Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-09-07
POLITICAL.
The Democratic PLATFORM.

The Democratic party OF the Union, through
somblod. recognizes that as the nation grows
older new issues are born Of time and progress
and old issues PERISH but the fundamental prin
ciples OF the Democracy, approved by the united
voice Of the people, remain, and will yerremain,
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 su-
premacv of the Fe ieral Government within the
limits of the Constitution, will ever form the
truo basis OF our liberties and can never be sur
rendered without destroying that balaIee Of
rights and powers which enables q continent to
be developed In peace and social order and TO be
maintained by means OF LEGAL self eoveinment
But 1t is l. dispensable for the practical applica
tion and enforcement o. these fundamental prn-
ciplcs that the Government should not always be
controlled by one political party. Frequent
change OF admnistratio, is as necessary as con-
stant recurrence TO the popular will. Otherwise
abuses grew and the Government instrumentalty
is used for imposing heavy burdens on 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 a change is demanded.
The Republican party, 80 far as principle is
concerned, is remIniscence. III practice, il Is
an organization for enriching those who control
its machinery The frauds and iobbeyy which
have been brought to light in every department
Of the Government are sufficient to have called
for reform within the Republican party, yet
these In authority, made reckless by the long
possession OF power, have succumbed to its cor
rupting Influence and have placed in nomination
a ticket against which the ind-psudent portion
OF the party are in open revolt. Therefore
change is demanded. Such change was alike
necessary in 1876, but the will Of the people was
then defeated by a fraud which can never be for
gotten or condoned. Again in 1880 the change
demanded by the people was defeated by the
lavish use of m ney contributed by unscrurul JUS
contractors and shameless jnbbers who had bar
gained for unlawful profits of for high office
The Republican party, during its legal, IL,
stolen and its bought tenures ofposer, has stqadi
ly decayed in moral character and poicical ca
pacity. Its platform promises are now a list Of
its past failures. IL demands the restoration Of
our navy. 1t has squaudered hundreds OF mil
lions to create navy that does not exist. IL
calls upon Congress remove the burdens under
which American shipping nas been depre- sed It
imposed and has continued those buldens 10
Processes preference for free institutions. IL
organized and tried to legalxe a control of State
elections by Federal troops. 1t processes de-
sire to elevate labor. II has subjected American
workingmen to the competition OF convict and
imported contract labor. 1t processes gr titde
to all who were disabled or died in the war, eav-
ing widows and orphans. 1t left to Democratic
House of Representatives the first effort TO
equalize both bounties and pensions 1t proffer
ed pledge to correct the irregularities of our
tariff II created am has continued them. Its
own Tariff Commission confessed the need Of
more than go per cent. reduction. Its Congress
gave a reduction Of less than per cent. It pro-
fcs.es the protection of Amarican manufacturers.
1t has subjected them to an incrcasink Hood OF
manufactured goods and hopeless competition
with manufacturing nations, not one OF which
taxes raw materials. | 1 processes to prot ct ail
American industries. 1t has impoverished many
to suhsidize q few 1t Processes the protection OF
American labor 7 has depleted the returns Of
Am rican agrie, i~r an industry followed by
half our people, ptofesses the equality Of ali
citizens before tie law. Attempting 10 fix the
status OF colored citizens, the Acts OF its Con.
sress were Oyersot by tn, decisions of its courts
Its caught criminals are permitted 10 escape
through eontriyed delays or actual connivance in
the prosecution, Honeycombed with corruption,
outrageous exposures no longer shock its moral
sense. Its honest members and it, Independent
journals no longer maintain a successful contest
for authority in It's connsels or veto on bad
That change is necessary is proved by an ex
isting surplus Of more than SluO, 900 0rr which
has yearly been collected from suffering peo,
ple. Unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation.
We denounce the Republican party for having
tailed TO relieve the people from the crushing war
taxes, which have paraiyz business, cripple
industry and deprived labor OF employment and
OF it, jui reward
The Democracy pledges itself 30 purify TIE Adj.
ministraiion from corruption, TO restore economy
10 revive respect for law, and to reduce taxation
70 the lowest limit consistent with a due regara
10 the preservation OF the faith Of the nation to
It's creditors aud It's pensioners, knowing full
well, however, that legislation affecting the wei
tare of the people should be cautious and con
serVAtise In method, not In advance OF public
opinion. but responsive 10 its demanus
The Democratic party IL pledged TO revise the
tarih In spirit Of fairness TO all interests but
In making reduction IN taxes 1t il not propo. .ed
10 iniure any domestic industries but rather 10
promote theif healthy growth From the foun
dation OF this Government, taxes collected at the
custom-house ha' been the chief source OF Fed
sral reve ue, and such they must continue to be
Moreover, many Industries have come 10 roly up-
on legislation for their successful continuance 30
that any change of the law must be at every stSp
regardfil Of the labor and capital thus involved
The process Of reform must be subject to the exc.
cution OF this plain dictate OF Justice, All taxa
ton shall be limited 10 the requirements Of Nm
Government. The necessary redue.
ton In taxation can and must be effected with
out deprying American labor Of the ability 70
compete successfully with foreign lab r. and
without imposing lower rates OF duty than will
be ample TO cover any increased cost Of produc-
ton which may exist Ia cou-equence of Vine
higher rate of wages prevailing In this country
Sufficient revenue 10 pay all the expenses OF the
Federal Government, economically adm nisterej,