Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1884-07-24

,crupulous regard for the rights Of
as defined by; law.
LABOR AND LAND.
We believe that labor is best re-
warded where it Is freest and most
enlightened. 1t should therefore be
fostered and cherished. We favor
the repeal Of laws restricting the
free action Of labor and the enact
ment OF laws by which labor organic
cations may be incorporated, and Of
all such Legislation as will tend to en-
tighten the people as to the true re-
lations OF capital and labor; believe
that the public lands ought, as far
as possible, to be kept as home
steads for actual settlers that ell un-
earned lands heretofore improvident-
ly granted to railroad corporations by
the action Of the Republican party
should be restored to the public do
main, and that no more grants Of
land shall be made to corporations
or be allowed to fall into the owner
ship of alien ahsentees.
We are opposed to all propositions
which, upon any pretext, will con-
vert the general government into a
machine for collecting taxes to be
distributed among the states or the
citizens thereof.
FOREIGN POLICY.
In reaffirming the declaration Of
the Democratic platform of 1856,
that ''the liberal principles embodied
by Jefferson in the Declaration of
Independence and sanctioned in the
constitution, which make ours the
land of liberty and the asylum Of
the oppressed Of every nation, have
ever been cardinal principles in the
Democratic faith" we nevertheless
do not sanction the importation Of
foreign labor or the admission of
servile races, untitled by habits of
training, religion or kindred for abb
sorption into the great body Of our
people, or for the citizenship which
our laws confer. American civiliza-
ton demands that against the imml-
grafton or importation Of Mongolians
to these shores, our gates be closed.
The Democratic party insists that it
lis the duty Of this government to
protect, with equal fidelity and Wig
lance the rights Of its citizens, na-
tive and naturalized, at home and
abroad, and to the end that this pro-
lection may be assured, United
States papers of naturalization is
sued by courts of competent juris-
diction must be respected by the ex-
ecutive and legislative departments
Of our own government, and by all
foreign powers. Its an imperative
duty Of this government to efficient
ly protect all the rights Of persons
and property Of every American
citizen in foreign lands, and demand
and enforce full reparation for any
invasion thereof. An American citi.
zen is only responsible to his own
government for any act done in
his own country or under her flag,
and can only be tried therefor on hel
own soil and according to her laws
and no power exists in this govern
ment to expatriate an American citi'
zen to be tried in any foreign land
, for any. such act. This country has
never had well-defned aud execut
ed foreign policy save under Demo
cratic administration. That. policy
!, has ever been, in regard to foreign
3 nations, so long as they do not &C
a detrimental to the interests of tn.
3 country or hurtful to our citizens, t.
& let them alone. That as a result O
this policy we recall the acquisition
b of Louisiana, Florida, California ans
8 Of the adjacent Mexican territory b,
J. purchase alone, and contrast thes'
9 grand acquisitions of Democrat
craftsmanship with the purchase o
: Alaska, the sole fruit of Republi
J. can administration Of nearly a quar-
: ter of century.
II THE MISSISSIPPI.
h The federal government shoul
% care for and improve the Mississippi
II river, and other great water way
: of the republic, so as to secure fc
!. the interior states easy and chea
h transportation to tide water.
MERCHANT MARINE.
Under long period Of Democrat
a rule and policy, our merchant marir
le was fast overtaking and on the poir
J. Of outstripping that of Great Britain
1t Under twenty years Of Republics
is rule and policy our commerce h'
,r been left to British bottoms, ar
l. almost has the American flag bee
ir swept off the high seas. Instead
y the Republican party's British polit
Of we demand for the people OF Il
I'd United States an American polio.
III Under Democratic rule and polit
IN eur merchants and sailors, flying Il
g. stars and stripes in every port, su
be cessfully searched out a market I
be the varied products Of Americ'
ic industry.
ty Under a quarter Of q century
Republican rule and policy, despl
Or our manifest advantage over all 9th
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