St. Landry democrat., 1884-07-26
The Democratic Platforms

Convention:
The Democratic party of the Union through
its Representatives in National Convention
assembled recognizes that, as the Nation grows
older, new issues are born of time and prog
ress and old issues perish, but the funda-
mental principles of Democracy, approved by
the united voice of the people, remain and
will ever remain as the best and only security
for the continuance of free government The
preservation of personal rights, the equality
of all citizens before the law, the reserved
rights of the States, and the supremacy of the
Federal Government within the limits OF
the Constitution will ever form the true
basis of our liberties, and can never be
surrendered without destroying that bal
ance of rights and powers which enables
continent to he developed in peace and social
order to be maintained by means of loca self
government; but it is indispensable for the
practical application and enforcement of
these fundamental principles that the Gov
eminent should not always be controlled by
one political party. Frequent change of adj
mlnlstraton Is as necessary as constant re-
grow, and the Government instead of being
carried on for the general welfare becomes an
fundamentally fer imposing heavy burdens
on the MANY who are governed for the benefit
of the few who COVE N. Public servants thus
become arbitrary rulers: this is now the con-
dtIon of the country. Hence change is de-
manded.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
The Republican party. so far as principal is
concerned is "reminiscences; in practice it is
an organization for enriching those who con-
troll its machinery. TIE frauds and jobbery
which have en- brought TO light in every de-
Dartment of the government are sufficient to
have called for reform within the Republican
party, yet those in authority, made reckless by
the long possession of rover, have sue
cumbed to It's co.rupting influence and have
placed in nomination ticket against which
the independent portion of the party are in
open revolt. Therefore change is demand
ed. Such change was alike necessary in
1876, but the will of the people was then de-
feated by a fraud which can never be forgot
ten nor condoned., Again, in 1880, the change
y dad IVy 4Ino y1A1 zrrra5 laFan tod
by the lavish use of money contribu-
ted by interruptions contractors and
shameless iohbers who had hargained for
unlawful profits or for high Offices. The Re
publican party during its legal, its stolen and
its bought terms of power. has steadily de-
caved in moral character and political capa-
city. It's platform promises are now list of
its past failures. 1t demands the restoration
o. our navy: it has sqnandered hundreds of
millions to create navy that does not exist.
1t calls on Congress to remove the burdens |
under which American shipping has be.n de-
pressed; it imposed and has continued these |
burdens. 1t processes the policy of reserving |
the public lands for small holders by actual |
settlers; it has given away the peoples her. |
itage till now few railroads and non-resi-
dent aliens, individual and corporate, possess |
a larger area than that of all our farms be-
tween the two seas
FALSE PRRTENsEs.
1t processes preference for free institu.
lions: it organized and tried to legalize con- |
troll OF state elections by eGeral troops. 1t |
processes desire to elevate labor; it has sub i
Jected American workingmen to the competf- /
ton of the co Wet and Imported contract la
Dor. 1t processes gra. itude to all who were dis
abIed or died in war leaving widows and or
phans; it left to q Democratic House of Rep
resenia ives the first effort to e1ualize both /
bounties and pensions 1t protfers pledge
TO correct the itreg uarities of our taiin; it
create j and has continued them. Its own
tariff commission confess the need of more
than twenty per cent reduction: its Congress
gave reduction of less than four per cent.
AZ processes the protection of American man
ufactures; it has subjected them to an I'M
eeaslng flood OF nanufactu ed goods and
hopeless competition with manufacturing
nations not one of which taxes raw
materials materials It processes to protect all
poYerlshed many to subsidize few. 1t pro- |
fesses the protection of American labor; it
ture, an industry followed by half our people
1t processes the equality of all men before the
law, attempting to fix the status of colored
citizens; the acts of it's Congress were overset
by the decision OF its courts. 1t accepts anew
the duty of leading in the work of progress
and reform; its caught criminals are per-
mitsed to escape through contrived de-
lays or actual connivance in the prosecution.
Honey-combed with corruption, outbreaking
exposures no longer shock its moral sense. Its
honest members, it's independent journals no
longer maintain successful contest for au-
thority in its counsels or veto upon bad
nominations.
exist ng surplus of more than $1000J0,000
which has yearly been colectei from a suffer-
ing eople Unnecessary taxation is unjust
taxat on We denounce the Republican
party Tor having failed to relieve the people
from crushing war taxes which have par
nlyzed business, crippled industry and de-
priye labor of employment and of Just re-
ward. The Democracy pledges itself to puri-
fly the Administration from corruption to
restore economy. to revive respect for law,
and to reduce taS alton to the lowest limit
consistent with due tegard to the Lreser-
vat.on of the faith of the Nation to credi-
tors and pensioners knowing fun well
n Far fjssgr tho
pations of he people should be cautious and
onservative in mettoi, not in advance of
public opinion, but expensive to its demand.
TARIFF REVISION. +
Tire Democratic party is pledged to revive
the tariff in spirit of fairness to all interests
But in making q reduction in taxes it is not
proposed TO iniure 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 Federal revenue; such
they must continue to bG; moreover many in
dustsies have come to ely upon le2is alton
for successful continuance SO that any
change of law must he at every S sep regardful |
Of TIE ahor and capt., thus involved The I
process of reform mus be subject in the exc
cution TO this plain dictate of justice: All
taxation shalt be limited to the requirements
OF economical governments. The nee
essary reduction in taxation can and must
be effected without depriving American labor i
of tie ability to compete successfully !
with foreign labor and without imposing I
lower rates of dilty t. an will he annie to !
cover any increased cost of production which d
may exist iii consequence of the higher rate t
Oh wage prevailing IN this country. Sufic ent q
revenue TO ply all the expenses of the Fed {
eral Government economically administered, /
including peHs ons, interest and principal |
Of e pubic Gebt, can be got under our i
present system of taxation from Custom i
house taxes on fewer imp articles bear. '
ing heaviest on articles OF luxury and bearing 4
ghtest on articles of necessity. We there i
fore denounce the abuses of the exiting &
tariff and, subject to the preceding limitations, t
we demand that Federal taxation shall be Q
exclusively for public purposes, and shall not II
eXceed the nee g of the t4oYernment. econom- G