Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1888-06-26
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Democratic Platform.


The Democratic party of the United States
/ in National Convention assembled :enews the
pledge of its fidelity 10 Democratic faith and
afirIns the platform adopted by its representa-
/ tives in the Convention of 1854. and inGorses
| the views expressed by President Cleveland in
\ his last earnest message to Congress rs the cor
rect Interpretation of that platform upon the
| question of tariff reduction; aud also indcrses
I the efforts of our Democratic Representatives
/ in Congress to secure reduction of excessive
taxation. Among its principles of party faith
are the maintenance of the indissoluble Union
\ of free and iudestructible States now about to
enter upon its second century of uneXampled
progress and renoWn: devotion TO q plan of
| government regulated by written COustitu-
ton strictly specifying every granted power
and expressly reserving to the States or peo-
pie the entire ungranted residue of power !:
| the encouragement of Jealous, popular vigil
lance, directed to all who have been chosen
| for brief terms to enact and execute the laws.
aud are charged with the duty of preserving
peace, ensuring equality and establishing jus
\ tice.
! scrutiny of the administration of the executive
power which four years ago was committed to
| its trust in the election of Grover Cleveland
| President of the United States; and it chal-
lcnges the most searching inquiry concerning
/ its tidclity and devotion to the pledges which
| then invited the suffrages of the people during
q most critical period of our financial affairs.
resulting from over taxation, the anomalous
condition of our currency and public debt
unmatured. 1t has. by the adoption of n wise
aud conservative course. not only ayerted dis
aster, but greatly promoted the prosperity of
| the people .r.H
It has reversed the improyident and unwise
| policy of the Republican party touching the
public domnin. and has reclaimed from corpo-
rations and syndicates. alien and domestic, and
restored to the people nearly iGO, 100000 acres
of land to be sacredly held as hoinesteads for
| our citizens.
I While carefully guarding tho interest of the
| justice aud equity. 1t has paid out more for
/ pensions and bounties TO the soldiers and sail
Ors of the republic than was ever paid before
! during an equal period. 1t has adopted and
( consistently pursued 4 tirm and prudent for
ciSn policy. preserving peace with all nations.
while scrupulOusly maintaining all the rights
and interests of our own Government and peo-
| pie ut home and abroad. The exclusion from
our shores of Chinese laborers has been effect
ually secured under the provisions of a treaty.
| the operation of which has been postponed by
the action of a Republican majority in the
Senate.
In every branch and department. of the Gov
ernment under Democratic control the rights
\ aud the welfare Of the people have been
| guarded and defended every public interesi
and IS ~ our
or color. has been steadfastIy mafntained---
| Upon its record, thus exhibited and upon the
pledge of a continuance to the people of these
benefits the Democracy invokes renewal OF
popular trust by the reelection of a chief maj
| istrate who has been faithful, able and pru-
dent 1t invokes in addition to that trust the
transfer also TO the Democracy of the entire
legislative power.
The Republican party controlling the Senate
and resisting in both Houses of Congress
reformation of unjust and unequal tax laws.
which have oi:tlasted the necessities of war
and are now undermining the abundance of a
long peace, deny to the people equality be-
fore the law. and the fairness and the justice
which are their right. Then the cry of Amer
lean Labor for n better share in the rewards of
nd is nrptenpp IL
fettcrcd and bound TO home markets. capital
is discouraged with doubt. and unequal. unjdst
laws can neither be properly amended or ap-
pealed.
The Democratic party viii continue with all
the power conided to it the struggle to reform
these laws in accordance with the pledges of
its last platform, indursed at the ballot-box by
the suffrages of the people. All the indus
| triOus freemen of our land. the immense ma
ju-ity including every tiler of the soil. gain no
advantage from excessive tax Laws. but the
| price of nearly everything they buy Is in
creased by the favoritsm of an unequal system
of tax legislation. All unnecessary taxation
| is unjust taxation.
1t IL repugnant to the creed of Democracy
| that by such taxation the cost of the necessa-
ries of life should be unjustifiably increased to
all our people. Judged by Democratic prnci-
! pies. the interests of the people are betrayed
when. by unnecessary taxation, trusts aud
combinations are permitted to exist. which,
while unduiy enriching the few that combine.
! rChs the BODY of our citizens by deprivinR them
{ tlf the dement's OF nlLuT1l COupeIlllOn. Every
/ Democratic rule of governmental action is vio-
| lated when. through unnecessary taxation, II
vast sum of money. far beyond the needs of an
economical administration. is drawn from the
people and the channels Of trade. aud accu-
I Inulated ns n demorlliziRS surplus in the Ma
/ tional Treasury. The money now lying idle
\ in the Federal Treasury. resulting from super
| fiuous taxation. amounts to more than one
/ hundred and twenty-five millions. and the sur
plus collected is reaching the sum of more than
J sixty-Inillions annually. Debauched by this
} immense temptation. the remedy of the Repub-
j lican party is TO meet and exhaust. by extraya-
: giant appropriations and expenses whether
/ constitutional or not. the accumulation OF eX-
( tIavngant taxation. The Democratic policy is
to enforce frugality in public expense aud
abolish unnecessary taxation. OuT established
! domestic industries and enterprises should not
and need not be endangered by the reduction
/ and correction of the burdens Of taxation
| On the contrary. n fair and carGfuI revision of
/ ference between the wages of American md
! foreign labor. must promote aud encourage
every branch of such industries and enterprises
/ BIZ giving them assurances of an extended mar
! ket and steady and continuous operation. = In
I the interests of American labor. which should
Z in no event be neglected. this revision of our
3 tax laws contemplated by the Democratic par
ty should promote the advantage of such labor
I nv cheapeI,ing the cost of the necessaries of
I life in t5e home OF every woriSingDan. and at
the same time securing 20 him steady reTnuner-
ative employment. Upon this question of tar
/ if reform. closely concerning every phrase
Of Our national life. and upon every question
involved in the problem Of good go-eInment.
tile Democratic party submits its principles
and professions to the intelligent suffrages of
the American people