Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-08-07
THE NORTHWEST.
The Platform of the National Demo-
cratic Party.

The Platform of the National Demo-
cratic Party.
representatives In National Convention bled
recognizes that as the nation grows oder, new is
sues are born OF time and progress, and old issues
perish. But the Fundamental principles OF the
Democracy approved by the united voice OF the peo.
pie, remain and will ever remain, as the best and
only security for the continuance of free govern
ment. The preservation OF personal rights; the
equality Of all citizens before the law the reserved
rights OF the States, and the supremacy of the Fed
cral Government within the limits of the Constitu-
ton, will ever form the true basis of og- toorties,
that balance OF rights and powers which enables a
continent to be developed, and social order to be
maintained by means Of local sef-government.
But 1t Is indispensable for the practical appica-
tion and enforcement of these fundamental princi-
ples that the Government should not always be con-
troled by one political party. Frequent change Of
administration Is as necessary as constant recur-
renee to the popular will. otherwise abuses grow,
the general welfare, becomes an nstrumentality for
imposing heavy burdens on the many who are gov
erned for the benefit of the few who govern. Public
servants thus become arbitrary rulers.
This is now the condition df the country-hence
change is demanded. The Republican party, 80 far
az principle Is concerned is reminiscence In prac
tice 1t Is an organization for enrlching those VINO
control its machinery. The frauds and jobbery
which have been brought to light in every depart
ment of the Government are sufficient to have called
for reform within the Republican party. Yet those
in authority male reckless by the long possession
Of power have succombed to its corrupting influence
and have placed in nomination ticket against
which the independent portion of the party are in
open revolt.
was alike necessary in 1876, but the will of the peo-
pie then defeated by fraud which can never be
forgotten nor condoned. Again. In 1850, the change
demanded by the people was defeated by the lavish
0f cOntributpd nv unsCruDulOuS COntrac.
tors and shameless jobbers who had bargained for
unlawful profits or for high office.
The Republican party, during its legal, its stolen,
and its bought tenurcs of power. has steadily de-
cayed in moral character and political capacity. Its
platform promises are now list Of its past failures
1t demands the restoration of our navy; 1t has
BQuandered hundreds of millions to create navy
thAte does not exist.
1t calls upon Congress to remove the burdens un-
der which American shipping has been depressed; ;
1t imposed 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 few rail-
roads and nonresident ALIENS individual and corpo
rate posses larger area than that Of all our farms
between the two seas. - p '-
1t processes preference for free institutions; 1t
organized and tried to egalize control OF State
elections by Federal troops.
1t processes desire to elevate labor; 1t has sub
jected American workingmen to the competition Of
convict and imported contract labor.
1t PROCESSES gratitude to oil who were disabled or
died in the war; leaving widows and orphans it left
to Democratic House of Representatives. the first
effort to eQualize both bounties and pensions.
proers pledge to correct the Irregularities of
our tariff 1t created and has continued them.
Its own Tariff Commission confessed the need of
more than twenty per cent. reduction its Congress
gave reduction of less than fourper cent.
1t processes the protection of American manufac
lures 1t has subjected them to an increasing flood
of manufactured goods and hopeless competition
with manufacturing nations not one of which taxes
raw materials.
1t processes to protect all American industries; it
has Impoverished many to subsidiZe a few.
1t professes the protection of American labor; it
has depleted the returns of American agriculture e
an industry followed by half onr people.
1t processes the equality of all men before the law;
attempting to fix thestatus Of coored citizens, the
acts of its Congress were overset by the decisions of
the courts.
1t "accepts anew the duty of leading in the work
Of progress and REFORM !" its caught criminals are
permitted to escape through contrived delays or
actual connivance in the prosecution.
Honeycombed with corruption, outbreaking ex-
p0sures no longer shock its moral sense Its honest
members Its independent journals, no longer main
tain successful contest for authority in its coun
ellis or q veto upon bad nominations.
That change Ia necessary is proved by an existing
aurplus Of more than $100O00,00O, which has yearly
been collected from suffering people. Unnecessary
taxation is unjust taxation.
We denounce the Republican party for having
failed to relieve the people from crushing war taxes,
which have paralyzed business, crippled industry,
ward.
The Democracy pledges itself to purify the I'D
ministration from corruption, to restore economy,
to revive respect for law, and to reduce taxation to
thelowest limit consistent with due regard to the
preservation of the faith of the nation to its credit
0rs and pensioners.
Knowing full well. however, that legislation affect
ing the operations of the people should be cautious
and conservative in method, not in advance of pub
Lie opinion, but responsive to its demands the DEM
Ocratc party Is pledged to revise the tariff in spirit
80 nd IN n int
But in making reduction in taxes it Is not pro-
posed to njure any domestic Industries but rather to
promote their healthy growth. From the foundation
of this Government taxes collected at the Custom
House have been the chief source of Fedeaa reve-
nue.. Such they must continue to be. Moreover,
many industries have come to rely upon legislation
for successful continuance, so that any change Of
law must be at every step regarful of the labor and
capital thus involved. The process of reform must
be subject In the execution to this plain dictate of
justice. All taxation shall be limited to the require
ments of economical government. The necessary
reduction in taxation can and must be effected with
out depriving American labor of the ability to
pete successfully with foreign labor and without
imposing lower rates of duty than will be ample to
cover any increased cost Of production which may
exist In consequence of the higher rate of wages
prevailing In this country Sufficient revenue to pay
all the expenses of the Federal Government econo-
mcally administered, including pensions and inter-
est and principal Of the public debt can begot under
our present system of taxation, from Custom House
taxes on fewer imported articles, bearing heaviest
articles Of luxury, ana bearing ightest articles
of necessity.
We therefore denounce the abuses of the existing
tariff and. subject to the preceding limitations, we
demand that Federal taxation shall be exclusively
for public purposes, and shall not exceed the needs
of the Government economically administered.
The system of direct taxation known as the sin
ternal revenue is war tax and so long the Law
continues the money derived therefrom should bt
sacredly devoted to the relief of the people from tn,
remaing burdens of the war and be made fund t(
defray the expense of the and comfort of worth,
soldiers disabled in the line of duty in the wars of thu
republic. and for the payment of such pensions al
Congre may from time to time grant to such sol
diers Ike fund for the sailors having been aread
provided, ald any surplus should be paid into thu
treasury.
We favor an American continental policy base
upon more intimate commercial and political rea
tions with the fifteen sie:sr republics of Nontl
Central, andSouth America, but entangling alliance
with none.
We believe in honest money, the gold and silve
coinage OF the Constitution, and circulating med
um convertible into snch money without loss.
Asserting the equality Of all men before the Law
we hold that 1t Is the duty Of the Government in II
dealings with the people to mete ont equal and OK
color, or persuasion, religious or political.
We believe In free ballot and q fair count an
we recall to the memory Of the people the nobl
struggle of tho Democrats in the Forty fifth an
Forty-sxth Congresses by which reluctant r,
publican opposition WAS compelled to assent to lel
islation making everywhere Illegal the presence {
troops at the polls, as the conclusive proof that
Democratic administration will preserve liberty wit
order.
The selection ofFeactsl officers for the Territori
should be restricted TO citizens previously residel
therein.
weoppose sun 1.as:y ;aN, Taica W i.s ,,!l- :.
snd Interfere with individual liberty.