The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1884-07-13


crushing war taxes, which have para
lyzed business, crippled industry and de-
prived labor of employment and of just
reward.
The democracy pledges itself to purify
the administration from corruption, to
restore economy, to revive respect for
law and to reduce taxation to the lowest
limit consistent with due regard to the
preservation of the faith of the nation to
its creditors and pensioners. Knowing
full well, however, that legislation affect
ing the occupations of the people should
be cautious and conservative in method,
not in advance o. public opinion but re-
sponsive to its demands, the democratic
party is pledged 70 revise the tariff in a
spirit of fairness to all interests, but in
making reductions in taxes it is not pro
posed to injure any domestic industries,
but rather to promote their healthy
growth. From the foundation of this
government taxes collected at the Gus
tom house have been the chief sources Of
federal revenue. Such they must con-
tinue to be. Moreover, many industries
have come to rely upon legislation for
successful continuance, so that any
change OF the law must be at every step
regardful Of the labor and capital thus
involved. The process of reform must
be subject in execution to this plain dc
tate of justice All taxation should De
limited to the requirements of an eco
nomical government. The necessary re-
ductiOn in taxation can and must be ef-
fected without depriving American labor
of the ability to compete successfully
with foreign labor and without imposing
lower rates Of duty than will be ample to
cover any 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 eX-
penses Of the federal government eco
nomically administered, including pen
sions, interest and principal of the public
debt, can be got underi our present sys-
tenn of taxation from custom house
taxes on fewer imported articles, bearirg g
heaviest on articles of luxury and bear
ing lightett on articles of necessity. We
therefore denounce the abuses existing
in the tariff; and, subject to the preced-
ing limitations, we demand that federal
taxation shall be exclusively for public
purposes, and shall not exceed the needs
of the government economically admin
istered.
The system of direct taxation, known
as ''internal revenue" " is war tax, and
as long as the tax continues the money
derived therefrom should be sacredly de-
voted 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 in the wars
of the republic, and for the payment Of
such pensions as congress may from time
to time grant to such soldiers-a like
fund for sailors having been already pro-
vided-and any surplus should be paid
into the treasury.
We favor an American continental
policy based upon more intimate COM
mercial and political relations with the
fifteen sister republics of North, Central
and South America, but entangling alli-
ances with none.
We believe in honest money, the gold
and silver coinage of the constitution,
and a circulating medium convertible
into such money without loss.
Asserting the equality of all men be-
fore the law, we hold that it is the duty
of the government in its dealings with
the people to mere out equal, exact JUS
tice to all citizens of whatsoever nativity,
race, color or persuasion, religious or 20
Iitical.
We believe in 4 free ballot and fair
count, and we recall to the memory Of
the people the noble struggle of the dem
ocrats in the for y-fifth and forty-sixt tn
can opposition was compelled to asse Mt
to the legislation making everywhere il
legal the presence of troops at the polls
as conclusive proof that a democratic ed
ministration will preserve liberty with
order.
The selection Of federal officers for ter
ritories should he restricted to citizens
previously resident therein.
We oppose sumptuary laws whichvex
the citizen and interfere with individual
liberty,
We favor honest civil service reforms,
and the compensation of all United
States officers by fixed salaries; the sepa-
ration of church and state, and the difu-
sion of free educa ton by common schools,
so that every child in the land may be
taught the rights and duties of citizen
ship.
While we favor all legislation which
will tend to the equal distribution OF