Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1884-07-18

by federal troops. IL processes o desire 70 ele-
vate labor; 1t has subjected American work
ngmen TO the competition of convict and
imported contract labor. 1t processes graft
tude TO all who were disabled or died in the
war leaving widows and orphans. 1t left
10 Democratic House of Representatives
the first effort to equalize both bounties and
pensions. 1t prcffers pledge to correct the
irregularities of our tariff it created and has
them. Its own tariff commission
confessed the need Of more than 20 per cent
reduction; its Congress gave reduction Of
less than per cent.
II processes the protection Of American
it has subjected them to an
flood Of manufactured goods and
a hopeless competition with manufacturing
nations, not one OF which taxes raw mate
rails. 1t processes to protect all American
industries; it has impoverished many TO
subsidize few; it processes protection of
American labor; it has depleted the returns
of American agriculture-an industry fol-
lowed by half our people; it processes the
equality of all men before the law, attempt
ing TO fix the status of colored citizens; the
acts Of its Congress were overset by the de-
cisions of its courts; it accepts anew the
duty of leading in the work Of progress and
reform; its caught criminals arc permitted
TO escape through contrived delays or actual
connivance in the prosecution. Honey
combed with corruption, outbreaking ex-
posures no longer shock its moral sense. Its
honest members, its independent journals,
no longer maintain q successful contest for
authority in its counsels or a veto upon bad
nominations. That change is necessary is
proved by an existing surplus Of more than
$100,000,O00 which has yearly been col
lected from suffering people.
Unnecessary taxation is unkNt Aasktjen
We denounce the Republican party for hay
ing failed to relieve the people from crush
ing war taxes, which have paralyzed bust
ness, crippled industry and deprived labor
Of employment and just reward. The De-
mocracy pledges itself to purify the admins
tration from corruption, 10 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 creditors and pensioners.
Knowing full well, however, that legisla-
ten affecting the occupations OF the people
should be cautious and conservative in
method, not in advance of public opion, but
responsive TO the demands, the Democratic
party is pledged 10 revise the tariff in q
spirit of fairness 10 all interests.
But in making reduction in taxes II 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 I;
such they must continue to be. Moreover,
many industries have come to rely upon
legislation for successful continuance, so that
any change of law must be at every step
regardful of the labor and capital thus in
volved. The process of reform must be
subject in the execution 10 this plain dictate
of justice.
All taxation shall be limited TO the re-
quirements of economical government. The
necessary reduction in taxation can and
must be effected without depriving Ameri-
can labor of the ability to compete success
fully with foreign labor, and without impos-
ing lower rates Of duty than will be ample
10 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 expenses
OF the federal government economically ad-
mnistered, including pensions, interest and
principal of the public debt, can be got un-
der our present system of taxation from Gus
tom-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 preceding
limitations, we demand that federal taxation
shall be exclusively for public purposes and
shall not exceed the needs Of the govern
ment, economically administered
The system of direct taxation known as
the internal revenue" is war tax, and so
long as the law continues the money derived
81. l,s, 4
relief of the people from the remaining bur
dens of the war, and be made fund 70 de-
fray the expenses 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 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 re.
republics of North, Central and South Amer.
lea, but entangling alliances with none.
We believe in honest money, the gold and
silver coinage of tho constitution and q
circulating medium convertible into such
money without loss.
Asserting the equality of all men before
| a Y
.ne Jaw, we hoiu shat IL is tne duty oil tht
government. IN its dealings WIN tne people
W me,e out equai ana exact Justlce 10 al
cltlzehs Oh Whatever nativity, race, coicr o.
PERSUASION, religious or political.
we oeneye IN irce paiiot ana iai
conht, ana we recall 10 the memory OF thu
Icop,e 'no iloois struggle oi tne democrats
ih ue rorty-lih ana tprty-siSth uon
sresscs, Ny wnicn reluctant Republican
oppositlon was compelled 10 assent TO legis
Iallon making everywhere illegal the pres
oncc y, uooPs az .he pohs, as tne conclusive
PROOF INA. Denocra,lc administration will
PROVE iipersy WIN cr1er
u, ne seiecuoh OF iederai oincers ior th'
ierri.ories snoulu NC restricted 70 citlzen
previously resloent therein. we oppose
sunPtuary laws Wnich Vex tne citlzen ant
,h'erlete WIN lnuiViuuai liberty. Weiavo
nones' civi, I service reforms anu the compen
sa,lon o. ohi.eu otates onicers Py txeC
sa'aIies ,ne separation Oh Church anu State
anu inc olnuslon oil Tree education by com
mon SCHOOLS, 30 that every enid IN the land
may DC taught the rights and duties OF citi
zensnip.
w me we lavor az legislation which will
tenu 10 the equitable dlstriDutl0n OF prop
erty, 10 the prevention OF monopoly and Il
the strict enforcement OF Individual right
against corporate abuses, we hold that tn,
weliare ol society depends upon scrupu
| lOuS regard Tor the rights oil property as de