Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-05-04
DEMOCRATIC pLsTF0Rai.
Full Text Of the Declarations OF
Principles Adopted Ry the ST.
Louis Convention.
ooWH WITH TEE VAR TARIFF.

Dl6lSes Oh It's uAe4ltF ~ OS1.~N-NN4N
ano roaftirms the platform adopted by rs
Representatives in the convention OF 1891,
ind lndorses the views expressed oy ffesl-
dent Cleveland IN his last earnest message TO
Congress as the correct Interpretation OF that
platform upon the question OF taTlH reduc-
xion. and also indorses the efforts or our
Democratic representatives IN Congress to
secure reduction OF excessive taxation.
AN INDIssoLUBLE UNION.
Chief among its principles OF party faith
are tho maintenance Of an indissoubis
Union OF free and indestructible States, now
about 10 enter upon its second century OF I'M
ezampled progress ana rerown, devotion 10
plan of Government regulated by written
Constitution, strictly Specifying every
granted power and expressly reserving to
the States or people the entire ungranted
residue of power; the encouragement OF
jealous popular vigilance, directed TO all who
have been chosen for brief terms TO enact
and execute the laws and are charged
with the duty of preserving peace, insurlng
equality and establishing justice.
CLEvELAND's ADMINISTRATION.
Tho Democratic party welcomes an exact
lnR scrutiny of the administration OF tho ex-
ocutive power which four years ago was
committed to its trust in the election OF Gro
yer Cleveland President Of the United States,
and it challenges the most searching inquiry
concerning It's fidelity and devotion 10 the
the people.
PREVENTING A FINANCIAL DISASTER.
During most critical period OF our fnan-
eial affairs, resulting in over taxation, the
anomalous condition of our currency, and
public debt unmatured, it has, by the auop-
tion of q wise and conservative course, not
only prevented disaster, but greatly promo
ted the prosperity OF the people.
PROTECTING PUBLIC LANDS.
1t has reversed the improvident and I'M
wise policy of the Republican party touch
ing the public domain, and has reclaimed
from corporations ana syndicates, alien and
domestic. and restored to the people nearly
100, DOC, 600 OF acres of valuable land to 10
sacredly held as homesteads for our citizens.
LIBERAL PENSIONS.
While carefully guarding the interests to
tho principles OF justice and equity, IL has
paid out more for pesions and bountiss to the
soldiers and sailors OF the Republic than was
ever paid before during an equal period.
A FIRM FOREIGN POLICY.
It has adopted ard consequently pursued .
Grm and prudent foreign policy with ali na,
lions, while scrUpuiousiy maintaining all
the rights and interests OF our own Govern
ment and people at home and abroad.
EXCLUSION OF THE CHINESE.
The exclusion from our shores of Chinese
Saborers has been effectuaily secured under
the provisions of a treaty, the operation OF
which has been postponed by the action OF q
Republican majority IN. the Senate.
HONEST CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Honest reform in tie civil service has been
tnaugurated and maintained by President
Cleveland, and ne has brought the public
service 10 the highest standard of efficiency,
not only by rule and precept, but by toe ex-
ample OF his own untirirg and unseihsh ad-
ministration of public affairs.
RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE SECURE.
In every branch and department Of the
government under the Democratic control
the rights and welfare of the people have
Seen gauried and defended: every public
interest mas been protected and the equality
OF ali our citizens before the law without re-
gard to race or color has been seeadfastly
maintained.
VOTE OF CONFIDENCE ASKED.
Upon its record thus exhibited and upon
the pledge of q continuance to the people OF
the benefits OF Democracy, it invOkes q re-
newal of popular trust 10y the reelection OF a
CHIEF magistrate who has been faithful, able
ano prudent.
We invoke 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 a reformation Of unjust
ana unequal tax laws which have outlasted
the necessities of war and are now under
mining the abundance OF long peace, deny
to the people equality before the law and the
fairness ana the justice which are their
right. Then the cry of American labor for
q better share in the rewards of industry II
stifled with false pretenses; enterprise is fet-
tered and found down to home markets;
capital il discouraged with doubt, and I'M
equal, unjust laws can neither be properly
amended or repealed.
WILL REFORM THE TARIFF.
The Democratic party will continue, with
al the power confided to it, the struggle TO
reform these laws, in accordance with the
pledges of its last platform, Endorsed at the
ballot-box with the suffrages of the people.
Of all the industrious freemen OF our land,
the immense majority, including every tiiler
Of the soil, gain no advantage from excessive
taxation, but the price of nearly every thing
they buy is increased by the favoritism OF an
unequal system of tax legislation.
All unnecessary taxation is unjust taxa
fion. 1t il repugnant to the creed Of
Democracy that by such taxations the cost Of
the necessaries of life should be unjusti6ably
increased to all our people. Judged by DEM
ocratic principles. the interests Of the people
are betrayed when, by unnecessary taxation,
trusts ana combinations are permitted to ex-
1st, which are unduly erriching the few
that combine to rob the body of our citizens
by depriving them of the benefits OF natural
competition. Every Democratic rule Of
KOteIumcut6A dCllOA 10 NkOt1lcQ Wuoue
through unnecessary taxation, a vast sum OF
money, far beyond the needs of an economi-
cal administration, is drawn from the people
and the channels of trade and accumulated Is
. demcrslizing surplus In the national
treasury.
WILL REDUCE THE SURPLUS.
The money now lying idle in the Federal
treasury resulting from superfiuous taxation
amounts to more than $125, 000, 900, and the
surplus collected is reaching the sum of more
than SEC, COO, coo annually. Debauched by
this immense temptation the remedy OF the
Republican party is to meet ana exhaust by
oxtravaganJ appropriations and expenses,
whether constitutional or not, the accumu.
lAtion of extravagant taxation.
WILL PRACTICE FRUGALIrY.
Tho Democratic policy is to inforce fru.
gality in public expenses and abolish unnec-
essary taxation. Our 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, q fair and careful revision OF
our tax laws with the allowance for the diff
ference between the wages of American and
foreign labor, must promote and encourage
every branch Of such industries and enter
prisss BY giving them assurance of an ex-
tended market and steady and continuous
SEPARATIONS.
kWuL GUARD THE INTEREST OF LABOR.
In the interests of American labor, which
should in no event be neglected, the revision
Of our tax laws contemplated by the Demo
cratic party should protect the advantage of
such labor BY cheapening the cost of the
necsssaries of life in the home Of every work
lngman, and, at the same time, securing to
him steady and remunerativs employment.
Upon this question OF tariff reform, SO closely
eonaecting every phase Of our natural life.
ana upon every question involved in the
problem OF good government, the Demo-
cratic party submits its principles and pro-
fessions to the intelligent SURFACES of the
American people.
To this platform Mr.. Scott as directed bv
the Committee on Resolutions, presented the