The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-07-26
THE PLATFORM.
Declaration Of Principles Adopted by
the Democratic National
Convention.


The Democratic party of the Union, through
its representatives in national convention as
sembled recognizes that, as the nation grows
older; new issues are born Of time aud progress
and old issues perish, But the fundamental
principles of the Democracy, approved by the
united voice of the people remain, and will ever
remain rs the best and only security for the con-
tinuance of free government, The preservation
OF personal rights, the equality OF al citizens be-
fore the law the reserved rights of Che States
and the supremacy of the Federal Government
within the limits Of the Constitution will ever
form the true basis OF our liberties and can new
er be surrendered without destroying that bal
atice of rights and powers which enables con.
tinent to be developedin peace and social order
to be maintained by means Of local self-govern.
ment. But II Is Indispensable for the practical
operation and enforcement of these fundamen-
tai principles that the government should not
always be controlled by one political power
Frequent change of administration is as neees-
sary Us constant recurrence to the popular will
Otherwise abuses grow and the government in
stead OF beingcarried on for the general welfare,
becomes an instrmentality for imposing heavy
burdens on the many who are governed for the
benefit of the few who govern. Public servants
thus become arbitrary rulers.
CHANGE DEMANDED
This isnow the condition of the country hence
change Is demanded. The Republican party,
so far as principle Is concerned is a reminis.
0ence. in practice 1t Is an organization for en-
riching those who control its machinery. The
frauds and jobbery which have been brought to
light in every department of the government are
sufficient to have called for reform within the
Republican party yet those in authority made
reckless by the long possession of power have
succumbed to its corrGpting influence and have
placed In nomination ticket against which the
Independent portion OF the party are in open re-
volt.
Therefore change is demanded Such a
change was alike necessary in 1876, but the win
of the people was then defeated by fraud
which can never be forgotten nor condoned
Again in 1880 the change demanded by the peo-
pie was defeated by the lavish use of money
contributed BY INSCRIPTIONS contractors and
shameless jobbers who had bargained for unlaw
ful profits or for high office
REPUBLICAN FAILURES.
The Republican party during its legal, its st0-
len and Its bought tenures OF power, has steadily
decayed in moral character and political capac-
ity. !ts platform promises nre now a list of its
past failures. II demands the restoration of our
navy; II has squandered hundreds of millionsto
create a navy that does not exist. II calls upon
Congress tO remove the burdens under which
American shipping has been depressed; 1t i'm
posed and has continued those burdens. 1t pro-
fesses the policy OF reserying the public lands
for small holdings by actual settlers it has given
away the peoples heritage till now few rail-
roads and nonresident aliens, individual and
corporate, possess larger area than that of all
our farms between the two seas. Il processes a
preference for free institutions; ii organized
and tried to legalize control of state elections
by Federal troops 1t processes desire to ele-
vate labor; IL has subjected American working
men to the competition of convict and imported
contract labor. 1t processes gratitude to all who
were disabled or died in the war leaving wild
ows and orphans; 1t left TO u Democratic House
of Representatives the first effort to cquaize
both bounties and pensions. Itproners pledge
to correct the Irregularities OF our tariff II crea-
ted and has continued them. Its own Tariff
Commission confessed the need Of more than
twenty per cent. reduction; its Congress gave n
reduction of less thnn four per cent. 1t profess
es the protection OF American manufactures; it
has subjected them In an increasing flood of
n homeless
with manufacturing nations not one of which
taxes raw materials. 1t Processes to protect all
10 subsldiEe Il few. II Processes the protection
OF American labor; IL has depleted the returns
OF American agriculture, an industry followed
by half Of our people. 1t processes the equality
OF men before the law. attempting 20 fix the
status of culorcd ctizcnsth the acts OF Its Congress
were 0yerset by the decisions OF Its court II
'accens anew the duty Of leading in the work
of progress and refOrm:" its caught criminals
are permitted to escape through continued de-
LAYS ur actual ronnivance III the prosecution
lioaeyepnbed with corruption, ontbseahins
eApNtlrcs no longer snock its moral sense. Its
honest members ita Independent journals, no
longer maintain successful contest for author
ity IN rs councils or II veto upon bad nomina-
tuns.
Tint change Is necessary Is proved by an ex-
isting surplus oi more than $lO0OOOOOO which
haS ychrlF Flecu collected from suffering pco
pie. unnecessary taxation Is unjust taxation
We denounce tlie Republican party for having
failed to rulicyc the people from crushing wal
taxes, which have pnral yzed business, crippled
industry and deprived labor Of employment and
OF just reward.
NafffAt REDUCING TAXATION &t i,&
The Democracy pledges Itself to purify the nd
ministration from corruption, to restore teoiio
" mypto revive respect for law and 10 reduce tax
O. ution to the lowest limit consistent with due re
gard TO the preservation of the faith Uf the ia
tiOn to its creditors and pensioners Knowing
. full lwel, however. that Legislation affecting thu
occupations the people should be cautious ant
conservative iii method, not in advance of pub
lie opinion hut responsive to its demands, III,
DemOtratic party is pledged to revise the tarit
inraspiTt 9f fairness to all interests. But ID
making reduction in taxes IL Is not proposed Il
injure any domestic industries but rather Il
q promote their healthy growth. From the founda
i tiOn of this government taxes collected al 3 th
Custom House hRe been the tchi,f SQUIRE @
u Federal revenue. such they mnst continue 10 be
Moreover many industries have come TO rel!
upon legislation for successful continuance, 81
y hat any change Of law must be at every step re
saEardfuloftlle labor aud capital thus iny9lted
The process OF reform must be subject in the ex
ecution to this plain dictate of Justice
LABOR MUST BE PROTECTED.
All taxation shall be limited to the reqpire
. ments OF economical government: The neces
sary reduction In taxation can and must be ei
fected without depriving American labor of TIN
ability to compete successfully with foreign Ia
bor and without Imposing lower rates of dut.
than will be ample to cover any increased eos
OF production which may exist i'll consequence
of the higher rate of wages prevailing in thi
country. Sufficient revenue TO pay all the eN
penses of the Federal Government economical
, administered including pensions, interest am
principal of the public debt can he got unde
onr present system OF taxation from Custom
House taxes on fewer imported articles bearn
heaviest on articles OF luxury and bearing ligh
est on articles Of necessity.
We therefore denounce the abuses of the eS
listing tariff and subject to the preceding limita
tions we demand that Federal taxation shall b
exclusively for public purposes and shall moi eS
cecd the needs OF the government economical
administered.
The system Of direct taxation, known as tn
internal revenue, Is a war tax, and so long Il
the law continues the money derived Therefor
should be sacredly deyotcd TO the relief of tn
people from the remaining burdens Of the wal
Nand be made fund 10 defray the expense of tn
cilGand comfort OF worthy soldiers disabled !
thciiHe of duty in the wars OF the Republic, ali
for the payment of such pensions as Congres
may, from time to time, grant 10 such soldiers,
Refund for the sailors having been alread
nr0vided and amy surplus should be- paid int
tAs Treasury. Il
CONTINENTAL pofIeY,
We favor an Americas continental policy ba
ed upon more intimate commercial and polite,
y North, Central and South America, but eAtanj
y ling alliances with none
We believe in honest money, the gold and 81
yer coinage Of the Constitution and eirciaatin
medium convertible into such money -withol
less,
,slnw we hold that II is the duty OF the goseri
.'nient, in its dealings with the people, to me-
.S.ont equal and exact justice 10 all citizens,
asMhniever nativity, race, color or persuasion, r
lgous or political. eto' sA@ stN-
Me,believe in a free ballet aud a fair eou,
and We recall 10 the memory OF the people Il
nublc struggle OF The Democrats in the Fort
fifth and .Forty~sixth Congresses, by which r
luctant Republican opposition was compelled
assent to legislation making evefywhcre ileg
thcpresence Of troops at the polls as the concl
siye proof that Democratic administration wi
preserve liberty with order
frhn snlpntiou of Federal officers for the Teri