The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-06-28
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

The Democratic party of the United States,
in National con vention assembled, renews the
pledge of its fidelity 10 the Democratic faith.
and reafirms the platform adopted by Its rep
resentatiyes in the convention of 1884, and in
dorses the views expressed by President Cleve
land in h,s last annual message to Congress as
the correct Interpretation of that platform up
on the question OF tariff reduction; and also
indorses the efforts of our Democratic Repre-
sentatives in Congress to secure reduction OF
excessive taxation
Chief among its principles of party faith are
the maintenanee Of an indissoluble Union OF
enter upon its second century of unexampled
progress and renown; devot on to plan of
t ON strictly specifying everv granted power
and expressly leserving to .he States or people
the entire ungrauted 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 a Z
ensufing equality and establishing Justice
The Democratic party welcomes an exacting
scrutiny of the administration OF the executive
power which. four years ago was committed
to its trust in the election of Grover Clevela nd
President of the United States and it challen-
ges the most searching inquiry concerning its
invited the suffrages of the people During
most critical period of our financial affairs
resulting from over-taxation. the anomalous
condition OF our rrency, and a public debt
unmatured, it has by the adoption of wise
and conservative course, not only averted dis
sster. but greatly promoted the prosperity of
1t mas reversed the unwise and improvident
policy o. the Republican party t uching the
public domain, and has reclaimed from cOrpO-
rations and syndicates. alien and domestic
ami restored to the people nearly one hundred
millions of acr of valuable land to be sacred
ly held as homes eads for ci'iZens-
While carefully guarding the interests of the
tax payers and conforming strictly 10 the prin
cIplcsl OF justice and equity. it has paid out
more for pensions and IuntIes 10 the soldiers
and sailors OF the Republic than was ever paid
before during IN equal period.
By intelligent management and judcious
and economical expenditure of the public mon,
ey. It las set on foot the reconstruction of the
American navy upLn system which forbids
the reeari ence OF scandal, and insures success
ful results
IL has adopted and consistently Iursued a
arm and prudent foreign policy; preserving
tanning all the rights and interests of our ow n
Government and people, at home and abroad
boIers has been efectualIy secured under the
provisions of treaty. the operation or which
has been postponed by the action of Repub
llcan majority in the Sc ate
Honest reform in the civil service has been
inaugurated and maintained by Pre-ident
cleveland, and he has brought the public ser
vice to the highest standard of efficiency, not
only by rIle and precept, but by the example
Of his own uHtiring anu unselfish adminisIra
tion OF pub ic Affairs In every branch and
dep artment of the Government under Demo
cratic contr.l the rights and The welfare of all
the people have been guarded and defended !;
every public interest has been projected and
the equality OF all our citizens before The law
without eEard to race or color has been stead
fastly maintained
pledge of a CO ontinuance 10 the people OF the
benefits OF good government the National De-
mocraey invokes renewal OF Popular trust
by The re election of q Chief Al agistrate who
has been faithful. able and prudent They in
woke an addition 10 that trust by the transfer
to the Democracy of the entire legislative
power.
The Republican party controlling the Senate
and resisting in both Houses of Congress n re-
formation of unjust and unequal tax laws
which have outlasted the necessities OF war
and are now undermining the abundance OF
long peace. deny to the people equality before
the law and the fairness and the Justice which
are their right. Thus the cry of American la
Dor for better share OF the rewards of indus
try is stifed with false pretenses. enterprise is
fetteTed and bound down to home markets.
caPitali is disturbed with doubt, and unequal.
unjust laws can neither be properly amended
or repealed.
The Democratic party will continue. with all
the power eonfded to it the struggle to reform
these laws in accordance with the pledges of its
ast platform. Endorsed at the ballot box by the
sunrages OF the people. OF all the industrious
freemen of the land, an immense majority in
cluding every tiller of the soil, gain no advan-
tage fIom excessive tax laws; but the price of
nearly everything they buy is Increased by the
fayoritisn OF an unequal system Of tax legis-
Iation.
All unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation.
1t Is repugBant 10 the creed of Democracy that
by such taxation the cost of the necessa les of
life should be unjustifiably increased to all our
interest of the people are betrayed when by
unnecessary taxation, trusts and combinations
are permitted and fOstered. which while en-
riching the few, combine to rob our citizens by
depriving them of the benefit of natural com.
petition. Every Democratic rule OF govern
mental action is violated when. tn ough unnec-
essary taxation, u vast sum of money. far be-
yond the needs Of an economical admir- islra-
tton, is drawn from the people and the char-
nels of trade. and accumulated as a demoraliz-
ing surplus in the National Treasury The
money now lying idle in the Federal Treasury,
resulting from superf1uous taxation, amounts
to more than $92s loo ,0O0. and the surplus col
lected Is reaching the sum of more than $50
0O0t00 annually. Debauched by this immense
the remedy of the Republican party
is 10 meet and exhaust by extravagant appro-
expenses. whether constitutional
or not. the accumulation of extravagant taxa
tiOn. The Democratic remedy is to enforce
frugality In public expenditures. and aboli, h
tic Industries aud enterprises should not and
need not be endangered by a reduction and
of the burdens of taxation. On the
fair ami careful revision of our tax
between the wages of American and foreign
labor, must promote and encourage every
branch OF such industries and enterprises by
giving them assurance of an extended market
and steady and continuous operations.
In the interest of American labor which
our tax laws contemplated by the Democratic
party tend to promote the advantage of such
labor bv cheal ling the cost of necessaries of
life in the home of every workingman, and at
munerative employment Upon this question
Of tariff reform, SO closely concerning every
phase of our national life and upon every
question involved in the problem of good gov
ernment. the Demo, ra ic party submits its
Su1fra oes af the A MI nariean people