The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-07-19

ing the occupations of the people should
be cautious and conservative in method,
not in advance of public opinion, but
responsive TO its demands, the Demo-
cratic party is pledged to revise the tariff
in spirit of fairness to all interests.
But in making reduction in taxes it is
not proposed to injure any domestic in
duslries, 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 Federal revenuei such they must con-
tinue to be. Moreover. many industries
have come to rely upon legislation for
successful continuance, so that any
change oi law must be ut every step re.
gardisl Of the labor and capital thus iu-
volved The process of feiorm must be
subject in tue execution to this plain
dictate of justice.
LADoE MUST DE PROTECTED
All taxation shall be limited to the r.
quirements of economical government
The necessary reduction in taxation can
aud must be effected without deprlving
American labor Of the ability to compete
successfully without imposing lower rates
of duty than will be ample 10 cover any
incr ased cost OF production which may
exist in consequences Uf the higher rate
of wages prevailing in this country.
Sufficient revenue to pay all the expenses
OF the Federal Government economically
administered, including pensions, inter.
est md principal OF the public debt, eau
be got under our present system of taxa.
tion from Custom House taxes on fewer
imported articles, bearing heaviest on
articles OF luxury snd bearing lightest
on articles of necessity.
We therefore denounce the abuses of
the existing tariff and subject to the pre-
cedlug limitations we demand that Fed
tral taxation shtll be exClusiveiy for
public purposes aud shall not exceed the
needs of the government economically
administered.
The system of direct taxation. known
as the internal revenue" is II war tax
aud so long as the law contiuus the mon
ey derived thereirom should be sacredly
devoted to the relief of the people from
the remaining burdens OF the war, and
be made fund to detray the expense of
the care and comfort OF worthy soldiers
disabled in the line of duty in the wars
of the Republic. aud for the payment of
such pensions MS Congress my, from
time to time, grant to such soldiers, a
like fund tor the sailors bavius been al
ready provided; and any surplus should
be paid into the Treasury.
A CONTINENTAL PoLIcY.
We favor an American continental
! policy based upon more intimate com
mercial aud political relations With the
| fifteen sister Republics Of North, Central
and south America, bat entangling alli-
ances with none.
| We believe IN honest money the gold
and silver coinage of the Constitution
and circulating medium convertible
into such money without less.
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 aud exact
! justice to all citizens. of whatever ma
tivlty, race. color or persuasion, religi-
GUS or political,
We believe in free ballot and fair
count and we recall to tue memory OF
the people the noble struggle of the
Democrats in the Forty fifth aud Forty
sixth Congresses, by which reluctant
hepupl'S"H ~rpnsition was tOmuslled
| to assent ia legislation Inakiug every
where illegal the presence of troops AZ
the polls, as the conclusive proof that
| Democratic administration will preserve
| liberty with order.
The selection of Federal officers for
| the Territories should be restricted to
citizens prs viously resident therein.
We oppose sumptuary laws which vex
the citizen aud Interfere with in ividcal
liberty; we favor honest civil service re-
forms and the compensation of all
| United States officers by fixed salaries;
the separation of Church and State, and
the diffusion of free education by COM
mon schools, so that every child in the
land may be taught the rights and da-
ties OF citizenship.
While we favor all legislation which
will tend to the equitable distribution OF
property, to the prevention of monopoly
and 10 strict euiorcs ment of individual
rights against corporate abuses, we hold
that the welfare of society depends upon
IA scrupulOus regard for the rights of
property as defined by law. We believe
that labor is best rewarded where it i
ireest and most enl!ghted. 1t should
therefore be fostered aud cherished. We
favor the repeal of all laws restricting
the free action of labor, and the en-
actment OF laws By which labor orgGnI-
cations may be incorporated, and OF all
such legislation as will tend to enlighten
the people as to the true relation OF CAPT
tai and lnoor.
IAED GRANTS.
We belieye that the pUblic land ought
as far as possible to he kept AS home
steads for actnal settlers; that all uu-
earned lands heretofore improvidently
granted to railroad corporations by the
action of the Republican party should
he restored to the public domain, aud
| lhnt M lnnra nrants of lind shnll [ q