New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-05-23
MINNESOTA DEMOCRATS.
They Meet in Convention, Make a
Truce and Build a Platform.

some time been troubled by a war between
the Michael Doran and DR.. Ames footing,
and vigorous contest was looked for in
the State Convention which met in ST. Paul.
But N that the people were disapp DIN ted,
/ for though there was lively shuttle the
/ election OF both Dorian and Ames to the
ST. Louis Convention. The delegates and
/ alternates were as follows:
/ Delegates at large NJ ichael Doran. OF lie
SIeur; Albert a. Ames, OF Hennepn: Rob.
/ ert A. Smith, OF Ramsey; John Ludwig OF
i Winona.
ALTERNATEs.
Frank L. Morse, Hennepin; e. ". Du-
/ rant, Washington; William Quinn, Wright;
John Adams, Dodge.
/ THE PLATFORM.
The following resolutions were passed:
The Democrats of Minnesota, in harmony
with the Democracy Of the Union, declare
thai the longer continuance of taxes levied
tor the conduct OF a war which ended nearly
/ aquaIler century ago is q needless and I'M
| unsuitable burden upon the people of this
! country
| To the already accumulated $3.50 OOO,-
! 600 surplus lying unused and useless in the
treasury there is being added under our ex-
listing revenue laws an increasing surplus of
| SSO, 100000 each year. This money is not
needed for any legitimate purposes OF gov
| eminent; it is Withdrawn from circulation:
| 1T plays no part in the business transactions
OF the people; it Is a constant temptation a
| standing inducemenl for schemes OF plumber
| and corrupt extravaganza
/ We demand as right that the people shall
i be at once and forever relieved from this un-
necessary and oppressive burden Super
| huous taxation is tyranny.
| The time has come tor thorough revision
and radical reduction of the existing reye-
nue. taxes. We insist that this work be at
once began and speedily consummated with
out farther evasion or delay; and that in the
| doing of it the following principles shall be
| adhered to as the true basis OF genuine reve-
| nue. REFORM viz:
| Flss--Ihat taxation is not public bless
ing, nor an element of national prosperity
| That While sufficient revenue should at all
tunes be collected for the support of an eco
nom!cal government in the discharge of its
| legitimate functions. for the payment Of the
| public debt, and liberal pensions to deserv-
| ing veterans OF the Union armies, not one
dollar of supertiuous tax should be imposed
Tor the purpose of enhancing the prices of
commodities consumed by the people and
as tribute to the private business of
favored few
Second-That whatever taxation it may be
| necessary to retain for governmental pur-
poses, should be imposed as far as practical
Ole upon articles or luxury and indulgences
the rich and the habits Of the dissoIute
Ihlrd-That the taxes should be greatly
reduced, and. when practicable altogether
abolished upon all articles and materials il
such general use as to be rightly classed as
necessarlcs for our people, which are essen
tlal to their health, comfort and prosperity,
which enter into their domestic life, their
industrial pursuits, and their personal hap
piness.
Fourth-That the purchasing power of the
products OF our labor shall be no longer
diminished by a tax upon the things for
winch we exchange these products; the
value of what we sell no longer curtailed by
enhancing the cost of what we buy with the
proceeds OF our sales; that q tax upon i'm
ports is III effect tax upon exports, and that
the best way to render our agricultural and
manufacturing industries profitable and
prosperous is to increase the purchasing
power OF their products in the markets of the
world by abolishing taxes upon the things
purchased
Fifth-That our foreign and internal com
merce should be increased and the cost of
transportation reduced by repeating taxes
upon The materials which enter into the con-
s1ruction and equipment of the railways and
marine.
Sixth-That our aEufacturing industries
should have the benefit of untaxed raw ma
terials used by them, thus enabling them to
dispose Of their surplus products in other
markets. UQ1u our own.
Seventh-That the workingmen in those
industries should have that steady employ
ment and fair remuneration which can never
exist so long as the sale OF the products OF
their labor is confined to the limited de-
1nands of an easily overstocked home market.
Eighth-That the cunning!y complicated
system of specific and I'D YoloreIn duties
upon the same article, whereby the heaviest
taxation is imposed upon the cheaper grades
of materials used mainly by our working
people, should be wholly abandoned and the
millionaire compelled to pay at least an
equal percentage OF taxation with the poor
est laborer,
individually, that all taxation shall be
equal and impartial; that our people shall
have free access to the markets OF the world
to buy as we'll as to sell to the best advantage
and with equal terms with the peoples of
other lands; that our power to produce and
orr ability to purchase shall no longer be
cenfiiied to a monopol:zad home market, in
fiuenced by combinations and at the mercy
of pools and trusts.
This is what we mean by revenue reform.
The existing traffic was created and is now
Maintained by the aggregated setishness OF
tue particular interests which have so long
and bounteously fattened upon its profits
Originally imposed as a necessary war
measure" it has since been perpetuated and
| it's enormiuies concealed by deluding credu-
! 1ous people with false issues and keeping
| alive the sectional ha.reds engendered by
| the war. For more than twenty years the
bloody shirb has protected protection" from
scrutiny and popular Indignation. A COM
bination of favored monopoists, SO power
| full and so deeply interested in the mainte-
! nance of such system is not to be easily
| broken. Inch by inch the cause of reform
must win it's way. We therefore welcome
and endorse the Mills bill now pending in
congress as the first aggressive advance,
| which deserves the united support of all
men who honestly favor revenue reform.
| While we recognize the growing sentiment
for tariff reform among the Republican vot-
| ers of Minnesota, we hereby cali their at
| tention to the recent utterance of the plat
| form adopted by the late Republican state
l conventions platform which makes no
| demand for reduction OF tariff taxes, but
/ is an outspoken endorsement Of q protective
tariff. But we'respectfully suggest to them
! that such reform is not to be expected at
the hands OF men who are beneticiaries OF
the abuses to be reformed, but can only come
/ from those who are in hearty sympathy with
4 - L. IL.