Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-07-11
the PLATFORM.

Following is the platform:
The Democratic party of the Union through
its representatives in National Convention as
sembled. recognizes that as the nation grows
older new issues are born of time and progress
and old issues perish, but the fundamental
principles of the Democracy, approved by
the united voice of the people, remain,
and will ever remain, as the best and
only security for the continuance OF free gov
ernment, the preservation of personal rights
the equality of all citizens before the law, the
reserved rights of the States, and the sIprem-
acy of the Federal Government within the lin
its of the Constitution, will ever form the true
basis OF our liberties, and can never be sur
rendered without destroying the balance
of rights and powers which enables
continent to be developed in peace and
social order to be maintained by means of local
selfgovernment. But it is Indispensable for
the practical application and enforcement of
these fundamental principles, that the Govern
ment should not always be controlled by one
political party. A frequent change of admins
tratiOn is as necessary as the constant Tecur-
renee to the popular will. Otherwise abuses
grow, and the Government is instrumental in
imposing heavy burdens on the many, who are
governed for the benefit of the few
who govern. Public servants thus
become arbitrary rulers This is now
the condition of the country. Hence q change
is demanded. The Republican party so far as
principle is concerned, is "Reminiscences in
practice. II Is an organization for enriching
and jobbery which have been brought to light
i'll every department of the Government arc
sufficient to have called for reform
in authority, made reckless by the long posses
sion of power, have succumbed to its corrupting
influence, and have placed in nomination a
ticket against which the independent portion OF
the party are in open revolt Therefore change
Is demanded. Such a change was alike neces-
sary i'll 1876, but the will of the people was then
defeated by fraud, which can never be for
gotetn nor condoned. Again i'll 1850 the change
demanded by the people was defeated by the
lavish use of money, contributed by unscrupu-
lous contractors and shameless jobbers, who
had bargained for unlawful profits, or for high
Office The Republican party, during its legal,
its stolen and its bought terms of power has
steadily decreased in moral Character ana
political capacity. Its platform promises
are now a list of its past frauds. The
Democratic party proposes 10 reduce
taxation TO the lowest limit consistent with a
due regard to the preservation of the faith of
the nation, to the creditors and pensioners.
knowing full WELL however, that legislation
affecting the rights of the people should be eau
tiOuS and conservative in method, not IN al
vance of public opinion, but responsive to1ts
dmeands, the Democratic party Is pledged 10 re-
wise the tariff in spirit of fairness TO all inter
ests but in making reduction IN taxes, II IS
not proposed to injure domestic industries, but
/. rather TO promote their healthy growth from
the foundation of this Government tho taxes
collected at the Custom house have been the
chief source of Federal revenue. Sucn they
must continue 10 be. Moreover, many INDUS
tries have come to rely upon legislation for a
successful continuance so that any change OF
law must be at every step reGaIdtul OF the labor
and capital thus involved. The process of re-
form must be subject in its execution
to this plain dictate of justice: All taxation
shall be limited to the requirements of an
economical Government me necessary redue-
out depriving American labor of the ability to
compete successfully with foreign labor, and
without imposing lower rates of duty than viii
be ample to cover any increased cost of produc-
ton which may exist in consequence OF the
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