Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-07-26
THE PLATFORM.

| THE PLATFORM.
The democratic party of the Union. through
Its representatives in National Convention as
seInbied. recognize that rs the nation grows
older new issues are born OF time and progress,
and Old Issues perish. But the fundamental
principles OF the democracy, approved by the
united voices OF the people. remain and will ever
remain US the best and only security for the con-
personal rights the equality OF all citizens before
The law. the reserved rights OF tue states and the
limits of the constitution will ever form The true
basis of our liberties and can never be surren-
dpred without destroy ing that balance of rights
/ and powers which enables u continent to be de-
| velopcd in peace. anu social order to be main
tanned by means oil local selfgovernment; but 1t
Is Indispensable for the practical application
and enforcement Of these fundamental prnc-
| piles that the government should not always be
controlled by one political party. Frequent
change OF administration is Us necessary con-
stant recurrence to the popular will. Otherwise
i abuses grow. and the government. instead of
being carried on for the general welfare, be-
| comes an insirumentality for imposing heavy
burdens on the many who are &: g:'vernri. for the
bene at OF the few who xoyern ru6llc servants
condition of the country-hence II change ID de
,nanded. The republican party, so far as prin-
| cipie Is concerned, is n reIninescence. In prac
| lice II Is organization for enrictrng those who
cuntrOl its machinery The frauds and j"bbcry
| which have been brought to light in every de-
partment OF the gove nment are su uthcient 4, have
| called 1nr leiOrm within the republican party.
| Yet those IN authority, made recE less by the
| its corrupting influence and have placed
| nomination II ticket against which the Independ-
| ent portion of the party are in open revolt.
A CHANGE DEMANDED.
Therefore II change is demanded. Such II
| change was alike necessary in ia.6, Tut The. viii
| of the people WAS then defeated by fraud
| which can never be forgotten nor cOnl,ned.
| Again, in 1880, the change demanded 10y the
| people WAS defeated by the lavish use "f money
contributed hy unsc, ,upnons contractors and
shamsless Iohets whn hnn 'arSanrn % inf m
party during Its legal. It's stolen ami i's bought
| tenures of power has steadily iecaye'l IN moral
| character and p0lical capacity. Its platform
promises are now a list of its past failures. 1t
| demands the restoration Of our navy; II has
| sIuandered hundreds 0i millions to create
| navy that does not exist Ii calls upon congress
| to remove the burdens under which American
| shipping has been depressed; il imposed and
has continued those burdens: 1t Processes li,
| policy of reserving the public lands for small
| holdings by actual settlers; il has given away
the peoples heritage till now few railroa,is
| and non resident aliens, Individual and cOrpU-
| rate, POSSESS larger area than that OF all our
| farms between the two oeeas.
REPUBLICAN FALSE PRETkNsEs.
1t Processes II preference for free Institutions;
it organized and tried to legalize a control of
| desire to elevate labor; 1t has subjected Amcri-
can workngmen to the competition OF convict
| aud imported contract labor. 1t processes graft
tude to all who were disabled or died in the
| war, leaving widows and orphans; it left to Il
| democratic house of representatives to equnlize
both bOuntirs and pensions. 1t pIOfrrs u pledge
to correct the irregularities OF our tariff; it
created and has continued them. lis own tirif
| commission confessed the need OF more than 20
per cent reduction ;its congress gave Il reduction
Of less than per cent. II processes the proter-
tiOn Of American manufactures, II has subjected
them to increasing Hood OF manufactured
goods and hopeless competition with manu-
featuring nations, not one of which taxes raw
| materials. 1t processes to protect all American
in.In / hASi i'm worn SlaII In hat
dIZe few. 1t Processes the protection OF Amer
lean labor; it has depleted the returns of Amsri-
our people 1t processes the equality Of all men
before the law attempting To H. the status of col
ell ctizens the acts of its congress were Overset
by the decisions Of its courts. IL "accppts anew
the duty of leading in the work Of progress and
reiorm;'' Its caught criminals are permitted to
escape through cOntrived delays or actual con-
nivance III the prosecution. HOney-combed with
corruption, outbreakins exposures no longer
shock Its moral sense. Its honest members. its
independent journals no longer maintain u sue
cessiul contest for authority in its councils or u
veto upon bai nominations. That change is
| n-cassary is proved by an existing surplus Of
more than 3lUO 900 900, which has yearly been
| cnilectcd from II suffering people. Unnecessary
ta xation is urjust TAXATION. We dennunce the
republican party for tving failed To relieve the
people from crushing war taxes which have
paraIvZ-d business. crippled industry and de-
priv,d labor of employment and Of just reward.
The democracy pied Ees itself 10 purify the adm
Illustration from corruption to restore economy,
revive respect tor law and TO reduce taxation
to the lowest limit consistent with due regard
to the preservation Oi the faith OF the nation 10
Its creditors and pensioners.
THE TARIFF PLANK
Knowing full we'll. however, that Legislation
affecting The operations of the people should he
cautious and conservative in m. .Lhud, not in All
vance of public opinion but respnn-iv- To its de-
| msnd5, the democratic PARTY Is pledged to re-
wise the tnrin In spirit "l fairness 10 all intrr-
esls. But making reduction IN taxes. II ls
not proposed to init any domestic Industries,
| but raher to promote their healthy growth.
From the foundation of this government, taxes
collected at the custom house have been the chi"i
| source ut federal revenue. Such they must cun-
time to be. Moreover, many Industries hav"
come to rely upon legislation Tor successful con-
| tinnanre so that any change OF law must he at
| every step regardiul of the labor and capital
| thus involved, the process of reform must be,
subject in the execution to this plain dictate oi
Justice A taxation shall he limited to the re
quIrements of economical government. The
| he effected without depriVing Americ"h labor
| OF the ability TO compete sncce sluily with for
eign labor, and without imposing lower rates OF
duty than " i'll he ample to cover any increased
| cDsi OF production which may exist IN conse-
quenca Of the higher rate OF wages prevailing in
this country. Sufficient revenue to pay all the
expenses of the federal government economl-
cally administered. including pensions. inter-
eat and principal of the public debt. can be got,
under our present system of taxation, from Gus
tOm-houses taxes on fewer imported articles.
bearing heaviest on articles OF luxury aud bear
lore denounce the abuses of the exIs,ns tnrif
and. subject to the preceding limitations, we
demand that federal taxation shall he exclusive
Iy for public purposes, and shall not exceed the
ne, ds of the government economically niminis-
tered. The system OF direct taxation known Ut
the "internal revenue" is a war tax. and. ST
long ~ the law continues, the money levied
ther.irom should be sacredly devoted to the re
lleI OF the people from the reuaing burdens O
the war and be made fund TO Il, fray the expense
OF the cure and comfort ot worthy soldiers disa
bled in line oil duty in the wars ui the republic
ami for the payment of such pensions us con
gress may from tune to time grant 10 such sol
dicrs- like fund for the sailors having been al
ready provided-and any surplus should be pal,
| INTO the treasury.
THE DEMOCRACY BELIEVES IN HONEST MONEY
We favor un American continental polio.
| basel upon more Intimate commercial and pD
liilcul relations with the tiiern SISTER republic
oil North, Central and South America, but en-
tanelIng alliances with none. We believe II
honest money. the gold amt silver coinage Of tn
constitution. and IL circulating medium c"nverl
bIe into such money without loss. Asserting
the equality Ot all men before the law, we hol
thn IT 10 the duty OF the government III It's deal
in5e with the people, to mrte out cquai AMI eA
act justice 10 AL citizens, of Whatever nativity
race, color or peTsuhaion, religious or political
| We believe in IT free ballot and iair count. an
We recall 10 the memory of the people the nobl
Struggle OF the democrats IN The Fort y-iiii
| lFnrty-siA III cOngressrs by whicn u reluctant rr
publican opposition was compelled 10 assent
Legislation maxi ing everywhere illegal the pres
-nce oil troops Ut the puiis, MS the cOnclusiy
| proof that democratic administration will pre-
d. serve liberty with order. The selection OF led
| erul officers for the territories should he y,
| strcted 10 citizens previously resident therein
HONKsr CIvIL-sERvICE REFORM.
We oppose sumptIary laws which vrX III
citizen and Interfere with indiv i,iual liberty
We favor honest civil service reform. and III
: compensation of all United StuIrs officers Il
fixed salaries; the separation Of church in
stale, and the diffusion uf Tree education |,
cunIiIun schools, SO that every child IN the Ian
may be taught the rights and duties OF ciIIL"i
ship. While we favor al! Legislation which WI
tend to the rqiIi table die button OF property.
ie the prevention of monopoly aud To the
torcement oi Individuals rights against corp,
rate abuses, We hold that the welfare nl sucI-
depends upon "A scrnpulou- regard lOr the righ
OF property ns defined 10y law.
PROTECTION TO LABOR.
ei We believe that labor is best rewarded " he
IL 1t freest and most enlightened. IL shou
therefore be- Io-tritn and cherished. We ttv.
the repeal Ot all laws Le-trictln" thr IRE" ;trI,
pI labor ami the rnncinirut of laws hy win,
labor organizations may he Incorporated. IA
OF all such legislation ~ viii tend 10 rnlIrht,
'e the people TO the True relutinns al capital
labor. We believe that the public land uu g!i
us far as possible, 10 he h, rt IL, hnm"sie,,is f.
actual settlers; hat all uneHrn"i lands hrrri,
foge improvidrnily granted TO iHllio"i cnrpnI
tons by the action oi the republican pr
should be restOr, Il to the public dnuaIn, ~
that no more grants OF iani sh' b.. I.il;ic
corporations or be allowed Ia tall INTO the
ersiip Of uiItn aD,rnte"s We are upunrtd
all prOpOsitIuns which, upon any pret"Ni won
conveIl the "a nt raj government into Il machi,
for collecting taxes TO he distributed AMONG Il
states q thc,cltiZpus thereof.