The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1888-06-30

IT has reversed the improvident and I'M
wise policy of the Republican party
touching the public domain, and has re-
claimed from corporations and syndicates,
alien and domestic, and restored to the
people nearly 1O0,O00,0O0 of acres of land,
to be sacredly held as homesteads for our
citizens. While carefully adhering to
principles of justice and equity, it has
paid more on pensions and bounties to
the soldiers and sailors of the republic
than was ever paid before during an equal
period.
It has adopted and consistently pur-
sued a firm and prudent foreign policy,
preserving peace with all nations, while
scrupulously maintaining all the rights
and interests of our government and peo-
pie at home and abroad. The exclusion
from our shores of Chinese labor has
been eiiectlally secured under the pro-
visions of a treaty, the operation of which
has been postponed by the action of
Republican majority in the Senate.
Honest reform in the civil service has
been inaugurated and maintained by
President Cleveland, and he has brought
the public service to the highest standard
of efficiency, not only by rule and pre-
cept, but by the example of his unselfish
administration of public affairs.
In every branch and department OF the
government under Democratic control
the rights and the welfare of all the peo-
pie have been guarded and defended;
every public interest has been protected
and equality of all our citizens before the
law, without regard to race and color, has
been steadfastly maintained.
Upon its record thus exhibited, and
upon q pledge of continuance to the
people of the benefits of Democracy, it
inyokes renewal of the popular trust by
the reelection of Chief Magistrate who
has been faithful, able and prudent; it
invokes in addition to that trust the trans
fer to the Democracy Of the entire legis-
lative power. The Republican party con-
trolling the Senate and resisting both
houses of Congress the reformation Of
unjust and unequal tax laws, which have
outlasted the necessities of war and are
now undermining the abundance of a
long peace, deny to the people equality
before the laws, the fairness and the JUS
tice which are their right. The cry Of
American labor for better share in the
rewards of industry is stifed with the
false pretense that enterprise is fettered
and bound down to home markets, capt.
tai is discouraged with doubt, and un-
equal, unjust laws can neither be proper
ly amended nor repealed.
The Democratic party will continue
| with all the power confded to it to strug-
gle to reform these laws in accordance
with the pledges of its last platform, in
dorsed at the ballot-box by the sufrages
OF the people. All the industrious free
men of our land-the immense majority,
including every tiller of the soil-gain
no advantage from excessive tax laws, but
the process of having everything they
have decreased by the favoritism of an
unequal system of tax legislation.
All unnecessary taxation is unjust tax
alton also. 1t is repugnant to the creed OF
Democracy that by such taxation the cost
of the necessaries of life should be I'M
| justifably increased to all our people.
Judged by Democratic principles, the In
terests OF the people are betrayed when.
by unnecessary taxation, trusts and COM
binations are permitted to exist, which,
while unduly enriching the few that COM
bine, rob the body of our citizens by de.
priving them of the benefits of natural
competition. Every Democratic rule OF
! governmental action is violated when,
through unnecessary taxation, a vast sum
nomical administration is drawn from the
people and from the channels OF trade
and accumulated as demoralizing sur.
plus in the national treasury.
The money now idle in the Federal
treasury, resulting from superhuous taxa
ton, amounts TO more than 5000, 900
and the surplus collected is reaching the
sum OF more than $60,00G,000 annually
nz1 II, 4I,,o 4<xx ,koks
the remedy of the Republican party is Il
meet and exhaust by extravagant appro
priations and unconstitutional expenses
The Democratic policy is to enforce fru
gality in public expense, and abolish I'M
nestle industries and enterprises should
1 not and need not be endangered by thu
reduction and correction of the burdens
Of taxation. On the contrary fair ant
, careful revision of our tax laws, with du,
allowance for the difference between tn,
wages of American and foreign labor
must promote and encourage every brancl
of such industries and enterprises, b,
giving them assurances of an extended
market and steady, continuous operation
Ii the interest OF American labor, whicl
shonld in no event be neglected, the re
!, vision of our tax laws contemplated b,
the Democratic party should promote tn
advantage of such labor by cheapeninl
the cost of the necessaries of life in tn,
home of every workingman, at the sam
time securing to him steady and remun
erative employment. Upon this question
of tariff reform, 80 closely concerning ev
cry phase of our national life, and upol
every question involved in the problem o
good government, the Democratic part
/, submits its principles and professions T.
the intelligent sufrages OF the America