Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-08-16
POLITICAL.

tighten the people ~ to the true rotations Of
capital and labor.
We believe that the public lands ought. as far
Is possible, TO be kept as homesteads for actual
settlers; that all unesned lands heretofore Inn
| providently granted 10 railroad corporations BY
i the action OF the Repub lean party, should be
restored to the public domain and no more
grants shall be made to corporations, or be allow
ed TO fall into the ownership OF alien absentees.
| We are opposed to all propositions which, up
on any pretext, would convert the general Gov
ernmeIt into machine for the collection Of tax
es 10 be distributed amoug the States or the cit
| zens thereof.
IN effect the declaration Of the Democratic plat
form Of 1856 that ''Tht liberal principle EN-,
bodied by Jefferson In the. Declaration OF lnde
pendence and sanctioned In the Constitution,
which make ours the land Of liberty and the asy
| lum Of the oppressed Of every nation, have ever
been the cardinal principles in the Democratic
faith. We, nevertheless, de not sanction the I'm.
portatlon OF foreign labor or the admission OF
| servile races, unified by habits training religi
on or kindred. for absorption into the great body
OF our people, or for the citizenship which our
laws confer. American civilization demands
that against the immigration or Importation Of
MongoliAns to these shores our gates be closed.
The Democratic party insists that it Is the
duty OF the Government to protect with equal
fidelity and vigilance the rights Of It's ctizens--
native and naturallzed-at home and abroad
and TO the end that this protection may be as
issued by courts Of competent Jurisdiction, must
be respected by the executive apd legislative de.
partments of our own Government and by all
foreign Powers.
It Is the imperative duty Of this government
to efficiently protect all the rights Of her sons
and the property OF every American citizen In
foreign lands and demand and enforce full repar-
alton for any invasion thereof. An American
citizen Is only responsible to his own govern
ment for any act done in his country or under
her flag and laws, and can only be tried therefor
on her own soil and according to her laws. and
no power exists in this government to expatriate
an american citizen to be tried in airy foreign
land for any such act
This country has never had q well-defIned and
educated foreign policy save under o Democratic
ADMINISTRATION. That policy has ever been In re-
gard to foreign nations, 80 long as they do not
act in manner detrimental to tho interests Of
the country hurtfu TO our citizens, to let them
alone. As the result Of this policy we recall the
acquisition Of Louisiana, Florida, California and
Of the adjacent Mexican territory. by purchase
alene, and contrast these grand acquisitions Of
Democratic statesmanship with the purchase Of
Alaska, the sole fruit OF Republican admins
tration of nearly quafter of century.
The general government should care for and
improve the Mississippi river and the other great
| waterways of the republic, so ~ to secure for
the interior States easy and cheap transports-
ton to tide water.
Under the long period Of Democratic policy
our merchant marine was fast oyertaking and
on the point OF outstripping that Of Great Bri.
| tain. Under twenty years Of Republican rule
and policy our commerce has been lost to the
British and almost has the American flag been
kept of the high seas. Instead Of the Republi-
can party's British policy, we demand for the
people Of the United States an American policy.
Uudvr Democratic rule and policy our merchants
and sailors, flying the stars and stripes in every
port were successiullysearching out o market for
the varied products Of American industry. Un-
der quarter Of century Of Republican rule
and policy, despite our manifest advantages over
all other nations In high paid labor, favorable
climates and teempg soils; despite the freedom
oftrade among all these United Stats; despite
th6r population Of the foremost races OF men.
and annual immigration OF the thrifty and ad-
venturous of all nations; despite our freedom
here from the inherited burdens Of lite and In
dustry in the Old World monarches, their costly
war navies, their vast tax consuming standing
armies; despite twenty years OF peace, that he.
publican rule and policy have managed to sur
render to Great Britain, along with our COM
merce, the control Of the markets OF the world.
Instead OF the Republican partys British policy.
we demand, on behalf Of the American Democ
racy, an American policy. Insteai OF the Re-
publican party's cscredit, shame and false pre-.
fences Of friendship to American labor, expressed
by imposing taxes, we demand, In behalf OF the
Democracy, Freedom Of American labor by re-
ducing taxes, to the end that these United
| States may compete, with unhindered powers,
for supremacy among the nations in all the
| aItd OF peace anu tnt tIults VI Hucttg.
1 With profound regret we have been apprised
by the venerable statesman, through whose per-
| son was struck that blow at the vital principles
Of the republic acquiescence In the will Of the
majorty-that he cannot permit us again to
| place In his hands the leadership Of the Domo-
cratic host, for the reason that the achievements
OF reform In the administration Of the Federal
government is an undertaking now too heavy for
his age and failing strength. Rejoicing that his
life has been prolonged until the general judg
ment of our fellow-csuntrymen Is united In the
wish that the wrong were righted In his person,
for the Democracy Of the United States We offer
| to him In his withdrawal from its cares not only
| our respectful sympathy and esteem, but also
that best homage Of freemen-the pledge Of our
devotion to the principles and the course now
insep srable in the history OF this republic from
| the leadership and the name Of Samuel J. Til
den.
| With this statement Of the hopes. principles
and purposes CT the Democratic party, the great
issue OF reform and change in administration Is
submitted to the people in the calm confidence
that the popular voice will pronounce in favor of
new men and new and more favorable coBd-
tons for the growth Of industry the extension Of
trade, the employment and due reward of labor
and OF capital, and the general welfare Of the
country.