San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-07-24

ment OF individual rights agains
, corporate abuse, we hold that tn,
welfare Of society depends upon
scrupulous regard for the rights o
property as defined by law.
We believe that labor is best rewar
ded where il is freest most enlightened
1t should therefore be fostered. w,
favor the repeal of all laws restricting
the free action of labor and the enact
ment of laws by which labor organiza
tions may be Incorporated, and al
such legislation as will tend to en-
Tighten the people as to the true rela
tions Of capital and labor.
We believe that the public lands
ought, as far is possible, to be kept
as homesteads for actual settlers
that all unearned lands heretofore
improvidentily 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, OF 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
q machine for collecting taxes to be
distributed among the States or the
citizens thereof.
In reaffirming 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 makes 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 sanction the importation of for
eign 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 the citizenship which our laws
confer. American civilization de-
mands 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 this 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
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, 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 demand and enforce full
reparation for any invasion thereof.
An American citizen is only RESPONSE
BILE to his own Governmqnt for any
act done in his own county, or under
her flag, and can only be tried there
for 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 any foreign
land for any such act.
This country has never had q well
defined and executed foreign policy
save under Democratic administra-
ton; that policy has ever been, in
regard to foreign nations, 80 long as
they do no act detrimental to the
interests of the country or hurtful to
our citizens, to let them alone; that
as the result of this policy we recall
the acquisition of Louisiana, Florida,
California, and of the adjacent Mexi-
can territory by purchase alone and
contrast these grand acquisitions of
Democratic craftsmanship with the
purchase of Alaska, the sole fruit of
q Republican administration of nearly
a quarter of century.
The Federal Government should
care for and improve the Mississippi
River and other great water ways of
the Republic, so as TO secure for the
interior States easy and cheap trans
portation to tide-water.
Under 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 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 the 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
4 market for the varied products Of
American industry. Under a quarter
Of n century Of Republican rule and
policy, despite our manifest advant-
lge over all other nations in high
paid labor, favorable climates and
soils; despite freedom of
trade among all these United States
iespite their population by the fore
most races Of men and annual
immigration Of the young, thrifty and
adventurous Of all nations; despite
1ur freedom here from the inherited
BURDENS Of life and industry in old
world monarchies-their costly war