Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-07-18

zen and Interfere with individual

liberty.
We favor honest reform i'm the compen.
satiOn ofall United States officers by fixed
salaries; the separation of church and
state. and the diffusion of free education
by common schools, so that every child
i'll the land may be taught the rights and
duties of citizenship.
While we favor all legislation which
Will tend to the equitable distribution of
property, to the prevention of monopoly
and to the strict enforcement of indiyid.
ual right against corporate abuses, we
hold that the welfare of society depends
on ScrupulOus regard for the rights of
property as defined by law.
We believe that labor is best rewarded
where it is freest and most enlightened.
1t should he fostered and cherished. We
favor the repeal of all laws restraining
the free action of labor, and the enact
ment of laws by which labor organiza-
tlons NAV be increased, and of all such
legislation as will tend to enlighten the
people as to the true relation of capital
and labor.
We believe that the public lands ought
IA tar as possible he kept as h omCSi cadS
for actual settlers; that all unearned land
grants heretofore improvidently granted
to railroad corporations by, the action of
the republican party should be restored
to the public domain. and no more land
grants shall he made to corporations or be
allowed to fall to the ownership of aliens.
We are opposed to all propositions
which, upon any preteXt. would convert
the General Government into a machine
for the collection of taxes to he distr'b-
uted among the States or the citizens
thereof
The declarations of the item IN the plat
form of 1856 that the liberal principles
enbodi' d by jefferson in the Declaration
OF Independence and sanctioned in the
Constitution, which makes ours the land
OF liberty and the asylum of the oppressed
OF every nation, have ever been cardinal
principles i'll the Democratic faith We
nevertheless do not sanction the importa-
ton of foreign labor or the admission of
servile races, untitled by habits. religion
or kindred for absorption in the great
body of our people or for the citizenship
which our laws confer. American civil
cation demands that against the immigra-
ton or importation of Mongolians to
these shores the 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 It's citizens, native or iiaturaliZed,
at home or abroad, and to the end that
this protection may be assured, United
states papers OF naturalization, issued by
courts of competent jurisdiction, must be
respected by the executive and Legislative
departments OF our own Government ard
by all foreign powers.
1t is an imperative duty of this Govern.
ment to efficiently protect all the rights of
her sons and the property of every Ameri-
caii citizen in foreign lands, and demand
and enforce full reparation for any in
VaSion thereof. An American citizen is
only responsible to his own Government
for an act done in his 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
10 eXpatrate an American citizen to he
tried ir foreign land fer any such act.
This country has never had u well de-
tended q educated foreign policy, save
under Democratic administration. That
policy has ever been in regard to foreign
nations, SO long as they do not act detri-
mental to the Interests OF the country or
hurtful to our citizens, to let them alone;
that as the result of this policy was made
the acquisition of California Louisia ma,
Florida and of the adjacent Mexican Ter.
ritory by purchase alone. Contrast these
grand acquisitions of Democratic states
manship with the purchase of Alaska, the
sole fruit of Republican &C ministraton
OF nearly a quarter of century. The
General Government should care for and
improve the Mississippi river and other
great waterways of the renublic, so as to
secure for the interior States easy and
cheap transportation to tide water.
Under long period of Democratic pol
icy our merchant marine was fast over
taking and on the point of Out-stripping
that of Great Britain under twenty Years
of Republican rule and policy our com
merce has been lost to the British and al.
most has the American flag been kept OIL
the high seas.
Instead of the Republican party's Brit.
ish policy, we demand for the people of
tho United States All American policy. |
Under Democratic rule and policy our
merchants and sailors were flying the
stars ana stripes in every port success
fully searching outa market fOrthe varied |
products of American industry. Under
quarter of q century of Republican rule |
and policy, despite our manifest advan- |
tages over all other nations in high paid
labor, favorable climates and teeming |
soil, despite the freedom of trade among |
all these, despite a population of the fore |
most races OF men and an immigration of
the thrifty and adventurous of all nations: |
despite our freedom here from the inner
tied burdens of lite in the old world mon |
al chieS, their vast war navies, their vast |
tax and consuming standing armies; de- |
spite twenty years of peace, that Repub. |
lican 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 demand on |
behalf Of the American Democracy an |
American policy. Instead of the Repub-
lican party's discredt, shame, and false |
pretense OF friendship to American labor |
expressed by imposing taxes, we demaL d |
in behalf of the Democrats freedom for |
American labor by reducing taxes, to the |
end that these L nited States may compete |
with hundred powers for permanency |
among nations 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 ut the |
vital principle OF ac1uiescence i'm the will |
of the majority that he cannot permit us |
again to place in his hands the leadership |
OF the Democratic host, for the reason that |
achievement of reform i'm the adminstra-
ton of the Federal Government is an un- |
dertaking now too heavy for his age and |
falling strength. Rejoicing that his life
has been prolonged until the general
united in the wish that that wrong were
righted in his person, We offer to him in
hi; withdrawal from cares not only our
respectful sympathy and esteem, but also
that M st homage of freemen, the pledge
of our devotion to the principles and the
cause now inseperabe in the history of
this republic, with the naino of Samuel j. !
Tilden.
with this statement of the hopes, prin.
ciples, and purposes Of the Democratic
party, tho great issue OF reform and
change In administration Is submitted to
the people, in calm confidence that the
popular voice will pronounce in favor of
new men and now and more favorable
extension of trade, the employment and
due reward of labor and Of capital, and the
general welfare of the country.
Tur Gov oprp Vorp Tho .,,oo.k