The Mineral argus., 1884-07-24

n ELAIFOhM.
Morrison of Illinois, chairman of the commit
zee on resolutions, stepped to the platform to
present the report Of that mmit His az
pearance was greeted with cheers. The platform
was read by one of the reading clerks as follows.
Inc Democratic party of the Union through
Is Representatives in national convention as
sembled, recognizes that, as the nation grows
older new issues are born of time and progress
ana old issues perish; but the fundamental
principles OF the Democracy approved by the
united voice of the people remain and viii ever
remain as the best and only security for the con-
tlnuance OF free government. The preservation
OF personal rights, the equality OF all citizens be-
Tore the law, the reserved rights of the states.
and the supremacy of the federal government
within the limits Of the constitution win ever
form the true basis Of our Hberties ana q
never be surrendered without destroying that
balance OF rights and powers which enables a
cOntlnenJ TO be developed in peace and social
order to be maintained by means Of loyal self
government, but it is Indispensable for the prac-
tlcal application and enforcement of these fun
oamentai principles that the govern
ment should not always be Controlled
by one political party. Frequent change
OF administration is necessary as constant
recurrence to the popular will. Otherwise
abuses grow, and the government, instead of
being carried on for the general welfare, becomes
on the many who are governed for the benefit
OF the rev VINO govern. Public servants thus be-
come arbitrary rulers. This is now the condition
OF the country. Hence a change is demanded.
The Republican party, so far as principle is con-
cerned Is "reminiscences. In practice it is an
organization for enriching those who control its
machinery. The frauds and jobbery which have
been brought to light in every depart
ment Of the government are sufficient
TO nave called for reform within the Republican
party, vet those in authority, made reckless bv
the long possession OF power, have succumbed n
us corrupt1ng influence and have placed in
nomination a ticket against which the indepen-
dent portion of the party are in open revolt.
Therefore a change is demanded. Such a change
was alike necessary in 1876, but the will of the
people was then defeated by a fraud which can
never be forgotten nor coRdoped. Again in 1850
the change demanded by the people was defeated
by the lavish use OF money contributed by un-
scrupulous contractors and shameless iobbers
who had bargained for unlawful profits, or for
high Office.
The Republican party, during it's illegal. its
stolen and its bought tenures of power, has
steadily decayed / in morality, character, and po-
ntlcai caRaclty. It's platform promises are now
a list OF Its present failures. 1t demands the
restoration of our navy it has squandcred hum
dreds ofmlllions to create a navy that does not
exist. 10 calls upon congress to remove the
burdens under which American shipping has
been depressed: it imposes and has continued
those burdens. 1t proposes the policy of reserv-
ing the public lands for small holding by actual !
settlers; it has given away the peoples heritage y
till now a few railroads and nonresident aliens.
individual and corporate, possess a larger area
than that of all our farmers between the two
seas. IL processes a preference for free institu-
lions; 1t organized and tried to control state
elections by federal troops. 1t processes desire
to elevate labor; it has subjected American
working men to the competition of convict and
contract labor. 1t processes gratitude
10 all VINO are disabled, or died in the war leav-
ing widows and orphans; it left to a Democratic
mouse OF representatives the first effort to equal
ize both bounties and pensions. 1t profers a
pledge to correct the Irregularities of our tariff:
1t creates and has continued them. It's own tariff
confessed the need of more than 20
per cent reduction. Its congress gave a reduc-
tlon Of less than 4 per cent. 1t processes the
protection of American manufacturers it
has subjected them to an unnecessary flood of
manufacturing nations, not one of which taxes
raw materials. 1t proposes to protect all Amer
lean industries it has impoverished many to sub
sfdize a few. 1t Processes the protection of Amer
lean labor. 1t has OeDlpFan the rptur0G of Aunarf-
can agriculture, 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 its CONGRESS were re-
versed by the decisions of its courts. 1t accepts
and reform; its criminals are permitted
to escape through contrived DELAYS or
actual connivance in the prosecution. 1t is reek-
ing with corruption Outbreaking exposures no
shock its moral sense. It's honest MEM
bers, its journals, no longer maintain 2 success
ful contest for authority in its counsels or a veto
sary is proved by an existing surplus of more
Than 800, 10000, which has yearly been col
lected from a suffering people. Unnecessary
is unjust taxation. We denounoe the
republican party for having failed to relieve the
people from the crushing war taxes which have
business, crippled industry, and de-
pr1ved labor of employment and just reward.
IN Democracy pledges itself to purify the adj
from corruption, to restore econo-
to restore respect for law and to reduce tax
alton to the lowest limit consistent with due re-
gard to the preservation of the faith of the
70 us cT6u1BOfS ana pensioners, knowing
full well, however, that legislation affecting the
occupations of the people should be cautious
and conservative in method and not in advance
of public opinion but responsive to its demands,
The Democratic party is pledged to revise the
bariff in a spirit of fairness to all interests.
Duo IA maklhg a reduction IN taxes 1t is not
'ather to promote their healthy growth. From
he foundation of the government taxes collected
the custom house have been the source of
ederal revenue. Such they must continue to ]
De. Moreover many industries have come to RELY {
lpon legislation for successful continuance. so
nat any change OF law must be at every step ]
egardful OF the labor and capital thus involved. '
ne process of reform must be subject in the s
to this plain dictate of justice. All !
xat1on shall be limited to the requirements of I
Onontca government. The necessary reduction i
a taxation can and must he effected without de- a
accessibility with foreign labor, and without i'm {
osing lower rates of duty than will be ample to q
over any increased cost of production which t
nay exist in consequence of the higher rate of v
rages prevailing in this country. Sufficient 4
eVenue to pay expenses of the federal govern Q
lent economically administered, including PEN Y
IONS, interest and principal of the public debt, Y
an be, under our present system of taxation
custom house taxes on fewer imported Y
rtieles, bearing heaviest on articles of luxury, +
no bearing nghtest on articles of necessity, s
We therefore denounce the -
ABUSES OF THE EXISTING TARIFF, I
nd subject to the preceding limitations, we =
emand that federal taxation shall be excius- :
rely for public purposes and shall not exceed q
ne needs Of the government economically adj a
The system of direct taxation A
nown as the internal revenue is a war tax; so D
ing as the law continues the money derived +
should be devoted to the relief of the il
eople from the remaining burdens of the war i
nd be made a fund to defray the expense of the g
ire and comfort of worthy soldiers disabled in =
ME of duty in the wars of the republic, and for y
he payment of such pensions as congress may u
ON time to time grant to such soldiers, a like Il
ind for the sailors having been already pro- "
lded, and any surplus should be paid into the
easury. D
We favor an American continental policy based 4,
pom more intimate commercial and political re- l.,
tion with the fifteen sister republics of North, y.
and South America, but entangling al OF