San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-07-24


change is necessary is proven by Al
existing surplus OF more than 500,
100000, which has yearly been collec
ted from suffering people. Unnec
| essary taxation is unjust taxation
} We denounce the Republican part.
' for having failed to relieve the peopl
, from crushing war taxes, which hav'
. paralyzed business, crippled industr,
: and deprived labor Of employment
I and of just reward.
r The Democracy pledges itself h
, purify the administration from cor
ruption, to restore economy, to revive
respect for law, and to reduce taxa
ton to the lowest limit consistent
with due regard to the preservation
, of the faith of the Nation to its credi
tors 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 of public
> opinion, but responsive to its de-
mands
The Democratic party is pledged
to revise the tariff in spirit of fair
ness to all interests, but in making
a reduction in taxes it is not proposed
to injure any domestic industries,
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 Federal revenue.
Such they must continue. Moreover,
many industries have come to rely
upon Legislation for successful con-
tinuance, so that any change Of law
must be at every step regardful of
the labor and capital thus involved.
The process of reform must be subject,
in the execution, to this plain dictate
of justice.
All taxtion shall be limited to the
requirements of economical govern
ment. The necessary reduction in taxa
tion can, and must, be effected 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 con-
sequence OF the higher rates of wages
prevailing in this country. Sufficient
revenue to pay all the expenses of
the Federal Government, economi-
cally administered, including pen
sions, interest and principal of the
public debt, can be got under our
present system of taxation from
Custom House taxes on fewer impor
ted articles, bearing heaviest on arti-
cles Of luxury and bearing ightest on
articles of necessity. We therefore
denounce the abuse of the existing
tariff, and, subject to the preceding
limitations, we demand that Federal
taxation shall be exclusively for public
purposes, and shall not exceed the
needs of the Government, economi-
cally administered.
The system of direct taxation
known as the "Internal Revenue" is n
war tax, and SO long as the law con-
tinues, the mohey derived therefrom
should be sacredly devoted to the
relief of the people from the remain
ing burdens of the war, and be made
a fund to defray the expense of the
care and comfort of worthy soldiers
disabled in 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, like fund for the sailors
having been already provided; and
any surplus should be paid into the
Treasury.
We favor an American continental
policy based upon more intimate
commercial and political relations
with the fifteen sister Republics of
North, Central and South America,
but entangling alliances with none.
We believe in honest money, the
gold and silver coinage of the Con
stitution, and a circulating medium
convertible into such money without
loss.
Asserting the equality of all men
before the law, we hold that it is in
the duty of the Government, in its
dealings with the people, to mete
out equal and exact justice to all
citizens, of whatever nativity, race,
color or persuasion, religious or politi-
cal.
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 Congresses, by which
reluctant Republican opposition was
compelled to assent TO Legislation
making everywhere illegal the pres
ence Of troops at the polls, as the
proof that a Democratic
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 citizens and interfere with
individual liberty.
We favor honest civil service reform
and the compensation Of all United
States officers by fixed salaries; the
Of church and State, and
the diffusion Of free education by
common schools, 80 that every child
in the land may be taught the rights