McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-07-17
THE PLATFORM
Adopted by the Democratic National Con
vention Held in Chicago.

AAAA AAAT VAsm
Adopted by the Democratic National Con
vention Held in Chicago.
Following is the platform adopted by the
democratic national conventions:
The democratic party of the Union,
through its representatives In national con-
vention assembled, recognizes that, as ma
ton grows older new issues are born Of
time and progress and old issues perish.
Butthe fundamental principles Of the DEM
ocracy, approved by the united voices Of the
people, remain, and will ever remain, as the
best and only security for the continuation
OF free government. The preservation of
personal rights, the equality OF all citizens
before the law, and the supremacy Of the
federal government within the limits Of the
constitution will ever form the true basis of
our liberties, and can never be surrendered
without destroying that balance of rights
and powers which enables continent devel-
oped in peace and social order, TO be main
tanned by means of local seIf-government.
But ii Is indispensable for the practical
application and enforcement OF these
fundamental principles that the gov
ernment should not always be con-
trolled by one political party. Frequent
changes of administration is as necessary as
constant recurrence to the popular will,
otherwise abuses grow, and the government,
welfare, becomes an instrumentalityf for i'm
posing heavy burdens upon the many who
are governed for the benefit of the few who
govern. Public servants thus become
arbitrary rulers.
This is now the condition of the coun-
try. Hence change is demanded.
The republican party, so far as prin-
ciple is concerned, Is a Renaissance;
In practice, it is an organization for enrich
Ing those who control its machinery.
The frauds and jobbery which have been
brought to light in every department of the
government are sufficient to have called for
a reform within the republican party; vet
those in authority, made reckless by the long
possession Of power, have succumbed to its
corrupting influence, and have placed in
nomination ticket against which the inde-
pendent portion Of the party are in open
revolt.
Therefore a change is demanded. Such
change was alike necessary in 1876, but
the will of the people was then defeatedby q
fraud which can never be forgotten nor con-
doned. Again, in 1880, the change de-
manded by the people was defeated by the
lavish use of money contributed by I'M
scrupulOus contractors and shameless job
bers who had bargains for unlawful profits
or for higher office. ....
The republican party, during its illegal,
Its stolen and its bought tenures Of power,
has steadily decayed in moral character and
political capacity.
Its platform promises are now list of its
past failures.
1t demands the restoration of our navy.
1t has squandered hundreds of millions to
create a navy that does not exist.
1t calls upon congress 10 remove the bur-
den under which American shipping has
been depressed. 1t imposed and has con-
tinued these burdens.
1t processes the policy of reserving the
Lao le g. olx
settlers. 1t has given away the peoples
heritage till now few railroadsfand non.
resident aliens, individual and corporate,
possess a larger area than that Of all our
farms between the two seas.
1t processes apreference for free institu-
tons. 1t organized and tried to legalize
control of state elections by federal troops.
1t processes desire to elevate labor. It
has subjected American workingmen to the
competition of convict and imported con-
tract labor. .
1t processes gratitude to all who were dis
abled or died in the war, leaving widows
and orphans. 1t left to democratic house
of representatives the first effort to equaliZe
both bounties and pensions.
1t proffers pledge to correct the irregu-
larities OF our tariff. 1t created and has
continued them. Its own tariff commits
sion confesses the need Of more than twenty
per cent reduction. Its congress gave re-
uuCtlOu Oh less Cuau lOur per ceQC.
1t processes the protection Of American
manufacturers. 1t has subjected them to
an increasing flood of manufactured goods
and q hopeless competition with msnufac-
turing nations, not one of which taxes raw
material.
Itprofesses to protect all American indus
tries. 1t has impoverished many to subsi-
die few.
1t processes the protection of American
labor. Ithas depleted the returns of Ameri-
can agr1culture-an industry followed by
half our people.
It processes the equality of all men before
the law. Attempting to fix the status of
were overset by the decisions of its courts.
1t ssaccepts anew the duty Of leading in
the work Of progress and REFORM" Its
caught criminals are permitted to escape
through contrived delays or by actual con-
nivance in the prosecution. Honeycomb.
ed with corruption, outbreaking expos
ures no longer shocked its moral sense. Its
honest members, its independent journals,
no longer maintain successful contest for
authority in its counsels, or aveto upon bad
nominations.
That change is necessary is proved by
an existing surplus of more than $780,
600, 600, which has yearly been collect.
ed from suffering people. Unnecessary
taxation is unjust taxation. We denounce
the republican party for having failed to re-
lieve the people from crushing war taxes
which have paralyzed business, crippled
industry, and deprived labor of employment
and just reward.
The democracy pledges itself to purify |
the administration from corruption, to re- |
store economy, to revive respect of law to re- |
duce taxation to the lowest limit consistent |
with due regard to the preservation of the |
nation to its creditors and pensioners.
Knowing full well, however, that legis- |
lation affecting the occupations of the |
people should be cautious and conservative |
in method, not in advance of public opin- |
ion, but responsive to its demands, the |
democratic party is pledged to revise the |
tariff in spirit of fairness to all interests. |
But in making reduction in taxes it is not |
to iniure any domestic industries,
but rather to promote their healthy growth.
From the foundation of this government |
taxes collected by 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 leg
islatioR for SUGGEST full continuance, SO that |
any change Of law must be at every step re.
gardful Of the labor and capital thus in
-olx ~ I,