Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-10-02
The Platform of the National Demo
cratic Party.

The Democratic party Of the Union, through its |
representatives In National Convention assemblies
recognizes that as the nation grows der, new Is
sues are born Of time and progress. and old issues
perish. Bat the fundamental principles OF the !
Democracy approved by the united voice OF the peo
pie, remain, and will ever remain, as the best and
ment. The preservation Of personal rights; the
equality OF all citizens before the law, the reserved
rights OF the States and the supremacy Of the Fed
eral Government within the limits OF the Consutu-
tion will ever form the true basis Of liberties,
and can neSer be surrendered without destroying |
that balance Of rights and powers which enables
continent TO be developed, and social order to be
maintained by means Of local self-government: /
But II Is Indispensable for the practical appiea-
tiOn and enforcement of these fundamental princi-
pies that the Government should not always be con-
trolled by one political party. Frequent change OF
administration is necessary as constant recur-
renee TO the popular will. Otherwise abuses grow,
and the Government instead of being carried on for
the general welfare, becomes an instrumentaty FOR
Imposing heavy burdens on the many who are gov
erned for the beneht Of the few who govern Pubic
servants thus become arbitrary rulers.
This is now the condition df the country-hence
change is demanded. The Republican party, so far
principle is concerned, s remnscence. In prac-
tice IL is organization for enrichin8 those VINO
control its machinery. The frauds and jobbery
which have been brought to light in every depart,
ment of the Government sufficient to have called
for reform within the Republican party. Yet those
in authority ma ie reckless by the long possession
of power have succombed TO its corrupting influence
and have placed i'm nomination ticket against
which the independent portion OF the party are IN
open revolt.
0Therefore change is demanded. Such change
alike necessary in 1876 but the VIII OF the peO-
pie then defeated by fraud which can never De
forgotten condoned. Again, in 1850, the change
demanded by the people was defeated by the lavish
use OF money contributed by unscrupulous contrac-
tors and shameless iobbers who had bargained for
unlawful profits or for high office.
The Republican party during its legal its stolen,
and its bought tenurcs of power, has steadily de-
in and nOlitical caDacty. Its
platform promises are now list oil It's past tlalures
1t demands the restoration Of our navy 1t has
suuandered hundreds Of millions to create navy
thate does not exist.
1t calls upon Congress to remove the burdens un-
der which American shipping has been depressed;
1t imposed and has continued those burdens.
1t processes the policy of reserying the pubic
lands for small holdings by actual settlers; 1t has
given away the peoples heritage till now few rail-
roads and nonresident aliens, individual and corpo-
rate, posses larger area than that OF all our arms
between the two sens.
1t processes preference for free institutions; 1t
organized and tried to legalize control of State
elections by Federal troops.
II professes desire to elevate labor; it has sub
iected American workingmen TO the competition OF
convict and imported contract labor.
Itprofesses gratitude to all who were disabled or
died In the war leaving widows and orphans 1t left
to Democratic House of Representatives the first
effort to equalize both bountes and pensions.
proffers pledge to correct the Irregularities OF
our tariff; it created and has continued them.
Its own Tariff Commission confessed the need Of
more than twenty per cent. reduction its Congress
gave reduction of less than fourper cent.
1t processes the protection of American manufac
lures it has subjected them to an increasing flood
of manufactured goods and hopeless competition
with neutrality-suspicious., not one OF which taxes
raw materials. ~ :.
has IMPOVERISHED many to subsidize few.
It tprofesses the protection of American labor; it
has depleted the returns of American agricuItuie-
an industry followed by half our people.
nrnfrssos the equality OF all men before the law
attempting to fix thestatus of colored citizens, the
acts OF its Congress were overset by the decisions OF
the courts.
II Uaccep.s anew the duty of leading in the work
of progress and reform :" its caught criminals are
nermitted to escape through contrived delays OF
actual connivance In the prosecution.
Honeycombed with corruption, outbreaking eX-
posures no longer shock its moral sense Its honest
members it's Independent Journals, no longer maln'
tain successful contest for authority IN lts conn
ellis or a veto upon bad nominations.
That chan ne is necessary is proved by existing
surplus of more than S10o00O,O0O which has yearly
been collected from suffering people. unnecessai!
taxation is unjust taxation.
We denoupce the Republican party for having
failed TO relieve the people from crushing war taxes
which have paralyZed business, crippled industry
and deprived labor of employment aud OF Just re
ward.
The Democracy pledges itself to purify the ad
mipistration from corruption, to restore economy
to revive respect law. and to reduce taxation
tbelowest limit consistent with due regard 10 tht
preservation of the faith of the nation to Its credit
6rs and pensioners.
knowing full well, however. that legislation affect
ing the operations OF the people should be cautious
and conservative in method, not in advance OF pub
lie opinion but responsive tits demands. the Dem
ocratic party is pledged to revise the tar III aspri
of fairness to all interests. ...
mt in mokinp reduction in taxes it is not pro
nosed to ipure any domestic industries but rather t.
promote their healthy growth. From the Foundation
of this Government taxes coliccted at me oustol
House have been the chief source of Fedeaal reye
nue Such they must cantiuue to be. Moreover
many industries have come to rely upon legslatlo
for successful continuance, so that any chahge Q
law must be at every step regardful of the laoor an
canital thus involved. The process of reform mus
be subject in the execution, to this plain dictate
iustice All taxation shall be limited to the require
ments of economical government. The necessai
rodnrtion In taxation can and must be effected witt
ont denIiying American labor of the ability to con
pete successfully with foreign labor, and withoi
imposing lower rates of duty than VIII be ample
cover any increased cost OF production which ma
oxist in consequence of the higher rate OF wag'
prevailing in this country Suiicentr revenue 10 pa
ali the expenses of the Federal Government econ
mically administered, including pensions ana lnte
ast and principal Of the public debt, can be got und
our present system of taxation, from custom Hou
tayes on fewer imported articles, bearing heavle
on articles of luxury, and bearing ightest on artic
of necessity.
We therefore denounce the abuses of the existil
tariff and subject to the preceding limitations,
demand that Federal taxation shall be exclusive
for pubic purposes, and Shall not exceed tne nee
of the Government economically administered.
The system of direct taxation known as tne i
ternal revenue is war tan and SO long as the L
continues the money derived theretrom should
sacredlv devoted to the relief of the people from q
remaing burdens of the war and be made fund
dafrav the expense of the care and comfort oil wort
soldiers disabled in the line of duty in the wars OF
rspublic and for the payment OF such pensions
CONGRESS may from time to time grant to such 81
diers alike fund for the sailors having been area
provided, and any surplus should be paid into
We favor an American continental policy bas
upon more intimate commercial ana poilucaI re
tions with the fifteen sist9r republics OF Nori
Central, andSouth America but cntanging alllahc
We believe in honest money, the gold and silly
coinage of the Constitution, and circulating me
um convertible into such money on wi.h1ns Loss Tho
we hold that it is the duty of the Government III
dealings with the people to mete ont equai ana
act justice to all citizens OF whatever nativity fa
color or persuasion, religious or political.
We believe in free ballot and fair count
we recall to the memory of the people the ne, no
struggle of the Democrats in the forty-h1tn 4
Forty-sxth Congresses, by which reluctant !
nnbican opposition was compelled to assent to l
IsIation making everywhere illegal the presence
troops at the polls as the conclusive PROOF tha
Democratic administration will preserve liberty
The selection of Federal officers for the Territol
should be restricted 10 citizens previously resid
therein. - -, o;,iu,
and Interfere with individual .iheriv
We favor honest civil service reform and the &C
npnsatiop of all United States officers by hxeo
aar,es the separation of church and State, ana
Jifusion of free education by common schools
that every child in the land may be taught the rig
and duties of citizenship 80
While we favor all legislation which will teni
the equitable m distribution of property, to the I
yention of monopoly, and to the strict enforcem
of individual rights against corporate abuses,
hold that the welfare of society depends upc
scrIpulous regard for the fights of property as
fned by law We believe that labor is best rewar