The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-07-15

ing failed to relieve the people from
crushing war taxes, which have paraly zed
business, crippled Industry, and deprived
labor OF employment and just reward.
The Democracy pledges itself to purify
The administration from corruption; TO
restore economy, to revive respect for
law. and to reduce taxation 10 its lowe 81
limit consistent with due regard to the
preservation of the faith OF the nation to
its creditors and pensioners. Knowing
full, however, that legislation affecting
the occupations OF the people should
be caulic US and conservative in method
not in advance of public opinion. but re
sponsive to its demands s-the Democratic
party is pledged to revise the tariff in a
spirit of fairness to all interests, but in
making reduction in taxes it is not pro-
posed to injure any domestic industries,
but rather to promote their healthy
growth. From the foundation of this
Government tax collected at the Gus
tom house have been the chief source Of
Federal revenue. Such thev must con-
tinue. Moreover, many industries have
come to rely upon legislation for success
ful continuance, SO thst any change Of
law must be at every step resardtul of
the labor and capital thus involved. The
process o. reform must be subject in the
execution to this plain dictate Of justice
All taxation shall be limited to The re-
quiremen,s OF economical government
The necessary reduction in taxation can,
and must, he effected thout depriving
American labor of the ability to compete
successfully with foreign labor, and
withal imposing lower rates OF duty than
will be ample to cover any increased cost
of production which may exist in ,nse
quence OF the higher rate OF wages pre-
vailing in this country. Sufficient reve-
nue. to pay oil the expenses of the Fede-
raj Government economically admins
tered, including pensions, interest and
principal OF the public debt, can be got
under our present system of taxation,
from custom house taxes on fewer I'M
ported articles, bearing heaviest on arti-
cles Of luxury. and bearing lightest on
articles OF necessity. We therefore de
nounce the abuse of the existing 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 the Gov
ernment economically administered. The
system OF direct taxation known as the
'in,e. nal revenue" is a war lax, and SO
long as the law continues the money de-
rived therefrom should he sacreily devo.
ted to the relief OF the people from the
remaining burdens of the war, and be
made q fund to detrav the expenses Of
the care 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 soldiers,a like
fund for the sailors having already been
provided, and any surplus should be paid
into the Treasury.
We favor an American Continental
policy, based upon more intimate CON
nercial and pol tical relations with the
fifteen sister republics of North, Central
and South America, but entangling alll-
ances With none.
We believe in honest money, the gold
anG silver coinage OF the Constitution,
and a circulating medium convertible
into such money without loss.
Asserting the equality of all men be-
fore the law, we hold that it is the duty
OF the Government. in it's dealings wi b
the people. to mete ou. eq1al and exact
Justice to all citizens, Of whatever ma
tivity. race, color, or persuasion, relis-
ious or Political. We believe in a free
ballot aud fair count; and We recall to
the memory OF the people the noble
struggle OF the Democrats In the Forty
fifth and Forty-sIx,h Congress by which
a reluctant Republican opposition was
compelled to assent to legislation making
everywhere illegal the presence Of
troops at the polls as conclusive proof
that a Democratic Administration will
preserve liberty with order.
Tha selection Of Fe isral officers for
the Territories should be restricted 10
citizens prev 'ously resident therein
We oppose sumptuary laws. which
vex the ci IL N and interfere with individ.
ual liberty
We favor honest Civil Service reform
and the compensation OF all United
States officers by Fixed salaries; the seps
ration OF Church and State, and the diff
fusion of free education by common
schools, 80 that every child in the land
NAV be taught the rights and duties ol
citizenship.
While we favor all legislation which
will tend to the equitable distribution o.
property, to the prevention OF monopoly
aud to the strict enforcement Of iudivid
ual rights against corporate abuses, We
hold that the welfare Of society depends
upon scrupulous regard for the rights
Of property IS defined by law.
We believe that labor is best rewarded
where it Is ireest and most enlightened
1t should therefore he fostered and cher
ished. We favor the repeal OF all law.
restricting the free action of labor, and
the enactment OF laws by which labor
organizations may be incorporated, and
OF all such legislation as will tend to en-
tighten the people as to the true relations
of capital and labor. We believe thai
the public lands ought, as far as pos.
sible, to be kept IS homestesds for &C.
tual settlers; that all unearned lands
heretofore improvidently granted to
railroad corporations by the action o'
the Republican party should be restored
to the public domain, AMI that no more
grants of land shall be made to corpora.
tions or be allowed to fall into the own.
ership OF alien ab,entees.
We are opposed to all proportions
which upon any pretext would convert
the General Government into machine
Tor collecting taxes to be distributed
among the States or the citizens thereof
In reaffirming the declaration OF the
Democratic platform Of 1856. that The
liberal principles embodied by J, ff.rson
in the Declaration OF Independence, and
sanctioned in the Consti,ut on, which
makes ours the land of liberty and the
asylum of the oppressed OF every nation,
have tVar hepn cardinal princinlaa in tho