Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-09-07
POLITICAL.

-
including pensions and Interest and principal Of
the pbblIc debt, can be got under our present
aystem uf taxation from custom.houso taxes on
fever imported artioss boanng heaviest on ar.
ticlss Of luxury aDd bearing lightest on article.
II Nc cesslty We therefore denounce the abuses
u the etis Ing tariff and. subiest 70 these lint.
tations, We demand that Fetera taxation shall
be exclusively for public purposes aud shall not
sroesd the needs o. the Government. sconoml'
e4lly admnstered,
internal revenue Il war TAI and 80 long as the
law continues the duty derived thereffom should
DO sacredy devoted 10 the r. lief Of the people
from the remaining burdens Of tho var and bs
made a fund 10 Ctray the expense Of the care
and comfort Of worthy .oidiers disabled in ths
line Of duty In tho wars Of the republic and foi
me ~ syment Of sticn pc aions Congress may
from Time 10 time giant 70 such soldiers. like
fund Tor the sailors having boon already provid
od. and any surplus should be paid into the
treasury
We favor an American continental policy,
based on more Intimate commercial and political
relations with the fifteen sister republics ol
North, Central and South America, but entangng
alliance With rome.
We believe in honest money, the gold and sll
yer coinage, and Of the cultivation and rcula
tion Of a m dium convertible into such money,
without loss.
Asserting the equality Of all men before the
-
ment In its dealings with tho people TO mete out
equal and exact Justice TO ali citizens, of what
ever nativity. race color or PERSUASION religious
or political
and we recall to the memory Of the people the
noble struggle Of the Democrats in the Forty
hfth and forty sixth Congresses, by which re-
luctant Republican opposition was compelled "a
assent TO legislation making everywhere Illegal
the presence Of troops at the polls, the con
cinsive proof that Democratic administration
siil preserve liberty with order.
The election Of Federal officers for the Terri
orios should be restricted TO citizens previously
resident therein.
We opposo sumptuary laws, which vex the citl
zen and Interfere with individual liberty.
We favor honest civil service reform, the com
pensaton Of all United States officers by hxod
salaries, the separation oi Church and State and
the diffusion Of free education by common soho is
80 that every child In the land may be taught tho
RI hts and duties Of citizenship.
While We favor all legislation which will tend
TO the equitable distribution Of property, 10 the
prcyeption OF monopoly and 20 the strict en-
forcement Of individual rights against corporate
abuses, we hold that the welfare Of society dc.
pends on a scrupnlous regard for the rights Of
property as defined by law. We believe that Ia
Dor Is best rewarded whore II Is freest and most
enlightened IL should be fostered and cherish
Cd. We favor the repeal Of all laws restoring the
free action Of labor and the enactment Of laws
by which labor organizations may be increa- ed
and Of all such legislation as will tend to en-
tighten the people as TO the true rotations OF
capital and labor.
We believe that the public lands ought. as far
AS possible, 70 be kept as homesteads for actual
settlers; that all unearned lands heretofore i'm
1roviientiy granted 10 railroad corporations by
he action OF the Repub lean party, should be
restored to the public domain and no more
grants shall be made TO corporations or be al ow-
ed 10 fall into the ownership OF alien absentees
We are opposed 10 all propo tiens which, up
IN any pretext, would convert the general Gov
ernnert into machine fol the collection Of tax
% TO be distributed amoug the States or the citi
zens thereof
In effect the declaration OF the Democratic plat
form OF 1856 that "Tht liberal principle m
bodied by Jefferson In the Declaration OF lnde-
peDdence and sanctioned In the Constitution,
which make ours the land OF liberty and the asy-
lum Of the oppressed Of every nation" have ever
been the cardinal principles In the Democratic
faith. We, nevertheless do not sanction the i'm
portation Of foreign labor or the admission Of
servie races. untitled by habits training. religi
on or kindred, for absorption into the great body
Of our people. or for the citizenship which our
laws confer. American civilization demands
that against the immigration or importation Of
MoDgolidns to these shores our gates be closed.
The Democratic party insists that 1t Is the
duty Of the Government to protect with equal
fidelity and vigilance the rights Of its citizens--
native aud naturalized-at home and abroad,
and TO the end that this protection may be as
sured, the United States papers OF naturalization,
Issued by courts OF competent jurisdiction, must
be respected by the execu i've and legislative de-
partments Of our own Government and by all
foreign Powers.
It IL the imperative duty Of this government
to efficiently protect all the rights Of her SONS
and tho property OF every American citizen In
foreign lands and demand and enforce full repair
alton for any invasion thereof An American
citizen is only responsible to his own govern
ment for any act done In his country or under
her flag and laws, and can only be tried therefor
on hor own soil and according to her laws. and
no power exists In this government to expatriate
an American citizen to be tried In any foreign
land for any such act.
This country has never had wedefined and
educated foreign policy save under q Democratic
ADMINISTRATION. That policy has ever been In re-
gard to foreign nations, so long as they do not
act in manner detrimental to the intere is Of
the country or hurtful to our citizens to let them
alone. As the result of this policy we recall the
acquisition Of Louisiana, Florida, California and
Of the adjacent Mexican territory. by purchase
alone, and contrast these grand acquisitions Of
Democratic craftsmanship with the purchase of
Alaska, the sole fruit Of q Republican admins
tration of nearly quarter Of a century.
The general government should care for and
improve the Mississippi river and the other great
waterways OF the republic, SO as to secure for
the interior States easy and cheap transporta-
tion to tide water
Under the 10 period of Democratic policy
our merchant marine was fast o,ertaking and
on the point of outstripping that OF Great Bri-
tain, Under twenty years Of Republican rule
and policy our commerce has been lost to the
British and almost has the American flag been
kept of the high seas. Instead of the Repuhli'
can party's British policy, we demand for the
people OF the United States an American policy.
Uuder Democratic rule and policy our merchants
and sailors, flying tho stars and stripes in every
port, were successful y,searchng out market for
the varied products OF American industry. In
der quarter Of y century of Republican rule
ana policy, despite our manifest advantages over
all othei nations in high paid labor. favorable
climates and teeming soils; despite the freedom
OF trade among all these United Stat 8; despite
their population Of the foremost races of men.
and annual immigration of the thrifty and ad-
venturous Of all nations; despite our freedom
here from the inherited burdens Of lie and in
dustry in the Old World monarchies, their costly
war navies, their vast tax consuming standing
armies; despite twenty years OF peace, that Re.
publican rule and policy have managed to sur
render to Great Britain, along with our com
merce, the control Of the markets Of the world
Instead Of the Republican partys British policy,
we demand. on behalf Of the American Democ
racy. an American policy. Instead Of the Re-
publican party's discredit, shame and false pre-.
tences of friendship to American labor, expressed
by imposing taxes, we demand in behalf OF the
Democracy, Freedom Of American labor by re-
ducing taxes, to the end that these United
States may compete, with unhindered powers,
TOT supremacy among the nntions IN all tne
arts Of peace and tho fruits OF liberty.
With profound regret we have been apprised
by the venerable statesman, through whose per-
son was struck that blow at the vital principles
of the republic acquiescence in the will Of the
majority that he cannot permit US again to
place in his hands the leadership Of the Demo
cratic host, for the reason that the achievement
OF reform In the administration of the Federal
government is ali undertaking now too heavy for
his age and failing strength Rejoicing that his
life has been prolonged unit the general irte
ment OF our fellow country men is un. ted iii tho
wish that the wrong were righted in his person,
for the Democracy Of the United States we offer
to him in his withdrawal from its cares not only
our respectful sympathy and esteem, but also
that best homage Of frecmen-the pledge OF our
devotion to the principles and the course no.
insep srable in the history of this republic from
the leadership and the name OF Samuel J. Til
den.
With this statement OF the hopes. principles
and purposes CT the Democratic party, the great
issue OF reform and change in administration l.
to the people in the calm confidence
that the popular voice will pronounce in favor of
new men and new and more favorable condi-
lions for the growth of industry the extension of
trade, the employment and due reward Of labor