The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-09-06
D6MouRATIo PhATF0aa.

The Democratic party of the Union, through its
representatives in National Convention assembled,
recognizes that the nation newissues are
born Of timeand progress, and old issues pesh but
the fundamental principles of Democracy, approved
by the united voice Of the people, remain, and win
ever renlain thu best and only security for the
con inuance Office government The preservation OF
personal rights the equality OF all citizens before the
Law the reserved rights of the states and the supre
macy of the Federal Government within the limits OF
the Constitution, will ever form the true basis OF our
hherties and can never be surrendered without DC
stroying that balance of rights and powers which
abes continent to be developed in peace and social
order to be maintained BY means OF local sell govern
Inent
But it is Indispensable for the practical applca |
ton aud enforcement Of these fun alnental prin
ciples that the Government should not always be |
controlled by one political party. frequent change
OF administration is necessary as the constant re-
clIrrence to the popular W otherwise, abuses grow,
and the Government, instead OF being carried for
the general welfare, becomes an instrunensaty forim-
posing heavy burdens the many who governed
for the benefit of the few who govern. Public ser
wants thus bec1ine arbitrary rulers.
This is now the condition OF the country.
Hence change is demanded The Republican
party, so far principle is concerned, is a
"reminiscences; in practice, it Is an orsaniza-
ton for enTcaing those who control its ma
chnery. The frauds and johbery which lave been
brought to light in every department of the Govern
men are sufficient to have called for reform within
the Republican party yet those in authority, made
reckless by the long possession OF power, have sue
cumbed to its conupting influence and have placed
in nomination ticket against which the independent
portion OF the party are in open revolt Therefore
| change is demanded Such change was alike neces
sity III 1876 but the viii of the people WAS then de-
/ feated by fraud, which never be forgotten
cnnloned. Again IL 1880 the change demanded by
the people defeated by the lavish of money
contributed by unscrupulous contractors and shame
less jobbers who had bargained for unlawful profits
| or for high Office.
The Republican party during its legal, its
| stolen, and its bonght tenures of power, has
steadily decayed in moral character and political
fffr1 st nf
| past failures. 1t demands the restoration of
navy; it has squandered hundreds of millions
ate navy that does not exist 1t calls upon Congress
torenlove the burdens under which american shipping
has been depressed; it imposed and has continued
| those bnrdens.
1t processes the policy of reserving the public lands
for small holding by actual settlers. 1t has given
away the peoples heritage till few railroads,
and nonresident alens individual and corporate, pos
sess larger than that of all farms between
the seas 1t processes preference for free nstitu
tons it organized and tried to lealize control of
State elections by federal troops It processes de-
sire elevate labor; ithas subjected American work
nsmen to the competition of convict and imported
contract labor. 1t processes gratitude to all who
were disabled or died in the war leaving Widows and
orphans; it left Democratic House of Represen-
taves the first effort to equalize both bounties AID
pensions 1t proffers pledge to correct the irregu
arites Of tariff, it created and has continued
them. Its tariff commission confessed the need
of than 20 pei cent reductionit Congress gave
reduction of less than per cent 1t processes the
protection OF American manufacturers, it has sub
iected them to Increasing fcod Of manufactured
goods, and hopeless compel tion with manufacture
Ing nations not of which taxes 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 industry followed
by half people. IL processes the equality of ell
men before the law. Attempting to fix the atus of
colored ctzens the acts OF It's Congress
by the decisions OF its courts 1t accepts the
duty OF leading in the work of progress and reform
its caught criminals are permitted to escape through
coutrived delass or actual convance in the prose
| Icut HoneycOmhea with cOrriIOtion inrr
exposures longer shock its moral sense Its hon
members its indepedent Journals, no longer MAIN
tain successful contest for authority in its counses
q veto upon bad nominations That change is nee
essarily proved by existing sur plus of than
SG0, COO 900, which has yearly been collected from
suffering people. Unnecessary taxation is unjust
taxation.
We denonnce the Republican party for hayin, failed
to relieve the people from crushing war taxes which
have paralyzed business crippled industry and de-
priyed Labor of employment and of just reward. The
democracy pledges itself to purify the admin
istration from corruption, to restore econ
omy, to revive respect for law and to
duce taxation to the lowest limit consistent with due
regard to the preservation of the faith OF the nation,
to It's creditors and pensioners; knowing full well,
however, that legislation affecting the occupations
OF the people should be cautious and conser-
vativc in method, not iii advance of public
cratic party is pledged to revise the tariff spirit OF
fairness all interests but III making reduction in
taxes, it is not proposed to any domestic indus
tries but rather to promote their healthy growth From
foundation of this Government the collected
at the Custom house nave been the chief OF
Federal revenue. Such they must continue be-
Moreover, many industries have to rely upon
legislation for successful continuance, that any
change of law must be at cyeryStep re9adfu OF labor
and capital thus involved. The process OF reform
be subject in its execution to this plain dictate
of justice--A taxation shall be limited to the re
Gu;rements of an economical Government. The
necessary reduction in taxation and must be af
fected without depriyins American labor of the abl
ty to compete successfully with foreign Labor, ant
without imposing lower rates of duty than will bi
\ ample to any increased cost 0f production which
may exist in consequence of the hjghe: rate of wage
prevailing IN this country. Sufficient revenue to pay
all the expenses Of tbs Federal Government econon
cay administered, including pensions, interest anC
principal of the public debt, can be got Under ON
present system OF taxation from Custom house taxe
en- fewer imported articles, bearing the heaviest
articles of luxury and bearing ghtest articles o
necessity We therefore denounce the abuses of the
existing tariff and subj to proceeding limitation
demand that Federal taxation shall be exclusively fo
public purposes and shall not exceel the needs of the
government economically administered. The system o
direct taxation known the ''internal revenue il
wartax and so long the law continues the money
received herefrom should be sacredv devoted to the
relief of the people from remaining burdens of tn,
war, and be made fund to defray the expense of the
and comfort of worthy soldiers, disabled in tn,
line OF duty in the OF the Republic, and for the
payment OF such pensions a. Congress may from time
to time grant to such soldiers like fund for thG
, sailors having been already provided-and any sur
plus should he paid into the treasury.
We favor American continental policy, baset
upon intimate commercial and political relations
with the fifteen Republics OF NJrth Central anc
South america, but entangiing alliances with
We believe Ill honest money-the god and silver
coinage of the constitution and acrculating medium
convertible into such money without loss.
Asserting the equality of all men before the Law
, we hold that it is the duty of the Government il
dealings with the people, to mete out equal and exact
Justice to all citizens, OF whatever nativity, race col
persuasion, religious political.
, We believe in a free ballot and fair count, and
we recall to the memory OF the people the nobls
struggle OF the Democrats in the Forty fifth and For
tVsiXth Congresses, by which reluctant Republican
4 opposition compelled to assent to Legislation
making everywhere illegal the presence of troops al
} the polls the conclusive proof that Democratic
administration will preserve liberty with order. The
selection of Federal officers for the Territories should
be restricted to citizens previously resident thereof
i We oppose sumptuary laws which yeX the citizens
and atefcre with individual liberty.
We favor honest civil service reform in compen
stGn OF all United States Offices by fixed salaries. the
separation of Church and State ami he diffusion o
free education b. schools that every child
i'll the land may be tau sht the rights and duties o
, | citizenship.
the equitable distribution OF property, to the preven
ton of monopoly, and the strict enforcement of
individual ri shts against corporate abuses, hold
that the welfare OF society depends scrupulous
regard for the rights of property deii ed by law
We believe that labor is best rewarded where ii is
freest and most enlightened. It should be fost-red
and cherished. We favor the repeal of all the laws
restraining the free action of labor, and the enact
nent of laws by which labor organizations may be
increased and Of all such legislation will tend
enghten the people as to the true relations of cap
ital and labor
We believe that the public lands ought as far as
possible be kept Eomesteads for actual settlers
that all unearned lands heretofore imProvllently
granted to railroad corporations by the Republican