The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-08-23
DEMnuRAIIo PLATFORM.

born Of time and progress, and old issues pesh but
the fundamental principles of Democracy, approved
by the united voice of the people, remain, and will
remain, the best aud Only security for the
con, uuance offiee government The preservation OF
persona rights the equality Of all citizens before the
law tho reserved rights of the states, and the supre
macy OF the Federal Government within the limits OF
the Constitution will form the true ba ais of our
liberties, and never be surrendered without de-
stro ing that balance of rights and powers which Ell.
able continent TO be developed in peace and social
order to be maintained by Of local selfgovern-
| ment.
! But It is Indispensable for the practical applica-
| tIon and enforcement Of these fundamental prin-
| ciples that the Government should not always be
controlled by political party. frequent change
of administration IS eSsary n the constant re-
currence to the popular WILL otherwise sbuses grow,
and the Government, Instead of being carried for
the general wefre, becomes an instrunentalty for i'm
posing heavy burdens or the many, VINO are governed
fo- the benefit OF the fpA who govern. Public SER
wants thus become arbitrary rulers.
This is now the eonaitie3 Of f. the country;
party, so f." as principle Is concerned, is a
.ehioery The frauds and jobbery which lave been
brorgh to light in every dep of the Govern
mens are suh ,iens to have called for reform within
the Republican party; yet those in" authorGy made
reckless BY the long ssession of power, have sue
cumbed to its computing influence, and have placed
in nomination ticket against which the independent
portion OF the party in olen revolt. Therefore
! change is demanded. Such change was alike neces-
sy ia 1876, but the will of the people then de-
condonei Agtin in 1890 the change demanded by
the people defeated by the lavish of money,
contributed by nnscsupaons contractors and shame
less ohbars, wac had nargalned for unlawful profits,
or for high Office.
| The ReIuocan party, duriag its legal, its
stolen, aid It's bonsht tenures Of power, has
steadily decayed in moral character ana political
capacity. Its platform promises list OF its
past failures. It demands the restoration of our
navy it has squandered hundreds of millions to Gre
ate navy that does not exist 1t calls upon congress
torenove the burdens under which American shipping
has been depressed; it imposed aaa has continued
those burdens.
1t processes the policy OF rose-vng the public lands
for small holding by acgual settlers 1t has, given
away the peoples heritage till few railroads,
and resident al1ens individual and corporate, pos
sess larger than that Of all our farms between
the seas 1t processes preference for free lnsttu
tions; it organized and tried to lsaEe control of
State elections by federal troops. 1t processes de-
sire to elevate labor; thas subjected American work
ingnen to the composition OF convict ana imported
contract labor. IL professes gratitude to all VINO
disabled died in the war; leaving widows and
orphans it left to Democratic House OF Represen.
tatives the first effort to equZe both bountles a
pensions. 1t profers pie ge to correct the irregu-
l2risies Of tariff it created and has continued
them Its own tariff commission confessed the need
of thar 20 per cent reduction its Congress gave
reduction of less thal per cent. 1t processes the
protection Of American manufacturer; 1t has sub.
iecsed them To an increasing food of manufactured
goods and hopeless compel tion with manufactur-
ing nations, not one of which taxes raw material 1t
processes protect all American industries it has
IMPOVERISHED many to subsidize few. 1t processes
the protection OF American labor it has depleted the
returns OF American agriculture an industry followed
by half our people. II processes the equality OF all
men before the law Attempting to fix the atus OF
colored citizens the acts OF its Congress were overse
BY the decisions of its courts It accepts anew the
duty Of leading in the work of progress and ref 'rm
its caughS criminals permitted to escape through
n contrved delay or act:al connyance in the prose
. cuti0n. Honeycon,bed with corruption outhreakine
exposures longer shock its moral sense. lis hon
est members Us indepeIent journals, no longer main
tain ccessful contest for authority Ill its counse
or a veto upon bad nominations That change is nee
| hl
$100 COO bo0 which he's yearly been collected from
suffering people. Unnecessary taxation is unjT:
> taxation.
We denonlee the Republican party for having faile
to relieve the people from crushing war taxes whic
have paralyzed business, crippled industry and de
prived labor OF employment and OF Just reward The
Democracy pledges itself to purify the admin
stration from corruption, to restore econ
oiny, to revive respect for law and to re
ducs taxation TO the lowest limit consistent with lu
regard The preservation of the faith OF the nation
e to its creditors and pensioners; knowing full well
, however, that legislation affecting the occupation
Of the people should be cautious and consel
Vatiye in method, not ia advance OF publ
- opinion, bat responsive 70 its demands, the Demo
party is pledged to revise the tariff in spirit
10 fairness all interests; but making reduction
- taxes it is not proposed to nure any domestic indus
tries bat rather to promote their healthy growth Fro'
the Foundation OK this Government the taxes colecte
at the Custom house have been the chief source
~ Federal revenue Such they muss continue to b.
" Moreover n,any industries have to rely upo
= legislation for successful continuance, 30 that an
change law must be every step regerful of lab'
be subject in its execution to this plain dieta
1f Of justiceAlI taxation shall be limited to the r
quiremen.s oi al economical Government. Th
n necessary reduction iii taxation can and mu3t be a
fe.ted without depriying American labor OF the abb
TO ty to con, successfully with foreign labor,
. without imposing lower rates Of duty than viii
CT ample any increased cost OF production whi
may exist in consequence Of the higher rate OF wag
as prevailing in this country Sufficient revenue tn ~
all the eS cnses Of the Federal Government econor
IL cay administered including pensions, interest a.
\ principal of the rrb:ic debt, can be got under O
or present system Of taxation from Custom house tax
on fewer imported articles, bearing the heaviest
articles Of luxury and hearing lightest articles
necessity. We therefore denounce the abuses Of Il
existing tariff and subject preeeeiing limitation,
le demand that Federal taxation shall be exclusively
subic pIrpcssa and shsll not exceel the needs Of Il
e, government economically administered. The system
direct taxation, known as the internal revenue,
or tax AMI so long The law continues the mon
received therefrom should be sacredv devo;ed to Il
he relief OF the people from remaining burdens OF
war, and be made fund to deray the expense Of t
e and comfort OF worthy soldiers disabled in Il
line ri duty i'll the The Republic. and for u
G. payment OF such pensions Congre mty from tin
to time grant to su3h soldiers Ike fund for Il
sailors having been already provided-and any 81
re plns should be paid into the treasury.
We favor an American continental policy, bas
m upon m re inSimate commercial and political reatio
with the fifteen sister Republics OF Norh Central al
ne South h,mericl, but entsngng alliances with none.
We believe in homes. money-the gDld and sis
n, coinage OF the constitution an circulating medu
= convertible into such money without loss
Asserting the elnalisy of all men S before the
dealings with the people, to mete out equal and exa
justice to all citizens OF whatever nativity, race,
persuasion religious political.
n- We believe in fre3 ballot alt1 fair count al
we recall to the memory OF the people the not
ly struggle of the Democrats in the Fortyfth and FC
tv-sNth Congresses, by which reiuct mt Republics
a opposition compelled to assent to eSislati
making everywhere Illegal the presence Of troops
the polls the conclusive proof that Democrat
administration will preserve liberty with order. T
selection OF Federal officers for the Territories shou
be restricted to citizens previously resident thereof
We oppose sumptuary laws, which yex the citize
to and ntcfere with Individual liberty
We favor an honest civil service reform in conpe
l. saton of al United States offices by fixed salaries
separation OF Church and State and the diffusion
free education b. N schools, that every chi
in the land MAY be taught the rights and duties
citizenship.
e1 While We favor all legislation which will tend
" the equitable distribution OF property to the p-eve
rv ton OF monopoly, and TO the strict enforcement
) individual rights against corporate abuses, we no
90 that the welfare OF society depends a scrupuo
regard for the rights of property dei ed by law
We believe that labor is best rewarded where IL
freest and most enlightened. II should be fostar
and cherished We favor the repeal of all the la
h. restraining the free action OF Labor and the
i'0 ment Of laws by which labor organizations may
y, increased AMI Of all such sisatina will tend
enlighten the people to the true relations of cs
ita and labor.
We believe that the public lands ought as far
possible, to be kept home te ads Tor actual settle
that all unearned lands heretofore inioroviden:
granted to railroad corporations by the Republic
paxty should be restored to the public domain and
! more grants shall be made tn corporations. be
h lowed to fall into the ownership Of alien absente
We opposed To all propositions which, upon a
ata pretext would convert the general Government il
machine for the collection of taxesto be distrbut