The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-07-05

effected without depriving American labor Of
the ability to compete successfully with foreign
labor, and without imposing lower rates OF
duty than will be ample to cover aayincreas-
ed cost of production which may exist in con.
sequence of the higher rate Of wages prevail,
ing in this country
Sufficient revenue to pay all the expenses
of the federal government, economically adj
ministered, including pensions, interest and
principal of the public debt, can be got under
our present system of taxation from custom.
house taxes on fewer imported articles, bear
ing heaviest on articles Of luxury, and bear
ing Eghtest on articles of necessity. We
therefore denounce the abuses of the existing
tariff, and, subject to the preceding limita.
tions, We demand that federal taxation shall
be exclusively for public purposes and shall
not exceed the needs of the government, eco
nomically administered.
The system of direct taxation known as the
''internal revenue is war tax, and so long
as the law continues the money derived there
from should be sacredly devoted to the relief
of the people from the remaining burdens oil
the war, and be made fund to defray the
expense 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, u 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.
publics of North, Central and South America
but entangling alliances with none.
We believe in honest money, the gold and
silver coinage of the constitution and cir
oul ,,,ad;np, ,hla mt
without loss. r
Asserting the equality of all men before the
law, we hold that it is the duty of the govern.
meut in its dealings with the people to mete
out equal and exact justice to all citizens oil
whatever nativity, race, color or persuasion,
religious or political.
We believe in free ballot and fair count,
and we recall to the memory of the people
the noble struggle of the Democrats in the
Forty fifth and Forty-six Congresses, by which
a reluctant Republican opposition was COM
PEELED to assent to legislation making every
where illegal the presence of troops at the
polls, as the conclusive proof that Demo
cratic administration will prove liberty with
order. ff.tt ma
The selection of federal officers for the
Territories should be restricted to citizens
previously resident therein. We oppose sump-
ludry laws WHICH VeA the ClJlZen anu Inter
fere with individual liberty We favor honest
civil service reforms and the compensation of
the United States officers by fixed salaries;
the separation of Church and State, ane the
diffusion offree 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,
to the prevention of monopoly and to the
strict enforcement of individual rights against
corporate abuses, we hold that the welfare of
society depends upon a scrupulous regard for
the rights of property as defined by law. We
believe that labor is best rewarded where it
is treest and most enlightened. 1t should,
therefore, be fostered and cherished.
We favor the repeal of all laws restricting
laws by which labor organizations may be
Incorporated, and of all such legislation as
will tend to enlighten the people as to the
true relation of capital and labor. We be-
lieve that the public land ought as far as pos
sible to be kept as homesteads for actual set
tiers; that all unearned lands heretofore i'm
proyidently granted to railroad corporations
by the action of the Republican party should
be restored to the public domain, and that no
more grants of land shall be made to eorpor.
atoms, or be allowed to fall into the owner
ship of alien absentees.
We are opposed to all propositions which
upon any pretext would convert the general
government into a machine for collecting
taxes to be distributed among the States or
the citizens thereof.
In reaffirming the declarations of the Dem
ocratic platform of 1856 that the liberal prin-
ciples embodied by Jefferson in the Declare
ton of Independence and sanctioned in the
apnstitntinn tuhtab Ynal-a tho lanh of
liberty and the asylum of the oppressed of
every nation, have ever been cardinal princi-
pies in the Democratic faith, We nevertheless
do not sanction the importation of foreign
labor or the admission of servile races unfit
ted by habits, training, religion or kindred
for absorption into the great body of our peo-
pie, or for the citizenship which our laws
confer. American civilization demands that
against the immigration or importation of
Mongolians to these shores our gates be closed.
The Democratic party insists that it is the
duty of the government to protect with equal
fidelity and vigilance the rights of its citizens,
native and naturalized, at home and abroad,
and to the end that this protection may be
assured, United States papers Of naturaliza-
ton issued by courts of competent jurisdiction
must be respected by the executive and legis
lative departments of our own government
and by all foreign powers.
1t is an imperative duty of this government
10 efficiently protect all the rights of persons
and property of every American citizen in
foreign lands, and demand and enforce full
reparation for any invasion thereof. An
American citizen is only responsible to his
own government for any act done in his own
country or under her flag, and can only be
tried therefor on her own soil aud according
to her laws, and no power exists in this gov
eminent to expatriate an American citizen to
be tried in any foreign land for any such act.