Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-10-09
The Platform OF the National Demo-
cratic Party.

The Democratic narty Of the Union, through its
representatives in National Convention assembled,
recognizes that, as the nation grows o der new is
sues are horn Of time and progress and old issues
perish. But the fundamental principles OF the
Democracy, approved blythe united voice OF the peo-
pie remain, and will ever remain, as the best and
only security for the continuance Of free govern
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 Consttu-
ton, will ever form the true basis Of our liberties
and can never be surrendered without destroying
that balance Of rights aud powers which enables
continent to be developed, and social order to be
maintained hy means of local self-government.
But 1t Is indispensable for the practical applica
tlon 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 nstrumentaity for
imposing heavy burdens on the many who are gov
srned for the benefit Of the few who govern Public
servants thus become arbitrary rulers.
This is now the condition df the country-hence
change is demanded. The Republican party, so far
as principle is concerned is reminiscence In prnc-
tics II is organization for enrichin8 those who
control it's machinery. The frauds aud 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 male reckless by the long possession
Of power have succombed to its corruptng influence
and have placed in nomination ticket against
which the independent portion OF the party are In
open revolt,
6Therefore a change is demanded. Such change
was alike necessary in 1875, but the will of the peo-
pie was then defeated by fraud which can never be
forgotten nor condoned. Again, in 1880 the change
demanded by the people defeated by the lavish
use of money contributed by INSCRIPTIONS 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-
cayed in moral character and political capacity Its
platform promises now list Of its past failures.
II demands the restoration of our navy; it has
squandered hundreds of millions to create navy
thate does not exist.
It calls upon Congress to remove the burdens un-
der which American shipping has been depressed;
1t imposed and has continued those burdens.
It processes the policy Of reserving the public
lands for small holdings by actual settlers; 1t has
given away the peoples heritage till now few rail-
roads and aliens, individual and corpo-
rate posses larger than that of all our farms
between the two seas.
II professes preference for free institutions; it
organized and tried to legalize control of State
elections by Federal troops.
II processes n desire to elevate labor; 1t has sub
iected American workingmen TO the competition OF
convict and imported contract labor.
It processes gratitude to all who were disabled or
died in the war; leaving widows and orphans 1t left
TO Democ ratio House of Representatives the first
effort to equalize both bountes and pensions.
1t 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.
It processes the protection OF American manufac
tlres: 1t has subjected them to an increasing flood
of manufactured goods and hopeless competition
with manufacturing nations, not one OF which taxes
raw materials.
has impoverished many to subsidze q few.
It processes the protection of American labor; it
has depleted the returns of American agricultu e.
an industry followed by half our people.
1t processes the equality of all men before the law;
attempting to fix tAesatus of coored citizens, the
acts Of its Congress were overset by the decisions OF
the courts.
II Iaccepts anew the duty Of leading in the work
of progress and reform !" its caught criminals are
permitted to escape through contrived delays or
actual connivance In the prosecution.
Honeycombed with corruption, outbreaking ex-
posures no longer shock its moral sense Its honest
members, its independent journals, no longer main
tain successful contest for authority IN Its coun
ellis or a veto upon bad nominations.
That chance is necessary is proved by an existing
surplus of more than $780, OOO0,0 000 which has yearly
been collected from suffering people. Unnecessary
taxation Ia uni u st taxation.
we deuounce 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 anu Vi JUST re-
ward. . . .
ministration from corruption, to restore economy
to revive respect for law. and to reduce taxation to
thelowest limit consistent with due regard TO the
preservation of the faith of the nation to its credit
ors and pensioners.
ing the operations of the people should, be cautious
and conservative in method not in advance of pub
lie opinion, but responsive to Its demands, the DEM
ocrac party is pledged to revise the tariff in spirit
of fairness to all interests
But in making reduction in taxes it is not pro-
posed injure any domestic industries but rather to
promote their healthy growth. From the foundation
Of this Government taxes collected at the Custom
House have been the chief source of Fedeaai reve-
nue.. Such they must continue to be. Moreover,
many industries have come to rely upon legislation
mi
law must be at every step regardful of the labor and
capital thus involved. The process of reform must
be subject in the execution to this plain dictate OF
Justice All taxation shall be limited to the require
ments of economical government. The necessary
reduction In taxation can and must be effected with
out depriving American labor OF the ability to com.
imposing lower rates Of duty than will be ample to
cover any increased cost OF production which may
exist in consequence of the higher rate OF wages
prevailing in this country. Sufficient revenue to pay
all the expenses of the Federal Government econo-
mically administered including pensions and inter
est and principal of the public debt can be got under
our present system of taxation, from Custom House
taxes on fewer imported articles, bearing heaviest
on articles of luxury and bearing ghest on articles
Of necessity. go,
tariff and, subject to the preceding limitations we
demand that Federal taxation shall be exclusively
for public purposes and shall not exceed the needs
of Che Government economically administered.
The system of direct taxation known as the Sin
ternal revenue is q war tax, and so long as the law
continues the money derived therefrom should be
sacredy devoted to the relief of the people from the
remaing burdens of the war and be made fund to
defray the expense of the and comfort of worthy
soldiers disabled in the line of duty in the wars of the
republic and for the payment of such pensions as
Congress may from time to time grant to such sol
ders alike fund for the sailors having been already
provided, and any surplus should be paid into the
treasury. , :. ,
We favor an American continental policy based
unon more intimate commercial and political rela-
tons with the fifteen sister republics Of North
Central, and South America but entangling alliances
with none.
coinage of the Constitution, and circulating medl-
nm convertible into such money without loss.
Asserting the equality of all men before the law,
we hold that it is the duty of the Governmentn in Its
dealings with the people to mete out equal and eS-
act justice to all citizens of whatever nativity, race
color or pers uasion, religious or political.
We believe in free ballot and fair count, and
we recall to the memory of the people the noble
struggle of the Democrats in the Forty-hfth and
Forty-sxth Congresses, by which reluctant Re
publican opposition was compelled to assent to leg.
islation making everywhere illegal the presence OF
troops at the polls, the conclusive proof that Q
Democratic administration will preserve liberty WIFI
order.
The selection of Federal officers for the Territories
should be restricted to citizens previously resident
therein. m
We oppose sumptuary laws which the citizens
and interfere with individual liberty.
We favor honest civil service reform and the com
pensaton of all United States officers by fixed sal
arl es the separation Of church and State, and t'
diffusion of free education by common schools, 81
that every child in the land may be taught the right
and duties of citizenship
While we favor all legislation which will tend tt
the equitable distribution of property, to the pre-
vention of monopoly, and to the strict enforcement
OF individual rights against corporate abuses, We
hold that the welfare Of society depends upon
scrupulous regard for the rights of property as de
fined by law. We believe that labor s best rewarded
vharoi Ia enllRltpDeN,