Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-06-21

steadfastly maintained. Upon its RECORD
thus exhibited and upon the pledge of a
continuance to the people of the benefits
of Democracy, it invokes a renewal o
popular trust by the reelection of Chic
Magistrate who has been faithful, able
and prudent. To invoke in addition tc
that trust by the transfer also to the De
mocracy of the entire legislative power.
The Republican party, controlling the
Senate, and resisting in both houses Of
Congress a reformation of unjust and un-
equal tax laws, which hrve outlasted the
necessities of war, and are now under
mining the abundance of a long peace,
deny to the people equality before the
law, and the fairness and the justice
which are their right. Then the cry of
American labor for better share in the
rewards of industry is stiffened with false
pretenses, enterprise is fettered and bound
down to home markets, capital is discou-
ragged with doubt, and unequal, unjust
laws can neither be properly amended nor
repealed.
The Democratic party will continue
with all the power confded to it the
struggle to reform these laws in accord
ance with the pledges of its last platform,
indorsed at the ballot-box by the suffrages
of the people. OF all the industrious
freemen of our land, the immense major
ity, including every tiller of the soil, gain
no advantage from excessive tax laws,
but the price of nearly everything they
buy is increased by the favoritism of an
unequal system of tax legislation. All
unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation.
1t is repugnant to the creed of Democ-
racy that by such taxation the cost of the
necessaries of life should be unjustiiably
increased to all our people Judged by
Democratic principles, the interests of the
people are betrayed when, by unnecessary
taxation, trusts and combinations are per-
mitted to exist which, while unduly en-
riching the few that combine, rob the
body of our citizens by depriving them of
the benfts of natural competition. Every
Democratic rule of governmental action
is violated when, through unnecessary
taxation, vast sum of money, far be-
yond the needs of an economical admin
istration, is drawn from the people and
the channels of trade and accumulated as
a demoralizing surplus in the national
treasury. The money now lying idle in
the federal treasury, resulting from super
huous taxation, amounts to more than
one hundred and twenty five millions,
and the surplus collected is reaching the
sum of more than sixty millions annual
ly. Debauched by this immense tempta-
tion, the remedy of the Republican party
is to meet and exhaust, by extravagant
appropriations and expenses, whether
constitutional or not, the accumulation of
extravagant taxations. The Democratic
policy is to enforce frugality in public ex-
pense and abolish unnecessary taxation.
Our established domestic industries and
enterprises should not and need not, be
endangered by the reduction and correc-
ton of the burdens of taxation. On the
contrary, fair and careful revision of
our tax laws, with due allowance for the
difference between the wages Of American
and foreign labor, must promote and en-
courage every branch of such industries
and enterprises by giving them assurances
of an extended market and steady and
continuous operations. In the interests Of
American labor, which should in no event
be neglected, revision of our tax laws,
contemplated by the Democratic party,
should promote the advantages Of such
labor by cheapening the cost Of necessa-
ries of life in the home Of every working
man, and at the same time securing TO
him steady and remunerative employ
ment. Upon this question Of tariff re-
form, so closely concerning every phase
of our natural life and upon every ques
ton involved m the problem of good gov
ernment, the Democratic party submits
its principles and professions to the intel
ligent sufrages of the American people
State W. c. T. U. Convention.