Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-07-19
DEMOCRATIC
NATIONAL PLATFORM
Adopted in Chicago. July 10th,
1884.

1884.
The Democratic party Of the Un-
ion, through its representative in
National Convention assembled,
recognizes that rs the nation grows
older new issues are born Of time
and progress and old Issues perish.
But the fundamental principles of
the Democracy, approved by the
united voice of the people, remain
and will ever remain as the best
and only security for the continu-
ance of free government. The pres
ervatiOn of the personal rights OF
the States 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 with.
out destroying that ba lance OF rights
and powers which enables the con-
tinent to be developed in peace, and
social order To be maintained by
means of local self government.
But ii is Indispensable for the prac-
tical application and enforcement of
these fundamental principles that
tho Government should not always
he controlled by one political party.
Frequent change Of administration
is as necessary as constant recur-
renee To the popular will. Other
wise abuses grow, and the Govern
ment, instead of being carried on
for the general welfare, becomes an
instrumentality for imposing heavy
burdens on the many who are gov
erned for the benefit of the few who
govern. Public servants thus he
come arbitrary rulers. This is now
the condition of the country. Hence
a change is demanded. The Repub-
lIcan party, 50 far rs principle is
concerned, is Il reminiscence in prac-
tice. Ii is an Organization for en-
riching those who control its ma
chincry. The frauds and jObbery
which have been brought to light
i'm every department OF the Govern
ment are sufficient to have called
for reform within the Republican
party; yet those in authority, made
reckless by the long position of
power, have succumbed to its cor
rupting influence, and have placed
one in nomination against whom
the independent 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 defeated
by fraud, which can never be for
gotten or condOned. Again in 1880
the change demanded by the people
was defeated by the lavishness OF
money contributed by unscrupu-
lOus contractors and shameless job
bers who had bargained for unlaw-
full profits or for high office. The
Republican party during its legal,
it's stolen and its bought tenures OF
power has steadily decayed in NOR
al character and political capacity.
Its platform promises are now list
of its past failures. 1t demands the
restoration of our navy it has
sauandered hundreds of millions to
create a navy that does not exist.
1t calls upon Congress tO remove
burdens under which American
shipping has been depressed it i'm
posed and has continued those bur
dens. 1t processes the policy of re-
serving the public lands for small
holdings by actual settlers: ii has
given away the peoples heritage
till few railroads and nonresident
aliens. individual and corporate,
possess a larger area than that OF all
our farms between the two seas. 1t
processes a preference for free insti-
buttons it organized and tried to
legalize q control OF State elections
by Federal troops.
1t processes a desire to elevate la
Dor: it has subjected American
workingmen 20 the competition Of
convict and imported labOr-con-
tract labor. 1t processes gratitude
to all who were disabled or died in
the war leaving widows and OPP
phans; it lett to u Democratic House
of Representatives the first effort to
eaualize both bounties and pensions.
ii proffers q pledge to correct the
irregularities OF our tariff; it crea-
ted and has continued them It's
own tariff commission confessed the
need of more than 20 per cent. re-
ductiOn It's Congress gave n rcduc-
ton OF 4 per cent. 1t processes the
protection OF American manufact-
urcs it has subjected them 10 an
increasing flood of manufactured
goods, and hopeless competition
with manufacturing nations, not
one of which taxes raw materials.
1t Processes t0 protect American IN
dustries ii has Impoverished many
to subSidizr Il few. ii processes the
protection Of American labor; 1T
has depleted the returns 0f agricul-
turc, an industry followed by half
our people. 1t Processes the eqality
of all men before the law, attempts
to fix the status Of colurei citizens
the acts Of It's Congress were Ovcrsct
by the decisions Of its courts. II az
ccl,ts anew the duty Of leading in
the work of progaeSS and reform
Its caught criminals are permitted
to escape through continued delays
or actual connivaIce in the proSecu-
tion; honcy-cOmed with corruption,
Outbreaking exposures no longer
shock its moral sense. Its honest
members, its independent Journals,
ma longer maintain a Suci'eSsful con-
test for authority in its counsels,
a veto ON bad nominations. That a
change il necessary il proven by an
existing surplus OF more than $780,
OlW, ,OOO, which has yearly been
collected from Il suffering people.
Unnecessary taxation is unjust tax
alton.
We denounce the Republican par
ty for having failed to relieve the
people from crushing war taxes,
which have paralyzed business,
crippled industry and deprived la
bor OF employment and of just re-
ward. The Democracy pledges it
self TO purify the Administration
from corruption In restore ecOnO-
my; to revive respect for the law,