The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1884-08-16
capital and Labor THder the Demo
cratic Platform.


llmee-OemoCTaL.
We have every confidence that
after the demonstrations made
through these columns. the true
purport and significance of the
Democratic platform are fully I'm
derstood by all our readers,
There is nothing vague or profile
matical in the declarations of that
instrument so far as concerns any
of the living questions now before
the people. Everybody knows
what the Democracy desire and
intend in the matter of finance and
taxation. 1t has been shown that
the party is committed to q policy
of abolishing the internal revenue
tax and deriving the means nee.
essary to the support of the gov.
ernment from taxes collected at
the custom-house. This does not
mean that the party proposes to
levy upon the country for the pur-
pose of enriching individuals. 1t
means, simply, that the national
revenue must be derived from the
custom house of the country and,
naturally, that involves incidental
protection of certain interests
This is no objection. There are
no Arcadias. Plato's republic is
the dream of poet and philoso'
pher. The Happy Valley OF
Rasselas is the figment of a fever
ed brain-a day dream. In this
practical world of ours there must
be government. Crime must be
suppressed, property must be pro-
tected, enterprise must be foster
ed, commerce must be promoted.
Liberty is no longer a savage Ii
cense. Happiness is no longer
contained in nakedness aud lotos.
eating. We have to keep our So
cial compact, to enforce law and
order, to protect the weak against
the strong. to succor the afflicted
and helpless, to educate the ignor-
and and to restrain the wicked,
To do all this we must have gov
ernment, and to maintain govern
ment we must have a revenue,
The Democratic party has consid'
cred the question of the best,
most expeditions and fairest way
of raising this revenue. 1t has
made its decision, announced it,
and upon that issue has gone be-
fore the country.
The platform upon which Mr.
Cleveland stands and which is the
harmonious and deliberate work
of the finest body of men that
ever assembled in a political cam.
paign, promises the people the alb
olition of the internal revenue tax
that oppressive measures made
necessary by war but now no long.
er excusable promises an admin
istration Of economy and honesty,
and o genuine reform of existing
abuses. And to show that this is
not mere unmeaning buncombe,
the platform states explicitly the
methods and the means by which
these changes are to be effected,
and stipulatcs the exact processes
of the revolution to be consumma.
ted. The revenue for the con.
duct of the government is to be
derived from taxes collected at
the customhouse. No longer shall
American citizens be compelled to
pay a tax upon their industry; no
longer shall they be asked to pay
for the privilege of engaging in
any legitimate pursuit. The Dem
ocratic party pledges itself to Grad.
icate the entire internal revenue
establishment and to free the peo
pie from the burdens imposed up
on them as q necessity of war. All
revenue required for the econom.
ical maintenance of government
will be raised by levying duties
on imported articles. This will
protect our laboring population
against the competition of the
servile or degraded labor OF
foreign lands. 1t will ensure to
them continuation of high wages
by enabling our domestic manu-.
facturers to earn larger profits
upon their enterprise, and it will
compensate them tenfold for the
increased prices they will have to
pay upon such imported articles
as they may desire or be compel.
ed to purchase. For the language
of the platform, referring to the
adjustment of the tariff, is: "Bear.
ing heaviest upon articles of lux.
ury and bearing lightest upon ar.
ficlpa of nacassitv, y