The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-10-11
DEMCURATIC PLATFORM.

DEMCGRAT1C platform.
The Der.,0crati: party of The Union, through its
representatives in National Convention assembled
recognizes thatas the naldn grows issue:
born of time and progress anl Old issues persa but
the fundamental principles OF Democracy, approfei
by the united voice of the people remain ani will
ever relnlin the best aud only security Tor the
con inuance Office government. The preservation of
personal ahs, the equality % oil citizens before the
a the reserved rights OF the states, and the supre
macy OF the Federal Government within he limits Of
the Constitution, VIII evar form ba is of
liberties, aid can never be surrendered without de
stro) ing that bA!a4cc of rights and powers which
ables contnelt to be deYeope in peace and social
order to be maintained by means OF local sci govern
ment.
ton and enforcement OF these funya,reatal l'Tin-
ciples that the GnyernmenG should always he
co trolled By o1e political party A frequent change
Of administration Is as ne essay "a the constant re
to the pcpulr will; otherwise, abuses grow,
and the Government, instead of being carried on for
the general welfare, becomes an nstrunentat} forim
posing heavy burdens OH the many VINO governed
for the benefit OF the few who govern. Public
wants thus become arbitrary rulers.
sna anis Is ba no@ fe n dsaei q The the eod.
party, SO fsr rs principle is concerned, is
renliIliscence; in practice, it IS an orsaniza-
ton for enrching those who control its ma
chinerY The frauds and jobbery which Lave been
brought to light in every dep p.rtnent Of the Govern
sui .ieat to have called for reform within
reckless by the long possession OF power have sue
c1mbed to its corluptiAs influence, and have placed
i'll nomination ticket agaIst which the Independent
portion OF The party in open revolt Therefore
change is demanded Such chlnge alike
sity III 1876, bat the viii OF the people then de
| fetted by fraud which never be forgotten
condonel. AZ lin ii 1880 the cnangc demanded by
the people deettel by the lavish Of money,
contributed by unscrupulouS contractors and shame
less nbbes, who had hargained for Unlawful profits,
or for high office.
Tne Re rubican party, during it's legal, its
| stolen a1i its bonght tenures of power, has
steadily decayed III moral character and political
capacity. Its platform promises list of its
/ past failures. 1t demands this restoration Of
navy; it haE squandered hundreds OF millions TO ere
ate navy that does moi exist 1t calls upon congress
torenove the burdens under W hcn american shipping
| has been depressed; it imposed aad has continued
those burdens.
IL processes the policy OF reserving the public lands
for small holding By actual settlers 1t has given
away the peoples heritage till now few railroads.
and nonresident ALIENS individual and corporate pos
sess larger than that of all oar farms between
tie 1t processes preference for free institu
tons it organized and tried To le-alize control of
State elections by federal troops 1t processes de
sire to elevate labCr lthas subjected American work
| ngmen to the competition OF convict and imported
contract labor. |. processes gratitude To all who
disabled or died in the war, leaving widows and
orphans; it LETT to Democratic House OF Represei-
ttives the first ctfor: to equaljze both bnunties
pensions. 1t prnfers pie TO correct the irre2i-
lcrties Of tariff; it created and has continued
them. Its own taFih commission c messed the need
OF more than 20 pei cent. reduction; its Congress gaze
reduction of less tha1 per cent. 1t prfesses tac
protection of American nanuf Icturers it has Sub
jected them to increasing food Of manufactured
goods, and hopeless compet tion With manufaetur-
ing nations, of which taxes material 1t
processes to protect all American industries; it has
impoverished many to subsidize few 1t processes
the protection OF American Labor; it has depleted the
returns Of American agriculture industry followed
by half our people 1t processes the equality o. all
men before ,he law. Attempting to fix the s>atus of
colored citizens, the OF its Congress
by the decisions nf its cours 1t saccapts anew tht
I,tfyy in + lnfN and >
it's caught criminals permitted to escape through
contrved delay or actual coHniFance III the prose
cuton. Honeycombed with corruption, outbreal,ing
exposures no longer shock its moral sense. It's an
est members, its ihdepe iea Journals longer main
tain successful contest for authority in its counse
or veto upon bad nominations. That change is nee
essarly proved by an existing sur, plus OF more thar
500 600, 600, which has yearly been collected from
suffei ing people. Unnecessary taxation is unjust
taxation.
We denonncc the Republican party for having fail ac
to relieve the people from crushing taxes which
have paralyzed business crippled industry and de
prived Labor Of e1nPioymen5 and OF just reward. Tn9
! Democracy pledges itself to purify the admin
istration from corruption to restore ecoa
omy to revive respect for law and to re-
duce taxation to the lowest limit consistent with dut
regard the preservation of the faith of the nation
to its creditors and pensioners: knowing full well
however, that legislation affecting the occupations
Of the people should be cautious and consei.
vative in method, not III advance of publ,
opinion, but responsive its demands, the Demo
cratic party Is pledged TO revise the tariff in spirit
fairness Ia all interests but making rcduct il
taxes, it is not proposed to in ure any domestic
tries but rather to promote their healthy growth From
the Foundation of this Government the taxes coieote.
at the Custom house have been the chief source o
Federal revenue. Such they continue to be
Moreover, many industries have to rely uoor
legislation for successful continuance that any
change Of law must lie every step regardful OF Iabn
and capital thus involved. The process OF reform
be subject in its execution this plain dictat.
of justice All tax alton snail be limited to the re
quirement5 ot an economical Government. Tht
necessary reduction iii taxation ard must be af
with 1olfN fE.,1
ty to compete successfully with foreign labor ans
without imposing lower rates of duty than Will b,
ample to cover any increased cnst ef production whel
may exist in consequence Of the higher rate of wage
prevailing in this country. Sufficient revenue to pay
all the expenses of the Federal Government econon
cay administered, inclndins pensions, interest ans
principal of the public debt, can be got under nu
present system Of taNaion from Custom house take
on fewer imported articles, bearing the heaviest
articles of luxury and bearing lightest articles
necessity. We therefore denouace the abuses of tn,
existing tariff and subject proceeding limitation,
demand that Federal taxatien shall be exclusively fo
public purposes and shsH net eXeecd the needs of th
government economically administered. The system
direct taxation, known the 'nternal revenue il
war Tax and so long as the law continues the monel
received taerefrom should be sacredlv devoted to tht
relief OF the people from remaining burdens of tht
war, and be made fund to defray the expense of th
care and comfort OF worthy soldiers, disabled in th
tine of duty in the wars of the Republic and tht
payment of such pensions Congress may from tim
to time grant to such soldiers like fund for th
sailors having been already provided-and any sur
plus should be paid into the treasury.
We favor an American continental policy, haset
upon intimate commercial and political relation
with the fifteen sister Republics OF North, Central
South America, but entangling alliances with
We believe in honest money-the gold and si,ve
coinage OF the constitution and acrculating medium
convertible into such money without loss.
Asserting the equality OF all before the lay
we hold that il is the duty of the Government, il
dealings with the people to mete out equal and exac
justice To all citizens ri whatever nativity, race, col
or persuasion religious political.
We believe in free ballot and fair count an
we recall to the memory OF the people the nobl
struggle Of the Democrats in the Forty fifth and For
ty-sixth Congresses by which reluctant Republican
opposition compelled to assent TO Legislation
making everywhere Illegal the presence OF troops
the polls the conclusive proof that Democrati
administration viii preserve liberty with order tn
selection of Federal officers for the Territories shou
be restricted to citizens previously resident thereof
We oppose sumptuary laws, which the citizen
AMI intefere with individual liberty.
We favor honest civil service reform in compen
sation of all United States offices by fixed salaries tn
separation of Church and State, and the diffusion
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