Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-07-17

-
permanent organization and platform
were appointed, and the convention
adjourned until the 9th. The con
ventioa met pursuant to adjournment
and permanently organized with Col.
VIM. +. Villas, Of Wisconsin. as per
maneut chairman. The committee on
resolutions not being ready to report
a platform, the convention. after
some routine business, adjourned IN
til Thursday, the 10th inst. On Thurs
day the following platform was re
ported and adopted:
THE PLATFORM.
The democratic party of the union, through its
representatives in the national convention assem-
bed recognizes that as the nation grows older
new issues are born Of time and progress ana
old issues perish,
But the fundamental principles Of the de-
mocracy, approved By the voice Of the peope
remain and viii ever remain as the best and only
security for the continuance of free government
the preservation of personal rights the equality of
all citizens before the law, the reserved rights Of
the states and the supremacy of the federal gov
eminent within the limits of the constitution. win
ever form the true basis of our liberties and can
never be surrendered without DESTROYING the hal
ance of the rights and powers which enable a
continent to be developed in peace and social
order 10 be maintained by means OF O. loval SELF
tl-
cal application and enforcement of these funda-
mental principles. that the government should
not always be controlled by one political marty
and frequent change OF administration is
necessary and constant recurrence to
the popular viii; otherwise abuses grow ana tine
government instead of being carried on for the
general welfare becomes an instrumeniality for
imposing heavy burdens on the many who are
governed for the benefit OF the few who govern
Public servants thus become arbitrary rnlers
This is now the condition Of the country, hence
a change is demanded
The republican party, so far as principle is con
cerned, IS a "reminiscences. Ia practice
II Is an organization for euJiching
those who control It's machinery. The frauds
and iobbery which have been brought to light ia
every department OF the government, are sUffi-
cient to have called for reform within the repub.
lcan party, yet these in authority. made reckless
by their long possession OF power, have sue
cumbed 10 its corrupting influence. and have
placed IN nomination a ticket against which the
independent portion OF the party are in open re-
volt. Therefore. a change is demanded; such u
change was alike necessary in 1916 but the will
of the people was then defeated by fraud which
can never be forgotten nor conuODed; again
in 1850 the change demanded by the people was
defeated by the lavish use OF money contributed
by INSCRIPTIONS contractors and shameless job
bers who had bargained for unlawful profits or
illegal, its stolen and its bought tcuures of power
has steadily decayed in morality character and
political capacity. It's platform promises are now
a llst OF IFS present failures. It demands the res
toration Of our navy. 10 has squandeted hundreds
Of millions TO create navy that does
not exist 1t called upon congress 10 re-
move the burdens under which American
shipping has been depressed Itimp0seS and has
continued those burdens. It Processes the policy
OF reseryng the.pubuc lands for small holding
by actual settlers. 10 has given away the peoples
heritage till now a few railroads and nonresident
aliens individuals, and corporations possess a
larger area than that all Of sur farmers between
the two seas.
Il processes a preference for free institutions
1t organized and tried to legalize a control Of
state elections by federal troops. It processes
desire TO elevate labor. 10 has subjected Ameri
can workingmeu to the competition Of convicts
and imported contract labor. 10 processes graft
tude 10 all who were disabled or died in the war
leaving widows and orphans. 1t left to demo
cratic house Of representatives the first
effort 10 eQualize both bounties and pensions it
profters pied &c to correct the irregularities Of
on tariff. 1t created and has continued them
It's own tariff commission confessed the need OF
more than 20 per cent reduction. Its congress
gave reduction OF less than four per cent.
processes the protection Of American manufac
urers. 1t has subjected them to an increasing
flood of imports froN manufacturing nations not
one o which taxes raw materials. 1t processes TO
protect all American industries 1t has inpoyer
the protection Of American labor, 10 has
depsead the returns Of American agriculture an
industry followed by half our people 1t processes
the equality of all men before the law Attempt
ing to fix the statues of coOred citizens the acts of
its congress were reversed by the decisions OF
its courts 1t accepts anew, the duty
of leading in the work of progress and reform. It's
criminals are permitted to escape through contriv-
ed delays actual connivance, in the prosecution
Its combinations with corruphon its outbreaking
exposures no longer shock the moral sense. It's
honest sense its honest members its journals no
longer maintain a successful contest of authority
in its cOunsels or influence its nominations.
That a change is necessary is proved by an eN
listing surplus of more than SlO0OO0,O0O which
has ya-fy been collected from a suffering people.
Unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation We
denounce the republican party for having falied
70 relieve the people from crushing war taxes,
which have paralyzed business, crippled industry,
and deprived aboi ~ employment and its Just
rev Srr The democracy pledges itself to purify
tbs .oinistration from corruption to re
ST. economy, e. revive respect for
law reduce taxation 10 the lowest limit consist
en- tn due regard 10 the preservation OF the
Ga the nation TO rs creditors and pension
err moving fun well, however, that legislation
M -Ing the occupations OF TIE people shoulc ne
cautious and conyersatye in method, aud not ia
advance OF puoic opinion, but responsive 'e lis
demands.
The democratic party is pledged TO revise the
tariff IN a spirit of fairness to all interests.
But in making reduction IN taxes, 1t 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 custom house have been the chief source
Of federal revenue. Such they must continue 10
be. Moreover, many industries nave come TO
rely on legislation for successful continuance, 50
that any change Of law must be regardlu
of the labor and capital thus involved The pro-
cess Of reform must be subject in its execution
to the plain dictate Of justice All
taxation shall be limited TO the requirements OF
an economical government. The necessary
reduction in taxation cas- and must he elected,
without depriving American labor of the ability
to compete successfully with foreign labor, with
out imposing lower rates of duty than will be am
pie TO cover any increased cost OF production
which may Xist in consequence of tina higher
rate of wages prevailing in this country. sum.
Gent revenue To pay all expenses Of the federal
government economically administered lhclud-
ing pensions, interest and principal ot the pup
lie debt can b. got under our present
system of taxation from custom house taxes or
fewer imported art cles, bearing heaviest on ar
tcrs of luxury and bearing lishtest ON articles OF
necessity We therefore denouuce the abuses OF
the existing tariff, and subject 10 the proceed,
ing limitations we demand that federal
taxation shalt be exclusively for public purposes,
ana shall not exceed the needs OF the govern
mert economically administered. The system
of direct taxation known az the internal revenue
is q war tax aud so long as the law CONTINUES
the money derived therefrom should be sacrediy
devoted to the relief Of the people from the re
manning burdens Of thu war and be made a Iund
"a defray the expenses of the care and CONT rus
OF worthy soldiers disabled in line OF duty m
the wars of the republic, and for the payment on
such pensions as congress may from time 10 llne
grant to such soldiers a like fund Tor the sailors
having been a eady provided and any surplus
should be paid into the treasury We
favor an American continental poicy
based tpon more intimate commerlacl ana poht-