St. Landry democrat., 1884-07-19
aTha Democratic party insists that 4


with ennal fidelity and vigilance the
rights of its citizens, native ana natural,
lied, at home and abroad; to the end
that this protection may be assured
United States papers of naturalization
issued by courts of competent Jurisd1c-
ton must be respected by the executive
and legislative departments OF our own
government and by all foreign powers.
1t is an imperative duty OF this govern
ment TO efficiently protect all the rights
of persons and property OF every Amer
lean citizen in foreign lands, and de-
mand and enforce full reparatlon for
any invasion thereof.
AN AMERICAN CITIZEN IN ONLY REsPoN-
SIBLE
to his own government for any act done
in his own country, or under her flag,
and can only be tried therefor on bis
own soil and according to her laws, and
no powers exists in this government to
expatriate an American citizen to be
tried in foreign land for any such act.
This country has never had q well-de-
fined and executed
FOREIGN POLICY,
save under Democratic administration.
That policy has ever been in regard to
foreign nations, SO long as they do not
act detrimental to the interests of the
country or hurtful to our citizens, to let
them alone, that as the result of this
policy we recall the acquisition OF LOui-
siana, Florida, California, aud of the
adjunct Mexican territory by purchase
alone, and contrast these grand acquisi-
lions of Democratic craftsmanship with
the purchase of Alaska, the sole fruit OF
a Republican administration of nearly a
quar- ter OF q century.
"The Federal government should care
for and
IMPROVE THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
and other great waterways of the re-
public so as to secure for the interior
States easy and cheap transportation to
tidewater.
"Under long period of Democratic
rule and policy
OUR MERCHANT MARINE
was fast overtaking, and on the point
OF outstripping that of Great Britain;
under twenty years OF Republican rule
and policy, our commerce has been left
to British bottoms and almost has the
American flag been swept Oft the high
seas.
Instead of the Republican party's
British policy we demand for the people
of the United States an American poll
cy. Under Democratic rule our mer-
chants and sailors flying the stars and
stripes in every port, successfully
searched out a market for the varied
products of American industry; under a
quarter century of Republican rule and
policy, despite our manifest advantage
over all other nationsln high paid labor,
favorable climate and teemiDg soils, de-
spite the freedom OF trade among all
these United States, despite their pOpu-
latiOn by the foremost races of men and
annual immigration of the young, the
hardy adventure of all nations, despite
our freedom here from the inherited
burdens of life and industry in the old
world monarchies, these costly, far-fam-
ed navies, their vastly consuming, nom
producing standing army; despite TWEEN
ty years of peace, the Republican rule
and policy have managed to surrender
10 Great Britain along with our COM
MERGE the control of the markets of the
world.
Instead of the Republican party's
false pretense of friendship for Ameri-
can labor expressed by imposing a tax,
we demand, in behalf of the Democracy,
freedom for American labor by reducing
taxes, to the end that these United
States may complete with unhindered
powers for supremacy among nations in
all the arts of peace and fruits of liber-
"Witll profound regret we have been
appraised by the venerable statesman
through whose person was struck the
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 of the Dem
ocratic host, for the reason that the
achievement of reform in the admins
tration of the Federal governments is an
undertaking too heavy for his age and
failing strength. Rejoicing that his life
has been prolonged until the general
Judgment of our fellow countrymen is
united in the wish that wrong were
righted in his person, for the Democracy
of the United States we offer to him, in
his withdrawal from public life, not on
ly our respectful sympathy and esteem,
but also that best homage of freedom,
the pledge of our devotion to the princi-
Piles and the cause now inseparable in
the history of this republic from the la
bors and the name of Samuel j. Tilden.
"With this statement of the hopes,
principles and purposes of the Demo-
cratic party, the great issue of reform
and change in administration is submit
ted to the people in calm confidence that
the popular voice will pronounce in ia
vOr of new men and new and more IA
vorable conditions for the growth of in
dustry, the extension of trade, employ.
ment and due reward of labor and of
capital, and the general welfare of the