Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-07-17
The Platform OF the National Demo
cratic Party.

~AeesS
The Democratic party Of the Union, through its
representatives In National Convention assembled,
recognizes that as the nation grows oder new is
are born of time and progress. and old issues
perish. But the fundamental principles OF the
Democracy, approved by the united voice OF the peo-
pie, remain, and will ever remain, as the best and
only security for the continuance OF free govern
ment. The preservation OF personal rights; the
equality Of all citizens before the law, the reserved
rights OF the States and the supremacy OF the Fed
eral Government within the limits OF the Consttu-
tion will ever form the true basis of liberties
and can never be surrendered without destroying
that balance Of rights and powers which enables &
continent to be developed, and social order to be
maintained by means OF local self-government.
But 1t Is indispensable for the practical applica-
tlon and enforcement of these fundamental princi-
pies that the Government should not always be con-
troled by one political party. Frequent change OF
administration is as necessary as constant recur-
renee to the popular will. Otherwise abuses grow,
and the Government, instead Of being carried on for
the general welfare, becomes an instrnmentaty lot
impOsing heavy burdens on the many who are gov
erned for the beneht of the few who govern. Public
servants thus become arbitrary rulers.
This is now the condition df the country-hence
change Is demanded. The Republican party, so far
as principle is concerned, is remnscence. In prac-
tice II is an organization for enrichn8 those who
control its machinery. The frauds and Jobbery
which have been brought to light in every depart
mept of the Government are sufficient to have called
for reform within the Republican party. Yet those
in authority, male reckless by the long possession
of power have succombed to its corrupung influence
and have placed In nomination ticket against
which the Independent portion of the party are In
Ofrh Therefore change is demanded. Such change
was alike necessary In 1876 but the will OF the peo-
pie was then defeated by fraud which can never be
forgotten nor condoned. Again, In $780, the change
demanded by the people was defeated by the lavish
of money contributed by unscrupulous Gontrac- &C.
tors and shameless iobbers who had barganed Tor
unlawful profte or for high ONCE.
The Republican party, during its legal its stolen,
and It's bought tenures Of power, has steadily de-
platform promises are now list Of past failures
1t demands the restoration of our navy; 1t has
souandered hundreds of millions to create navy
thate does not exist.
der which American shipping has been depressed;
1t imposed and has continued those burdens
1t processes the policy Of reserving the public
lands for small holdings by actual settlers; 1t has
given away the peoples heritage till now few rail-
roads and nonresident Aliens individual and corpo-
rate posses larger than that of all our farms
between the two seas.
II processes preference for free institutions; 1t
organized and tried to legaliZe control Of State
elections by Federal troops.
1t processes desire to elevate labor; mas SUB
iected Anne rican workngmen to the competition OF
convict and imported contract labor.
It processes gratitude to all who were disabled OF
died in the war; leaving widows and orphans 1t left
to Democratic House Of Representatives the first
effort to equalize both bounties and pensions.
II nrofers pledge to correct the Irregularities of
our tariff it created and has continued them. &
It's own Tariff Commit sion confessed the need OF
more than twenty per cent reduction It's Congress
gave reduction Of less than fourper cent.
1t Processes the protection of American manufac
lures; has subjected them to an increasing Hood
Of manufactured goods and hopeless competition
with manufacturing nations, not one OF which taxes
raw materials. .,t
has Impoverished many to subsidize few.
foo fha pr0tarti0n of American labor. IL
has depleted the returns of American agriculture
an industry followed by half our people.
1t Processes the equality Of all men before the law
attempting to fix thestatus Of coored citizens, the
acts Of its Congress were overset by the decisions of
Il ssaccepts anew the duty of leading in the work
of progress and reform I" its caught criminals are
permitted to escape through contrived delays or
| actual connivance in the prosecution.
| Honeycombed with corruption, outbreaking ex-
posures no Longer shock is moral sense lts honest
tain successful contest for authority In Its coun
ellis or veto upon bad nominations:
That change is necessary is proved by ar existing
surplus of more than $l000 900, which has yearly
been collected from suffering people. Unnecessary
taxation is unjust taxation. /, -.
We denounce the Republican party for having
failed to relieve the people from crushing war taxes
and deprived labor of employment and of just ne.
ward. .-......
The Democracy pledges itself to purify the ad-
mlQIStrAtlOn ITOH W etouoihs
to revive respect Tor law. and to reduce taxation to
the lowest limit consistent with due regard to the
preservation of the faith Of the nation to Its credit
Ors and pensioners. 41 ft s...ft ~
Knowing full we'll, however, that legislation affect.
ing the operations of the people should be cautious
and conservative In method not in advance of pub
lie opinion, but responsive to its demands the Dem
ocratc party is pledged to revise the tariff In spirit
of fairness to all interests. },.suy s,fi
But in making reduction in taxes it is not pro-
posed to njure any domestic industries but rather to
promote their healthy growth: From the foundation
Of this Government taxes collected at the Custom
House have been the chief source OF Fedeaal reve-
nue.. Such they must continue TO be. Moreover,
many industries have come to rely upon legislation
law must be 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 to the require
ments of economical government. The necessary
reduction In to xaton can and must be effected with
out deprivng American labor of the ability to COM
pete successfully with foreign labor, and without
imposing lower rates of duty than will be ample to
cover any increased 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 econo-
mically administered, including pensions and inter-
est and principal Of the public debt be got under
our present system of taxation, from Custom House
taxes on fewer imported articles, bearing heaviest
articles of luxury and bearing ightest on articles
of necessity.
We therefore denounce the abuses of the existing
tariff and. subject to the preceding limitations, we
demand that Federal taxation shall be exclusively
for public purposes and shall not exceed the needs
| of the Government economically administered
The system of direct taxation known as tho tin.
ternal revenue is war tax, and go long as the law
continues the money derived therefrom should be
sacredy devoted to the relief Of the people from the
remaing burdens of the war and be made fund to
defay the expense of the care and comfort Of worthy
soldiers disabled in the line of duty in the Of the
republic, and for the payment of such pensions as
Con m fine tn time grant tn auCh
diers alike fund for the sailors having been already
provided, and any surplus should be paid into the
treasury.
We favor an American continental policy based
upon more intimate commercial and political rela-
tions with the fifteen sister republics Of North
Central and South America, but entangling alliances
with none.
We believe in honest money, the gold and silver
coinage of the Constitution, and circulating medi-
um convertible into such money without loss.
Asserting the equality of oil men before the law,
dealings with the people to mete out equal and
act justice to all citizens of whatever nativity race,
color, or persuasion, religious or political.
We believe In free ballot and an fair fair count and
struggle Of the Democrats In the Forty and
Forty-sixth Congresses, by which reluctant Re
publican opposition was compelled to assent to leg
isation making everywhere illegal the presence Of
troops OF the polls, as the conclusive proof that
Democratic administration will preserve liberty with
order. .,& % 3, as.a.
Ihe seeclon oil Federal oncerS Ior the IerrltOfies
should be restricted to citizens previously resident
therein. y f4,ss }s5} Nts =. a,gt
We oppose sumptuary laws which vex the citizens
and interfere with individual liberty. lGt t0 er
We favor honest civil service reform and the COM
pensaton of all United States officers by fixed sal
aries, the separation Of church and State, and the
diffusion of free education by common schools, so
that every child in the land may be taught the rights
| and duties of citizenship. F@
While we favor all legislation which will tend to
the equitable distribution Of property, to the pre-
vention of monopoly, and to the strict enforcement
OF individual rights against corporate abuses, we
hold that the welfare Of society depends upon q
scrupulons regard for the rights Of property as de-,