The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1884-10-25

fifth aud torl y-sixth Congress by which re,
lucrant Republican opposition was Compelled
to assent to legislation making every where
illegal the presence of troops at the polls as
the conclusive proof that Democratic ad-
mi listratian was preserved with order.
The selection Of Federal officers for the
Tarritories should be restricted to citizens
previously resident therein.
We oppose sumptuary laws which veg the
c;tiza, q and interfere with individual liberty.
We favor honest civil service reform, and
the compensation of United States officers by
fixed salaries the separation OF church ana
State and the diffusion of free education by
common schools, so that every child IN the
land may be taught the right andIduues OF
citizenship.
While we favor all legislation which tends
20 the equal distribution of property, to the
prevention of monopoly, and to the strict en-
iorcement of individual rights against corpo'
rate abuse we hold that the welfare OF socie'
ty depends upon scrupulous regard 1or Inc
rights of property as defined BY law. we
| believe that labor is best rewarded where it
is free and most enlighten. 1t should there.
fore be cherisheded. We favor the repeal OF all
laws restricting the free action OF labor, ana
the enactment of q law by which labor organ
| izations may be incorporated and OF such ieg'
isIation as will tend to enlighten the people
! as to the true relations of capital and labor.
| We believe that the public lands ought. as
far as possible, to be kept as homesteads: for ac-
tual settlers. that all unearned lands hereto
! fore improvidentily granted to railroad cor
porations by the action of the Republican
! party, should be restored to the public do
| main, and that no more grants OF lands shall
be made to corporations, or shall be allowed
to fall into the ownership OF alien absentees.
| We are opposed to all propositions, which
! upon any pretext will convert general govern
| mept into machine for collecting taxes. TO 90
distributed among the States or the citizens
I thereof.
In reaffirming the declaration of the DEM
oeratic party of 1865, that the liberal princi'
ples embodied by Jefferson in the declaration
of independence and sanctioned in the
constitstion which makes ours the
land of liberty and the asylum OF the op'
pressed Of every nation. have ever been car.
dinal principles in the Democratic party. we
nevertheless. do not sanction the importatlno
of foreign labor or the admission of servile
races untitled by habits, training, religion, or
kindred, for absorption in the great body Oh
our people or for the citizenship which our
laws confer. American civilization demands
that against the immigration or Importation
of Mongoloans TO these shores onr gates be
closed. The Democratic party insists that u
is the duty of the government to protect
with equal fidelity and vigilance the rights
of its citizens. native and naturalized, Rt meme
and abroad, and to the end that this protec.
tian may be asserted, United States papers OF
naturalization issued by courts of competent
Jurisdiction must be respected BY the execu'
/ tive and legislative departments OF our own
government and by all foreign powers. lt 10
an imperative duty OF this government to
efficiently protect all the rights of persons
and property of every American citizen in
foreign lands and demand aud enforce full re,
paration for any invasion thereof. An Amef1'
, can citizen is only responsible to his own
government for any act done in his own coun-
try or ulGder her d *. aud can only he tried,
therefor on her soil aud according to her laws.
and no power exists i'll this governmenmt to
expat riate all American citizen to be tried III
: any foreign laud for any such act his conn'
l try has never had IL well defined and execut
ed foreign policy. save under Democratic ad
8 miaisfration. That policy has ever been. in
regard to foreign nations, that so long as they
do not act detrimental to the interest OF tho
: country or hurtful To our citizens. to let them
alone. That as the result of that policy We
!, recall the acquisition of Louisiana. Florida
California and of the ajacent Mexican Ferri
u tory by purchase alone. and constrast these
. grand acqisitions. of Democratic Statesman
= ship with The purchase of Alska-the sole frni
:, of a Republican administration OF nearly
= quarter of a century.
= The federal government should care for anC
improve the Mississippi river and other grea
= waterways of the republic, so as to secure
: for the interior States easy and cheap trans
; portation TO tidewater. Under long period
of Democratic rule and policy our merchant
!, marine was fast uvertakiug and on the poini
= of ontstripping that of Great Britian. unde
:, twenty years of Republican rule and policl
" our commerce has been left to British bottoms
!. aud almost has the American nag been swep
: off the high seas. Instead of the Republican
), party's British policy, We demand for the peo
!" ple of the United States an American polio,
:, under Democratic rule and policy. Ou
: : merchants aud sailors flying the stars an'
!, stripes in every port successfully searchet
, out market for the varied products OF Amerl
. ear industry. Under quarter OF q century
= = Republican rule and policy despite our mani
J. fest advantage over other nations in high
~ paid labor, favorable climates and teeminl
: soils, despite freedom Of trade among sl
5 5 these United States despite their population
. nv the foremost races of mon and annual i'm
= migration of the yeung and adventurous o
y y all nations despite eur freedom here iron
= y the Inherited burdens of life and industry il
!. the world of monarchies, their costly wars, Nd
i vies, their vast tax-consuming, n0n.produclnl
70 70 standing armies despite twenty years .
= peace--thae Republican rule and policy hav
managed to surrender to Great Britia
a along with our commerce the control OF tn
y markets of tue world. Instead of the Repub
i ican party and British policy We demand u
" behalf of the American Democracy an Ameri
:, can policy instead of the Republican party
!. discredited scheme aud false pretense o
. . friendship for American labor oppressed bJ
. imposing taxes, we demand in behalf OF th
y Democracy freedo IN for American labsr b.
!, reducing taxes TO the end that the upite'
- States may compete with unhindered power
y for the primacy among nations in all the art
. of peace and fruits of liberty.
= = With this statement of the hopes, principles
! and purposes of the Democratic party, th
7 !. great issue of reform aud change in admins
!. tration is submitted to the people IN calll
:. Confidence that the popular vote will pro
:, nonnce in favor of new men and NOR
:, favorable conditions tor the groWt
= of industry, the extension of trade, the em
= ployment and due reward of labor and 9
# capital and the general welfare of the Who'll