The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-07-23
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM

DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM
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 progress, and old issues perish
but the fundamental principles OF
the democracy, approved by the
united voice of the people, remain,
and will ever remain, as the best
and only security for the continu-
ance 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 linn
it's of the constitution will ever form
the true basis Of our liberties and
can never be surrendered without
destroying that balance of rights
and powers which enables a CONT
nent to be developed in peace and
social order to be maintained by
means Of local self government; but
it is indispensable for the practical
application and enforcement of
these fundamental principles that
the government should lot always
be controlled by one political party.
Frequent change of administration
is as necessary as constant recur-
renee to the popular will. Other
wise abuses grow and the govern.
ment, instead of being carried ON for
the general welfare, becomes an in
strumentality for imposing heavy
burdens on the many who arc gov
erned for the benefit of the few who
Govern. Public servants thus beA
come arbitrary rulers. This is now
the condition of the country--hcnce
change is demanded.
ARRAIGNING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
The republican party, SO far as
priuciple is concerned, is reminis-
cence. In practice it is an organi-
zation for enriching those who con-
troll its machinery. The frauds and
jebbery which have been brought
to light in every department Of the
government are sufficient to have
called for reform within tho repub-
liean portW Yet thosein authority,
made reckless by the long posses
sion of power, have succumbed to
its corrupting influence and and
have placed in nomination ticket
against which the independent por-
ton of the party are in open revolt.
Therefore a change is demanded.
Such change was alike necessary
in 1876, but the will of the people
was then defeated by a fraud which
can never be forgotten nor condon>
ed. Again, in 1880, the change de-
manded by the people was defeated
by the lavish use Of money contrib
uted by unscrupulous contractors
and shameless jebbers who had bar
gained for unlawful profits or for
high Office. The republican party
during its legal, its stolen and its
bought tenure Of power has steadily
decayed in neral character and po-
litical capacity. Itsplatform prom
ises are now list Of its past fail
ures. 1t demands the restoration
of our navy; it has squandered
hundreds of millions to create a
navy that does not exist. 1t calls
upon Congress to remove the bur-
dens under which American ship
ping has been depressed; it impos-
ed and has continued those burdens.
1t processes the policy of reserving
the public lands for small holdings
by actual settlers it has given
away the peoples heritage till now
a few railroads and nonresident
aliens, individual and corporate, pos
sess a larger area than that OF all
our farms between the two seas. 1t
processes preference for free insti-
tutions; it organized and tried to
legalize a contrel of State elections
by federal troops. 1t processes a
desire to elevate labor; it has SUBJ
jected American workingmen to the
competition of convict and imported
contract labor. 1t processes graft
tude to all who were disabled or
died in tho war leaving widows and
orphans; it left to a democratic
House of Representatives the first
effort to evnalize both bounties and
pensions. 1t profiers a pledge to
correct the Irregularities of our ia
riff; it created and has continued
them. Its own Tariff Commission
confessed the need of more than
twenty per cent. reduction; its Con-
.gress gave a reduction of less than
four per cent. 1t processes tho pro-
lection of American manufactures;
it has subjected them to an Sacreas-
ing flood of manufactured goods and
a hopeless competition with manu-
featuring nations, not one of which
taxes raw materials. Itprofesses to
protect all American industries; it
has impov( (rished many to subsidlze
a few. 1t processes tho protection
of AMERICAN lalor; it has depleted
the returns of American agriculture
--an industry followed by half our