Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-07-19

tions of the people sauuld l,e eau
tiou@ and conservative in uIrthWi, /,
not in advance oi public opinion.
but responsive 10 lis demands. The
Democratic party is pledged 10 re
wise the tariff in spirit Df fairness
To all interests, but in making n re-
duction in taxes, il is not proposed
To iniure any domestic in niu,trits,
but rather 10 promote their healthy
growth. FROM the foundation OF
the Government, taxes collected ut
the custom house have been the
chief source OF Federal revenue :;
such they must continue. Moreover,
| many industries have come tn rely
upon legislation for successful con-
tinuance, so that any change of law
must be at every step regardfut OF
the labor and capital thus involved.
The process of reform must be sub
jeeted to the plain duties OF justice.
All taxation shall be limited TO the
requirements of an economical gov
ernment. The necessary reduction
i'm taxation can, and must, be effect
ed without depriving American
labor of the ability to compete sue
cessfulIy, with foreign labor, and
without Imposing lower rates of du-
ty than will be ample to cover the
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 economically admins
tered, including pensions, interest
and principal OF the public debt,
can be got under our present system
of taxation, from custom house tax
es on fewer imported articles, bear
ing heaviest on articles OF luxury,
and bearing lightest on articles OF
necessity.
We, therefore, denounce the abu-
ses of the existing tariff and subject
to the preceding limitations, we de-
mand that federal taxation shall be
exclusively for public purposes and
shall not exceed the needs OF the
Government economically admins
tered. The system of direct taxa
tion, known as the Internal Reve-
nue." Is a war tax, and SO long us
the law continues, the money de-
rived therefrOm should be sacredly
devoted to the relief of the people
from the remaining burdens OF the
war, and be made fund to defray
the expense OF the care and comfort
of worthy. soldiers disabled in the
| line of duty i'm the wars OF the re-
public, and for the payment OF such
pensions as Congress may from
time to time grant to such soldiers,
] Il like fund for the sailors having
been already provided, and any
surplus should he paid into the
| Treasury.
| We favor an American continent
al policy based upon more intimate
commercial and political relations
with the fifteen sister republics OF
| North, Central and South America.
| but 0ntangling alliances with none.
| We believe In honest money, the
| gold and silver coinage OF the Con-
stitutiOn and n circulating medium
convertible into such money with
out loss.
Asserting the equality OF all men
before the law, we hold that ii Is
the daty of the Government i'm its
dealings with the people to mete
out equal and exact Justice to all
citizens OF whatever nativity, race,
color or persuasion, religious or po-
lItical.
We believe ina free ballot and a
fair count, and we recall to the
memory of the people the noble
struggle of the Democrats in the
FOrty-iifth and Forty-siXth Con-
crosses, by which n reluctant Re
publican opposition was compelled
to assent to legislation making
everywhere illegal the presence OF
troops at the polls as the conclusive
proof that Democratic admins
tration will preserve liberty with
order.
The selection OF Federal officers
for the Territories should be restric-
ted TO citizens previously resident
therein.
We oppose sumptuary laws which
veX the citizen and interfere with
individual liberty.
We favor an honest civil service
reform, and the compensation Of all
United States officers by fixed sal
aries the separation OF Church and |
State, and the diffusion of free ed |
every child in the land may be |
taught the rights and duties of cit |
iZenship.
While we favor all legislation
which will tend to the equitable |
distribution of property, to the |
prevention of monopoly and to the |
strict enforcement of Individual
rights against corporate abuses, we
hold that the welfare OF society /
depends upon scrupulous regard
tor the rights OF property as defined
by law.
We believe that labor is best
rewarded where it is freest and
most enlightened. 1t should, there
fore, be fOstered and cherished. We
favor the repeal OF all laws restrict
ing the free action OF labor, and the
enactment of laws by which labor
organizations may be incorporated,
and OF all, such legislation as will
tend to enlighten the people as to
the true relations Of capital and la
bor.
We believe that the public lands
ought, as far as possible, to be kept
as homesteads for actual settlers
that all unearned lands heretofore
imprOvidently granted to railroad
corporations, by the action OF the
Republican party, should be restor-
ed to the public domain, and that
no more grants OF land shall be
made to corporations, or he allowed
to fall into the ownership Of alien
abScntecs.
We are opposed to all propositions
which, upon any pretcXt, would
convert the General Government
into a machine for collecting taxes
to be distributed among the States
or citizens thereof.
In reaffirming the declarations Of
the Democratic platform Of 1856,
that, "the liberal principles embod-
led by Jefferson IN the Declaration
OF Independence, and sanctioned in
the Constitution, which make ours
the land Of liberty and the asylum
Of the oppressed of every nation,
have ever been cardinal principles
in the Democratic faith" we never
thelcss, do not sanction the inIpor-
tatiOn Of foreign labor, or the ad-
mission OF sprvile races, untitled by
habits, training, religion or kindred
tor absorption into The great body
0f oiIr people or for the citizenship
which our laws confer. American
civilization demands that against
the immigration or importation Of
MOngOlians tothese shores our gates