The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-07-18
National Demo cratic Platform.


~ 8 are born OF time and progress, and old issues
trsi. But the fundamental principles OF the De-
npcracyapproved by the united voice OF the people,
's nam and VII ever remain as the best and only
eiurty Tor the continuance of free government
c preservation Of personal rights; the equality Of
q citizens before the law: the reserved RIGHTS OF
me states and the supremacy OF the federal gov
trnncnt wi hin the limits of the constitution will
,yir form the true basis OF our liberties, and can
ae'c be surrendered without destro ing that bal
tnce OF rights and powers which enables a conti-
aelt to be developed in peace, and social order to
% maintained by means OF local self-government
But it is indispensable for the practical application
IN enforcement Of these fundamental princ les
Ih u the government should not always be con-
rolled by one political party. Frequent change of
administration is as necessary as constant recur-
renee to the popular will. Otherwise, abuses grow,
ind the government, instead of being carried on
Tor the general welfare, becomes instrument
ior Imposing heavy burdens on the many who are
governed. for tine benefit of the few who govern.
Public servants thus become arbitrary rulers
This is now the condition of the country; hence
1 change is demanded.
The Republican party, so far as principle is con-
termed, is "reminiscences. In practice it is an or
sanization for enrichng those who control its ma
:hinery. The frauds and jobbery which have been
brought to ight in every department of the govern
INT are sufficient to have called for reform within
the Republican party, yet those in authority, made
reckless by the long possession of power, have
;umbed to its corrupting influence and have placed
N nomination ticket against which the independ-
emit portion of the party are in open revolt. There
lore, change is demanded. such change was
Alike necessary in 1876, but the will of the people
,orgot en- nor condor ed Again, in $50. the change
demanded by the people was dcfeael by the lavish
use oil money conriDu. ed by interruptions con-
tractors and shameless jobb RS who had bargained
'or unlawful profits or high office. The Republican
party, during its legal, its stolen. AMI its bought
lenufts OF power, has steadily decaye1 in moral
character and political capacity. lis platform prom
ses are now list of its past failures. Ii demands
me restoration of our navy-it has squandered hun
areds of millions to create a navy that does not
.xst. 1t calls upon Congress to remove the burdens
lnder which American shipping has been depre's
1t imposed and has continued tho burdens. 1t
processes the policy of reserNilL the public lands
Tor small holdings by &C nal settlers-i has given
iway he peoples HERITAGE III now few railroads
and nonresident aliens. in livdual and corporate,
possess arger area than that of all our farms
between the two sea-, IL processes a preference
or free institutions it or auiled and tried to legal
ze control OF state elections by Fedora troops. 1t
processes desire to elevate labOrit has subjected
american worAingmtn to the competition
Of convict and imported contract labor 1t
Processes gratitude to all who were disabled died
In the war, leaving widows and orphans--it left to
democratic House Of Representatives the first eff
Tort to equaIize both bounties and pensions. It
proffers pledge to the irregularities OF
iariH- created and has continued them. Its own
tarih commission confessed the need of more than
twenty per cent. reduction--its Congress gave a
auction of less than four per cent. 1t processes
the protection Of American manufactures-it has
subjected them to an increasing food of manufac-
tured goods and hopeless competition with manu-
featuring nations, not one of which taxes raw ma
erals ltproesses protect all Amer can Industries
1T has impoverished many to eubsidize few. 1t
processes the protection of American labor-it mas
depleted the returns of American agriculture, an
Industry followed by half our people. 1t processes
the equality OF all men before the law attempting
to fix the status of colored tilcnsthe acts of its
Congress were overset by the decisions af It's courts,
1t IA cepts anew the duty OF lea ling in the work
of progress and reform'--its caught criminals are
permitted to escape through 60 lriNed delays or
actual connivance IN the prosecution. lloncycomb-
ed with corruption, outb.eaking exposures
longer shock it's moral sense. Its honest members,
ts Independent journals, no longer maintain sue
cessful contest for authority in its councils or
veto upon bad nominations That change is
necessary is proved by an existing surplus of
more than slO0,O0O00O, which has yearly been col
lected from suffering people Unnecessary tax
atom Is unjust taxation. We denounce the Kepub-
lcan party for having failed to relieve the people
from crushing war taxes, which have paralyzed
business, crippled industry. and deprived labor of
employment and Of just reward.
he Democracy pledges itself to purify the adj
mlnlstratlon from corruption, to restore economy,
TO revive respect for law, and to reduce taxation TO
the lowest limit consistent with due regard to the
preservation of the faith Of the nation to it's credi
tors and pensioners. Knowing full well, however,
that legislation affecting the operations of the
people should De cautious and conservative in
method, not in advance of public opinion, but re-
sponsive to its demands, tie Democratic party is
pledged to revise the tariff in spirit of fairness to
all interests. But, in making reduction in taxes, 1t
If not proposed to injure any domestic indus tries,
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 to be.
Moreover many industries have come to rely upon
legislation for successful continuance so that any
change of law must be a. every step regardfnl of
the labor and capital thus involved The process
OF the reform must be subject in the execution to
ms plain dictate of Justice All taxation shall be
limited to the requirements of economical govern
ment The necessary reduction in taxation can
ana must be effected without deprivtng American
labor of the ability to compete successfully with
foreign labor and without imposing lower rates OF
dut' than will be ample to coverany increased cost
OF production which may exist in consequence
OF the higher rate of wages prevailing in
thls country. Sufficient revenue to pay all
economically administered including pensions, in.
terest and principal of the public debt, can be got
under our present system Of taxation from Custom
hons, 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 tax
alton shall be exclusively for public purposes, and
shall not exceed the needs of the government eco
nomically administered.
The system of liberalization known as the sin
ternal revenue is war tax, and lon as the law
continues The money derived therefrom should be
sacredy devotedto the relief OF the people from
the re aiming burdens of the war, and be made
fund to defray the expense OF the care and com.
for; of worthy liers disabled in line of duty in
the wars OF the republic, and for the payment OF
such pensions as Congress may from time 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 rela-
lions with the fifteen sister republics o. North,
central ana south America, but enangling allan.
ces with none.
We believe in honest money, the gold and silver
coinage of the Constitution, and a circulating me-
dunn convertible into such money without loss.
Asserting the equality of ali men before the law,
hold that it is the duty of the government, in its
dealings with the people to mete out equal and eX-
act justice to all citizens of whatever nativity, race,
color or persuasion, religious or political.
We believe in free bi lot and a fair count, and
we recall to the memory Of tie peop'e the noble
struggle Of the Democrats in the Forty NTH and
Forty-sXth Congresses, by which reluctant Re-
publican opposit on was compelled to assent to
legislation making every where Illegal the presence
of troops at the polls conclusive proof that
Democratic a mlnistration will preserve liberty
with order.
The selection of Federal officers for the Territor.
les should be restricted to citizens previously resi-
dent therein.
We oppose sumptuary laws which vex the citizen
and interfere with individual liberty.
We favor honest civil service IT form and the
compensation Of all United States officers by fixed
salaries; the SCI araIion OF church and state and the
diffusion of free education by common schools, so
that every child in the land may be taught the
rights and duties of citizenship
While we favor all legislation which will tend to
the equitable distribution of property, 10 The pre-
yention of monopoly, and 70 the strict enforcement
of individual rights against corporate abuses, we
hold that the welfare of society dcpeuls upOn a