Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-08-07

We favor honest civil service reform and the COM
peu satiOn of ell United States ofcers BY fixed sal
aries the separation Of church and State, and the
diffusion OF free education BY common schools, 90
that every child In 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 10 the pre-,
yention Of monopoly. and 10 the strict enforcement
OF individual rights against corporate abuses, we
hold that the welfare Of society depends upon
scrupuous regard for the rights OF property as de
fined by law We believe that labor Is best rewarded
where Il IA freest and most enlightened. II should,
therefore, he fostered and cherished We favor the
repeal Of all laws restricting the free action Of labor
and the enactment oflaws by which labor organiza'
tions may be incorporated, and OF all such legisla-
tion as will tend to enighten the people as TO the
true relations Of capital and labor.
We believe that the public lands ought as far as
possible to be kept hOmeseads for actual settlers
that all unearned lands heretofore improvidently
granted to railroad corporations 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 be allowed to fall into the
ownership of alien abseDtees.
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 or the citizens thereof.
In reatfirming the declaration of the Democratic
platform of 1856 that the liberal principles embodied
by Jefferson IN the Declaration OF Independence and
sanctioned in the Constitution which make ours the
land of liberty and the asylum Of the oppressed OF
every nation, have ever been cardinal principles in
the Democratic faith, we nevertheless do not sane
ton the importation Of foreign labor, or the adms-
sion of servile untitled by habits, training, re-
ligion. kindred for absorption into the great body
of our people for the citizenship which our laws
confer. American civilization demands that against
| the immigration or importation of MODgolians to
these shores our gates be closed. The Democratic
party insists that 1t is the duty of this Government
to protect with equal fidelity and vigilance the rights
| of citizens, native and naturslized, at home and
abroad and to the end that this protection may be
assured. United States papers of naturalization is
| sued bV courts of competent jurisdiction must be
respected by the executive and Legislative depart
| ments of our own Government, and by all foreign
powers. II Is imperative duty of this Government
to efectually protect all the rights of persons and
property of every American 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 any 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 power
exists in this Government to expatriate an Ameri-
can citizen to be tried In any foreign land for any
such act.
cuted foreign policy save under Democratic admin
stration. That policy has ever been, in regard to
foreign nations, so long as they do act detriment
al to the interests of the country or hurtfu to our
citizens, to let them alone. As the result of this
policy recall the acquisitions of Louisiana, Flori
da, California, and of the adjacent Mexican territory
by purchase alone, and contrast these grand acqui
sitions of Democratic statesmanehip with the Dur-
chase of Alaska the sole fruit of Republican ad-
ministration nearly quarter of century.
The Federal Government should care for and i'm
prove the Mississippi River and other great water
ways Oft the Republic, to secure for the inter
ior States easy and cheap transportation to tide
water.
Under long period of Democratic rule and policy
our merchant marine 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 British bottoms, and
almost has the American flag been swept off the
high seas.
Instead of the Republican party's British policy,
We demand for the people of ihe United States an
American policy. Under Democratic rule and policy
our merchants and sailors. flying the Stars and
Stripes In every port, successfully searched out
market for the varied products of American industry
Under quarter century of Republican rule and pol
icy despite our manifest advantage over all other
nations in high paid labor, favorable climates and
teeming soils; despite freedom of trade among all
these United States despite their population by the
foremost races of men, and an annual immigration
of the young thrifty and adventurous of all nations;
despite our freedom here from the inherited burdens
of life and industry in the Old World monarchies,
their costly war navies their vast tax-consuming,
non-producing standing armies; despite twenty
years peace that 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 partys British policy
we demand in behalf of the American Democracy an
American policy.
Instead of the Republican party's discredited
scheme and false pretense Of friendship for Ameri
can labor Expressed by imposing taxes) we demand
In behalf of the Democracy freedom for American
labor by reducing taxes to the end that these United
States may compete with unhindered powers for the
primacy among nations in all the arts of peace and
fruits of liberty.
With profound regret we have been apprised by
the venerable statesman through whose person was
struck that blow at the vital principal of republics
acquiesence in the will of the maority-that he can
not permit again to place in his hands the leader
ship of the Democratic hosts for the that the
achievement of reform in the administration of the
Federal Government is an undertaking now too
heavy for his age and failing strength. Rejoicing
that his life has been prolonged until the general
Judgment of our fellow countrymen is united in the
wish that that wrong righted in his person for
the Democracy of the United States we offer to him
in his withdrawal from public cares not only our re-
spectful sympathy aud esteem, but also that best
homage of freemen, the pledge of our devotion to
the principles and the cause inseperable in the
history of this republic from the abors and the name
of Samuel J. Tiden.
With this statement of the hopes, principles, and
purposes of the Democratic party the 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 new and
more favorable conditions for the growth Of industry
the extension of trade the employment ard due re-
ward of labor and Of capital and the general welfare
Of the whole country.
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