Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-07-15

welfare of society depends upon a scrupu
lous regard for the rights of property as de
fined by the laws.
We believe that labor is best rewarded
where it is the freest and most enlightened
1t should therefore be fostered and cherished
We favor repeal of all laws restricting
the free action of labor, and the enactment
of laws by which labor organizations may
be incorporated, and of all such Legislation
aAwill tend to enlighten the people as to the
TIDE relation of capital and labor.
We believe that public land ought as fal
as possible to be kept as homesteads for &C
tual settlers; that all unearned landl here
tofore improvidently granted to railroad cor
porations by the action of the Republican
party should be restored to the public
domain, and that no more grants of land
shall be made to corporations, or be allowed
to fall into the ownership of alien absentees
We are opposed to all propositions which
upon any pretext would convert the General
Government into machine for collecting
taxes to be distributed among the States OF
citizens thereof
| In re-afirming the declarations of the
democratic platform of 1856, that ''the liberal
principles embodied by Jefferson in the De-
claration of Independence, and sanctioned
in the Constitution which make ours land
of liberty and an asylum of the oppressed OF
every nation, have ever been the cardinal
principles in the Democratic faith" We,
nevertheless, do not sanction the importa-
| ton of foreign labor, or the admission of
servile races untitled by habits, training,
religion, or kindred, for absorption into the
great body of our people or for citiz enship
| which our laws confer. American civiliza-
ton demands that against the immigration
or Importation of Mongolians to these shores
our gates be closed.
The Democratic party insists that it is the
duty of the Government to protect with
equal fidelity and vigilance the rights of its
citizens, native and naturalized, at home
and abroad, and to the end that this protec-
ton may be assured the United States pa
pers of naturalization issued by the courts
of competent jurisdiction must be respected
by the executive and legislative departments
of our own government and by all foreign
Powers. 1t is an Imperative duty of this
Government to efficiently protect all the
rights of persons and property of every
American citizen in foreign lands, and de-
mand and enforce the full reparation for any
invasion thereof.
An American citizen is only responsible
to his own Government fofany act done in
his own country or under her flag, and can
only be tried therefor on her own soil, and
according to her laws, and no power exists
in this Government to expatriate an Ameri-
can citizen to be tried in foreign land
for any such act.
This country has never had a we'll defined
and executed foreign policy save under
Democratic administration. That policy
has ever been in regard to foreign nations
so long as they do no act detrimental to the
interests of the country or hurtful to our
citizens to let them alone; that as result
of this policy we recall the acquisition of
Louisiana, Florida, California, aud the adj
jacent Mexican territory by purchase alone,
and contrast these grand acquisitions of
Democratic craftsmanship with the pur-
chase of Alaska, the sole fruit of the
Republican administration of nearly
quarter of century.
The Federal Government should care for
and improve the Mississippi river and other
great waterways of the republic, so as to
secure for the interior States easy and cheap
transportation to tide-water.
Under the long period of Democratic rule
and policy our merchant marine was fast
overtaking and on the point of outstripping
that of Great Britain. Under twenty years
of Republican rule and policy our commerce
has been left to the British bottoms, and
almost has the American flag been swept
off the high seas. Instead of the Republi-
can party's British policy, we demand for
the people of the United States an Ameri-
can policy. Under the Democratic rule and
policy our merchant ships and sailors, fly
ing the stars and stripes in every port, sue
cessfully searched out market for the varied
product, of Araoxioss..- tzstry.-B nrfor a
quarter of century of Republican rule and
policy, despite our manifest advantages over
all other nations, in high-paid labor, favor
able climate, and teeming soils, despite the
freedom of trade among all these United |
States, despite their population by the fore
most races of the world, an annual fmmigra-
ton of the young, thrifty, and adventurous
OF all nations; despite our freedom here |
from the inherited burdens of life and in
dustry in the Old World monarchies, their
costly war-navies, their vast tax-consuming, |
non-producing standing armies; despite |
twenty years of peace, Republican rule
and policy have managed to surrender to |
Great Britain, along with our commerce, the
control of the markets of the world. Instead |
of the Republican party's British policy we
demandin behalf of the American democracy |
an American policy. Instead of the Repub-
lican party's discredited scheme and false
pretence of friendship for American labor
expressed by imposing taxes, we demand in
behalf of Democracy freedom for American
labor by reducing taxes, to The end that
these United States may compete with I'M
hindered power for primacy among the ma
lions in all the arts of peace and fruits of
liberty.
With profound regret we have been ap-
'prised by the venerable statesman through |
whose person was struck that blow at the
vital principle Of republics (acquiescence
in the will of the majority that he cannot
permit as again to place in his hands the
leadership of the Democratic hosts for the
reason that the achievement of reform in, the
administration of the Federal Government
is an undertaking now too heavy for his age
and failing health. Rejoicing that his
life has been prolonged until the general
judgment of our fellow countrymen is uni
ted in the wish that wrong were righted
in his persor. for the: Demo cracylof the Uni
ted States, all offer to him in his withdrawal
from public cares not only our respectful
sympathy and esteem, but also that best
homage of freemen, the pledge of our devo-
ton to the principles and the cause, now in
separable in the history of this republic from
the labors and the name Of Samuel ]. Tilden.
With this statement of the hopes, princi-
PIES and purposes of the Democratic party,
the great issue of reform and change in
administration is submitted to the people in
the calm confidence that the popular voice
will pronounce in favor Of new men and
new and more favorable conditions for the
growth of industry, the extension of trade,
the employment and due reward of
labor and of capital and the general welfare
of the whole country.
After the platform was adopted, a motion