, therefore, be fostered and
cherished. We favor the repeal of all
laws restricting the free action of labor
and the enactment of laws by which labor
organizations may be incorporated, and of
all such legislation as will tendt to ~enlighten
the people as to the true relations of CAPT
tai and labor. We believe that the pub
lie lands ought, as far as possible, to be
kept as homesteads for actual settlers, that
all unearned lands heretofore IMPROVE
IDENTIFY granted to railroad corporations by
the action of the Republican party
should be restored to the public
domain, and that no more grants of land
shall be made to corporations, or be al
lowed to fall into the ownership of alien
absentees.
We do not sanction the importation of
foreign labor or the admission of ~seryile
races untitled by habits, training, religion
or kindred for absorption with the great
body Of our people.
The Democratic party insists that it is
the duty of the government to protect,
with equal fidelity and vigilance, the
rights of its citizens, native and natural
lied, at home and abroad.
The Federal Government should care
for and improve the Mississippi river and
other great water ways of the Republic,
SO as to secure for the interior States easy
and cheap transportation to tide water.
Instead of the Republican party British
policy we demand for the people of the
United States an American policy under
Democratic rule and policy, our merchants
and sailors flying the stars and stripes in
every port, to successfully search out a
market for the varied products of Ameri-
can industry.
We demand, in behalf of the American
Democracy, an American policy instead
of the Republican party's discredited
scheme and false pretenses of friendship
to American labor, expressed by imposing
taxes.
We announce, in behalf of the Demo-
cracy, freedom for American labor by re-
ducing taxes, to the end that these United
States may compete with unhindered
powers for the permanency among nations
in all the arts of peace and fruits of
liberty.
With profound regret we have been APP
prised by the venerable statesman,
through whose person was struck that
blow at the vital principle of republics,
acquiescence in the will of the majority.
that he cannot permit us again to place in
his hands the leadership ofthe Democratic
host for the reason that the achievement
Of reform in the administration of the
Federal Government is an undertaking
o too heavy for his age and failing
strength, Rejoicing that his life has been
prolonged until the general judgment of
our fellow c%ountrymen 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 with
drawal from public cares, not only our
respectful sympathy and esteem, but also
that best homage of freemen, the pledge
of our devotion to the principles and the
cause now inscperable in the history of
this Republic from the labors and the
name of Samuel j. Tilden.
With this statement of the hopes, prin-
ciples and purposes 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