The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1884-07-17

policy based upon intimate commercial
and political relations with the fifteen
sister repu blics of North, Central and
South America, but tangling alliances
with none.
We believe in honest money, the gold
and silver coinage OF the constitution
and circulating medium convertible
into such money without loss.
Asserting the equality of all men be-
fore the law, we hold that it is the duty
OF the government in its dealings with
the people to mete out equal and exact
justice to all citizens of whatever nativ-
ity. race, color or persuation, religious
or political.
We believe in free ballot and a fair
count, and we recall to the memory OF
the people the noble struggle OF the
democrats in the forty-fifth and forty
sixth congresses, by which a reluctant
republican opposition was compelled TO
assent to legislation making every
whore illegal the presence of troops at
the polls as the conclusive proof that a
democratic administration will preserve
liberty with order.
The selection of Federal officers for
the territories should be restricted to
citizens previously resident therein.
We oppose sumptuary laws which
vex the citizen and interfere with in
dividual liberty.
We favor an honest civil service reform,
and the compensation of United .States
officers by fixed salaries; the separa-
ton of church and state, and the diffu-
sion of free education by common
schools, so that every child in the land
may be taught the rights and duties OF
citizenship.
While we favor all legislation which
tends to the equitable distribution OF
property, to the prevention of mo-
nopoly and TO the strict enforcement of
Individual rights against corporate
abuses, we hold that the welfare Of soci-
ETY. depends upon a scrupulous regard
for the rights of property as defined by
law.
We believe that labor is best rewarded
where it is treest and most enlightened
| It should, therefore, be fosteTed and
cherished. We favor the repeal of all
laws restricting the free action of la
| Dor, and the enactment of laws by
which labor organizations may be in
corporated, and of all such legislation
as will tend to enlighten the people as
to the true relations of capital and la
| Dor.
We believe that the public lands
ought as far as possible be kept as
homesteads for actual settlers; that all
| lands heretofore impTovidently granted
to railroad corporations, the action of
| the republican party, should be restor-
ed to the public domain, and that no
more grants of land shall be made to
corporations, or be allowed to fall into
| the ownership of alien absenteeS.
We are opposed to all propositions
which, upon any preteXt, would con-
vert the general government into ma
chine for collecting taxes to be dis
! tributed among the states or the citi-
zens thereof:
In reaffirming the declarations of the
democratic platform of 1856, that, ''the
! liberal principles embodied by Jeffer-
son in the declaration of independence,
and sanctioned in the constitution,
which make ours the land OF liberty
and the asylum of the oppressed of eve
ry nation, have ever been cardinal
principles in the democratic faith" we
nevertheless do not sanction the inn
portation of foreign labor, or the ad-
mission of servile races, untitled by
habits, training, religion or kindred for
absorption into the great body of our
people for the citizenship which our
laws confer. American civilization de-
mands that against the MOngOlians TO
thesesshoreS. our gates be closed.
The democratic party insists that il is the
duty of this government to protect with
equal fidelity and vigilance the rights of
its citizens, native and naturalized, at homo
and abroad; and to the end that this proteo-
ton may be assured, United States,papers of
naturalization, issued by courts of conpo-
tent 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 responsible to his
own government for any act done in his own
country, or under her flag, and can only be
tried therefore on her own soil and accord
ing to her laws; and no power exists in this
government to expalrIate an American citi-
zen to be tried in any foreign land for any
such act. This country has neve: had q
well defined ard executive 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 interest of the country or hurt
ful to our citizens, to let them alone; that
as the result of this polity we recall the ac-
QUESTION of Louisiana, Florida, California
and of the adjacent Mexican territory by
purchase alone; and contrast these grand
acquisitions OF democratic statesnsnship
with the purchase of Alaska, the sole fruit
of republican administration of nearly 8
quarter of q century.
The federal government should care for
and improve the Mississippi river and other
great water ways of the republic, so as to SO
cure tor the interior states easy and cheap
transportation to tide water.
Under long period of democratic rule
and policy, our merchant marine was fast
overtaking and on the point of outstiPping
that of Great Britain. Under twenty years
of republican rule and policy onr 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, In
der democratic rule and policy our mer-
chants and sailors, flying the stars and
stripes in every port, successfully searched
out q market for the varied products OF
American industry. Under quarter centu-
~ OF republican rule and policy, despite our
manifest advantage over all other nations in
high paid labor, favorable climate and teeming
soils; spite the freedom of trade among all
these United States; despite their popula-
ton by the foremost races of mon and the
annual Immigration OF the young and ad-
venturous of all nations; despite our freedom
here from the inherited burdens OF life and
industry in the old world monarchies; their
costly wars and naVies; their vast tax
consuming, non-producing standing armiesi
despite twenty years OF peace, the Iepuoh-
can rule and policy have managed to sur
commerce, the control of the markets of the
world. Instead of the republican party's
British policy we demand in behalf of the
American democracy an American policy.
Instead of the republican Party's disereditcd
schemes and false pretense of friendship for
American labor expressed by imposing taxes,
we demand in behalf of the democracy free
dom tor American labor by reducing taxes
to the end that these United States may
compete with, unhindered, the powers for
the primacy among the nations in ports 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 at the
vital principle of republics (acquieseence in
the will of the majority that he cannot per-
nit us again to place in his hands the lead
ership of the democratic party, for the rea-
son tn at the achievement of reform in the
administration of the federal government
is an undertaking too heavy for his age and
falling strength. Rel oicing that his life has
been prolonged until the general judgment
of our fellow eountrymen is united in the
wish that the wrong were righted in has
person, for the democracy of the United
States, we offer to him in his withdrawal
from public life, not only our respectful
. Nk.Ie