The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1884-11-01
'ERae Democratic Platform.

it's repressutHtives in national convention as |
sembied, recognizes that as the uation grows |
older new issues are born of time and pro- |
yress and old issues perish. But the funda- |
the united voice OF tho people, remain and |
will over remain as the best and only securi- |
ty for he continuance of flee governments /
The preservation Of personal rights, the |
equality of all citizens before the law, the |
reserved rights of the States, and the supre- |
macy of the Federal government within the |
limits of the constitution will ever form the |
true basis of our liberties, and can never be |
without destroying that balance
of rights and powers which enubles cont- |
neut to be developed i'll peace and social or
der-to be maintained by measures of local
self-eoverGment but it is indispensable for
the practical application aud enforcement
of these fundamental principles that tue gov
ernment should not always be controlled by
one political party. frequent change of
administration Is as necessary as constant
recurrence to the popular will. Otherwise
abuses will grow and the government, instead
of being carried on for the great welfare, be-
comes an instrumentality for imposing heavy
burdens ON the many who are governed for
the benefit of the few who govern. Public SER
wants thus become arbitrary rulers. THIS is
now the condition of the country. Hence a
change is demanded. The Republican party,
80 far as principle is concerned,'Is reminls-
cence in practice. 1t is organization for
enrichlng those who control its machinery
The frauds and jobbery which have been
brought to light in every department OF the
government arc sufficient to have called for
reform within the Republican party. Yet
those in authority, made reckless by the long
possession of power, have saecninbed TO its
corruptive influence and have placed in nom-
ination ticket against which the lndepen-
deut portion of the party are IN open revolt
Therefore. change is demanded. Such
change was alike necessary ia 1876, but the
will of the people was then defeated by a
fraud which can never be forgotten nor con-
doned Again, in 1880 the change demanded
oy the people was defeated by the lavish use
ofmoney contributed BY unscfupulous contrac'
tors and shameless jobbery, who had bargain
ed for unlawful profits Or for high offices.
The Republican party, during its legal, its
stolen aud its bought tenure of power has
steadily decayed in moral character and
political capacity. Its platform promises are
now a list of it's past failures 1t demands
the destruction of our navy. 1t has squan-
dered hundreds of millions to create navy
that does not exist. 1t calls on Congress to
remove the burdens under which American
shipping has been depressed. 1t imposed and
has continued these burdens. 1t processes
the policy of reserving the public lands for
small holders by actual settlers. it has given
away the peoples heritage till now few
railroads and nonresident aliens, individual
and corporate, possess larger area than
that of all our farmers between the two seas.
1t Processes preference for free institutions.
1t organized and tried to legalize control of
State elections by Federal troops. 1t profes-
ses desire to elevate labor. 1t has subjected
/ American workingmen to the competition of
! convict and imported contract labor. 1t
| processes gratitude to all who were disabled
| or died at war; leaving widows and orphants.
! 1t left to Democratic House of Represen.
tat:ves the fist effort to eSsSzGRze both boun-
/ ties and pensions. Ii processes pledge to
! correct the Irregularities OF our tariff 1t
/ created and has continued them. Its own
tariff commission confessed the need of more
than 20 per cent reduction. Its Congress
+ gave reduction of less than per cent. 1t
processes the protection of American manu-
faeturers. 1t has subjected them to an increas
ing flood of manufactured goods aud hope
less competition with manufacturing nations
not one of which taxes raw materials. II
processes to protect all American industries
1t has impoverished many to subsidize few
1t processes the protection of American labor
1t has depleted the returns of American ag
ricuiture-an industry followed by half o
our people. 1t processes the equality OF al
men before the law-attempting In hx ths
status of colored citizens. The acts OF its
Congress were overset by the decisions of itt
courts. 1t accepts a new theory of leading
in the world of reform" Its caught criminals
are permitted to contrive delays or aetua
conniyance in the prosecution, Honeycombet
with corruption and outbreaking exposur
no longer shock it's moral sense. Its homes
members-its independent journals-no Ion
ger maintain a successful contest for authori
ty in it's causes, or a veto upon bad nomlBa
tions. That change is necessary Is prove
by an existing surplus of more than $l00
100000 which has yearly been collected froI
suffering people. Unnecessary taxation ]
urAnst taxation. We denounco the Repul
lieXn party for having failed to relieve the pee
pie from crushing war taxesAwhlcn hay
paralyzed business, crippled industry and d.
prived labor of employment aud of its JUS
reward.
, The Democracy pledges itself to purify I'll
administration from corruption and restor
economy, to revive'respect for law and 70 r.
duce taxation to the lowest limit copsisteI
with due regard to the preservation OF tE
faith of the nation to creditors and pension
ers, knowing full well, however, that legis
riou affecting the occupations OF the peop
, should be cautious in method-not in advant
of public opinion, but responsive to it's d'
mands.
. The Democratic party is pledged to reVi'
the tariff in spirit of fairness to all interes
ed But in making reduction III taxes 10
not proposed oininre any domestic lndnstfle
but her to promote Their healthy grow
+ From the foundation of the government Ga
collecting at the custom-heuse have been tf
s chief source of Federal revenue, and such the
: must continue to be. Moreover, many indu
tries have come torely upon. Legislation 4
successful continuance, SO that any chanl
= of the law must be at every step regardful
/, labor aud capital thus inyoled. The proce
9 of reform must be subject in the execution
;, the plain dictates of justice. All taxatis
: shall be limited to the requirement of &c
! nomical government. The necessary redu
U tion in taxes can and must be effected wit
8 out depriying American labor OF the aoili
to compete SUCCESSFULLY without imposil
lower rates of duty than will be ample
. cover any increased cost of production wh
q may exist In consequence of the high rate
5 wages prevailing in the country. Sut1lcle
f revenue to pay all the expenses Of the Fede
al government, economically administers
), including pensions, interest and principal
IT public debt, can be got under our prese
/. system of taxation from customhouses, tax
j on few imported articles, bearing heaviest
! articles of luxury and lightest
articles Of necessity.
We therefore denounce the abuse of {
existing tariff and subject to the precedl
limitation, we demand that Federal taxati
shall be exclusively for public purposes, a
~ shall not exceed the needs of governing
ts economically administered. The system
as direct taxation known as the internal re-
sh nue. il war tax, and SO long as the law cs
Is tinues the money derived therefr0m shol
re be devoted to the relief of the people fir
oo the remaining burdens of the war, and
made fund to defray the expense of
care and comfort of the worthy soldiers {
abled in the line of duty in the wars of
republic, and for the payment OF such p
pions as Congress may, from time TO til
grant to such soldiers. a like fund for
sailors having been already provided, {
surplus should be paid into the treasury.
We favor an amended continental poll
based upon more intimate commercial {
political relations with the fifteen sister
Dubiics of N0rth, Central and South Amer
f,.b IL, Ison xrtff In