Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-07-18
half our people.

1t pro fesses the equality Of all men be-
fore the law; attempting to fix the status
Of colored citizens. the acts of its Congress
were overset by the decisions of its courts.
1t accepts anew the duty of leading in
the work of progress and REFORM" ita
caught criminals are permitted to escape
through contrived delays or actual conni-
vance in the prosecution.
Honey combed with corruption. out
breaking exposures no longer shock its
moral sense. Its honest members, Its in
dependent journals, no longer maintain a
successful contes. for authority in its
councils or veto upon bad nominations.
That change is necessary, is proved by
an existing surplus of more than 500, 0OO,-
600, which has yearly been collected from
a suffering people. Unnecessary taxation
is unjust taxation.
We denounce the Republican party for
having failed to relieve the people from
crushing war taxes, which have paralyzed
business, crippled industry. and deprived
labor of employ ment and of just reward.
The Democracy pledges itself to purify
the administration from corruption. to
revive respect for law. and to reduce tax
alton to the lowest limit consistent with
due regard to the preservation of the faith
of the nation to its creditors and pension
ers.
Knowing full we'll, however, that legis-
lation affecting the operations of the peo-
pie should be cautious and conservative
in method, not in advance OF public opin-
ion, but responsive to its demands, the
Democratic party is pledged to revise the
tariff in a spirit Of fairness to all interests.
But in making reduction in taxes it is
not proposed to inJure any domestic indus
tries, 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 Fed
eral revenue. Such they must continue
to be. Moreover, many industries have
come to rely upon legislation for success
full continuance. SO that any change of law
must be at every step regardful of the
labor and capital thus involved. The pro-
cess of reform must be subject. in the exc
cution, to this plain dictate, of justice. All
taxation shall be limited to the require
ments of economical government. The
necessary reduction in taxation can aud
must be effected without depriving Amer.
lean labor Of the ability to compete sue
cessfully with foreign labor, and without
imposing lower rates of duty than will be
ample to cover any increased cost of pro-
duction which may exist in conseQuer CO
of the higher rate of wages prevailing in
this country. Sufficient revenue to pay all
the expenses of the Federal Government
economically administered. including pen.
sions and interest and principal of the
public debt, can be got under our present
system of taxation, from Custom House
taxes on fewer imported articles, bearing
heaviest on articles of luxury. and bearing
lightest on articles of necessity.
We therefore denounce the abuses of
the existing tariff, and, subject.to the pre-
WALK AA"Au0uAVd0A WO uOu10uu VuhV = GU"
eral taxation shall be exclusively for pub.
lie purposes, and shall not exceed the needs
of the Government economically admins.
tered
The system of direct taxation known as
the internal revenue Is war tax, and
SO long as the law continues, the money
derived thsrefrom should be sacredly de.
voted to the relief of the people from the
remaining burdens Of the war and be made
q fund to defray the expense of the care
and comfort of worthy soldiers disabled in
the line of duty in the wars of the repub-
lie, and for the payment of pensions as
Congress may from time to time grant to
such soldiers, like fund for the sailors
having been already provided, and any
surplus should be paid into the treasury.
We favor an American continental po-
licy based upon more intimate CONNER
cial and political relations with the fifteen
sister republics of North, Central, and
South America. but enta ngling alliances
with none.
We believe in honest money, the gold and
silver coinage of the Constitution, and a
circulating medium convertible inGo such
money without loss.
Asserting the equality of all men before
the law, we hold that 1t is the duty Of the
Government in its dealings with the pso-
pie to mete out equal and exact justice to
all citizens of whatever nativity, race,
color, or persuasion, religious orpolitical.
We believe in free ballot and fair
count, and we recall to the memory of the
people the noble struggle of the Democrats
in the Forty-fifth and Forty-sixth Con-
crosses. by which reluctant Republican
opposition was compelled to assent to le-
gislation making everywhere illegal the
presence Of troops at the polls. as the con-
elusive proof that Democratic admins
tration will preserve liberty with order.
The selection of Federal officers for the
Territories should be restricted to citizens
previously resident therein.
We oppose sumptuary laws which vex
the citizen and interfere with individual
liberty.
We favor honest civil service reform and
the compensation of all United States Of
ficers by fixed salaries, 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.
While we favor all legislation which
will tend to the equitable distribution of
property, to the prevention of monopoly,