Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-07-11

citizens the acts of its Congress were
oserset by the decisions Of its court. Ii
accepts anew tho duty of leading in the
work ot progress and reform !" its caught
criminals arc permitted to escape through
contrivcd delays or actual connivance in
tho prosecution. HOnoycUmbod with cor.
ruptton, outbreakiug exposures no longer
shock it's moral sense. Its honest members,
its independent Journals no longer main
tain n successful contest for authority In
its counsel or a veto upon bad nomina
tiOns.
Tho Question at raNttiJn.
That change IL necessary IL proved by
an existing surplus Of moro than sl0O,.
1900, which has yearly been collected
from suffering people. Unnecessary
taxation is unjust taxation. We depouucc
the Republican party for having failed to
relieve tho people from crushing war
taxes, which have paralysod business,
crippled Industry, and deprived labor of
employment and of just reward,
Tho Democracy pledges itself to purify
the administration from corruption, To
restore ccouomy, 10 revive respect for law
aud to reduce taxation tD the lowest limit
consistent with due regard 60 the prcser
Vatton of the faith of the nation to its
creditors aud pensioners. Knowing full
well, however tina. legislation affecting the
occupations ot the people should bo eau
tluns aud conservative IN method, not in
advance of public opinion but responsive
To its demands tho Democratic party Is
pledged To revise the tariff IN spirit Oi
fairness to all interests. But In making
reduction IN taxes 1t is not proposed 70
injuro any domestic industries, blt rather
to promote their healthy growth. From
the iOundatiou of this government taxes
collected at tho custom house have been
the chief source of federal revenue. Such
they must continue to be. Moreover,
many industries have come To rely upon
legislation for successful continuance, 80
that any change of law must DO at every
step regardful of the labor and capital thus
involved. The process of reform must be
subject In the execution to this plain
dictate of Justice. All taxation shall be
limited 10 the requirements of economical
government.
The necessary reduction in taxation can
and must be effected without depriyiug
American labor of the ability to compete
successfully with foreign labor, and with
out imposing lower rates of duty than will
be ample to cover any iucre Lsed cost of
production which may exist In consequence
Of the higher rate of wages prevailing in
this country, Sufficient revenue to pay
all the expenses of the federal government
economically administered, including pen
sions, interest and principal of the public
debt, can DO got, under our present sys.
tenn OF taxation, from custom house
taxes on fewer imported articles, bearing
heaviest on articles Of luxury and bearing
lightest on articles of necessity. We
therefore denOuncc the abuses of the ex
listing tariff, aud. subject to the preceding
limitations, We demand that federal taxa.
tiOn shall bo exclusively tor public pur
poses, and shall not excel tho needs OF
the government economically admins.
tered.
The system of droc: taxation known az
the Internal Rsvenus' is a war tax, aud
30 long as the law continues the money
derived therefrom should be sacredy de =
voted 10 the relief OF tho people from tho
remaining burdens of the war, and be
made fund to delrly the expenses of the
care and comfort OF worthy soldiers, dis
ablcd in tine line of duty in the wars of the
republic, and for the payment OF such
pensions as Congress may from time 10
time grant to such soldiers. like fund for
the sailors having been already provided,
and any surplus should be paid into the
treasury.
Wpat the Democracy Fsvors.
We favor an American continental
policy, based upon more intimate CONNER.
cial aud political relations with the fifteen
sisters republics of North, Central aud
South America, but entanglng alliances
with none.
We believe in honest money, the gold
aud silver coinage of the constitution
nj nir Ii
into such money without loss. As
serting the equality of all men before the
law.
We hold that it is the duty OF the gov
ernment IN its dealings with the people
to mete out equal aud exact justice u
all citizens of whatever nativity,
race, color or persuasion, religious or
political.
We believe IN free ballot and fair
count, and We recall To the memory of the
people the noble struggle of the Democrat,
IN the Forty fifth and Forth sixth Con
crosses by which q reluctant Republican
opposition was compelled to assent to
legislation making everywhere Illegal the
presence of troops at the polls, as tn,
conclusive proof that Democratic
administration will preserve liberty with
order.
The selection Of federal officers for the
territories should be restricted to citizenI
previously resident therein.
We oppose sumptuary laws which vex
the citizen and interfere with individua
liberty We favor honest civil service re.
forms and the compensation of all UniteC
States officers by fixed salaries tho
separation of church and state and tht
diffusion of free education by common
schools, SO that every child in the land mi
be taught the rights and duties of citizen
ship.
While we favor all Legislation which viii
tend to the equitable distribution o
property TO the prevention Of monopoly
and to the strict enforcement of individua
rights against corporate abuses, we hole
that the welfare OF society depends upon O
scrupulous regard for the rights of prop
erty as defined by law.
We believe that labor is best rewarded
where it is freest and most enlightened
1t should therefore be fostered anC
cherished. We favor the repeal of al
laws restricting the free action of labor
and the enactment Of laws by which labo
organizations may be Incorporated, anC
all such legislation as will tend to enlightsl
tho people as TO the true relation of capita
and labor.
We believe that tho public lands ought
as far as possible, to be kept as homestead
for actual settlers that all unearned land
heretofore improvidently granted to rail
road corporations by the action of the
Republican party should be restored to the
public domain, and that no more grants o
land shall be made to corporations or b,
allowed to fall into the ownership of alieI
al