St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-09-22


presidential office, which has soberly impressed
me with the severe responsibilities which it
imposes while it has Quickened my love fol-
American institutions, and taught me the
priceless value Of the trust OF my countrymen.
It Is OF the highest Importance that those
who administer our Government should 1eal
| ously protect and maintain the rights of Amer.
| ican citizens at home and abroad, and should
strive to achieve for our country her proper
| place among the nations OF the earth; but
| there is no people whose home interests are so
| great and whose numerous objects OF domestic
| concern deserve much Watchfulness and
care. Among these are the regulation of q
| sound financial system suited to our needs.
| thus securing an efficient agency OF National
wealth and general prosperity: the construo-
tion and equipment OF means OF defense to in
sure our National safety and maintain the
honor beneath which such National safety re-
| poses; the protection OF our National domain,
still stretching beyond the needs Of Gen.
tury's expansion, and its preservation for the
settler and the pioneer OF our marvellous
growth sensible and sincere recognition OF
the value OF American labor, leading to the
scrupulous care and just appreciation Of the
interests OF our workingmen; the limita tIon
and checking of such monopolistio tendencies
and schemes as interfere with the
advantages and benefits which the
people may rightly CLAIM; a generous regard
and care for our surviving soldiers and sailors,
and for the widows and orphans OF such as
have died, to the end that, while the apprecia-
tion of their services and sacrifices is quick-
ened, the application of their pension fund to
improper causes may be prevented; protection
against servile Immigration which injurious
ly competes with our laboring men in the field
OF toll and adds to our population sn element
ignorant Of our institutions and laws, impossi-
BILE Of assimilation with our people, and dan
N yHaf
adherence to the principles OF Civil Service re-
form and a thorough execution Of the laws
passed for their enforcement, thus permitting
to our people the advantages of business meth
ods in the operation Of their Government; the
guaranty to our colored citizens OF all their
rights ofcitzenship and their just recognition
and encouragement in all things pertaining TO
that relation; arm, patient and humane IN.
dian policy 80 that in peaceful relations with
the Government the civilization OF the Indian
may be promoted, with resulting quiet and
safety to the settlers onour frontiers, and the
curtailment Of public expense by the introduc.
tion Of economical methods In every depart
ment of the Government.
The pledges contained in the platform adopt
ed by the late convention of the National DEM
ocracy, lead to the advancement of these OBJ
jects, and insure good government-the aspira-
tion Of every true American citizen, and the
motive for every patriotic action and effort. In
the consciousness that much has been done in
the direction of good government by the ipres-
ent Administration, and submitting Ito record
to the fair inspection OF my countrymen, in
dorse the platform thus presented. with the de-
termination that Ii am again called to the
chief magistracy, there shall be q continuance
OF devoted endeavor to advance the interests
Of the entire country.
Our scale Of Federal taxation and its conse-
quences largely engross at this time the atten-
= a. 1~IG,
considering the necessity Of measures OF relief.
Our Government is the creation of the people,
established to carry out their designs and ac-
complish their good. It was founded on Justice,
and was made for free, Intelligent and virtu-
Gus people. It IS only useful when within their
control, and only serves them we'll when regu-
lated and guided by their constant touch. It is
free Government because 1t guarantees to
every American citizen the unrestricted per-
sonal use and enjoyment of oil the reward of
his toll and OF all his income. except what
may be his fair contribution to necessary pub
lie expense. Therefore, 1T is not only the right.
but the duty Of a free people, in the enforce
ment OF this guaranty, to ,dsist that such ex-
pense should be strictly rnited TO the actual
public needs. It seem perfectly clear that
when the Government this instrumental ~
created and maintained b.. the peopl.otoa( h
their bidding-turns upon nNsm, and thrpHes
an utter peryersion Of its povlrs exte1 afsiU
their labor and capital EihRI ssitnE
ly In excess OF pubatd5d aa,s1st
the creature has IFS are ssbbed
the creator, and the Eof the Cove hment ,
by their servants. Thsby tariff duties eoIlect-
must continue to bees upon importe7 goods,
cd at our custonssenue taxes assessed upon
and by interDmalt liquors. tobacco and oleo- !
spin tuous>I suppose it is needless to explain ,
margaahese duties and assessments are add !
thsssne price OF the articles upon which they .
0levied, and thus become tax upon all those
no buy these articles for use and consump- ,
on. suppose. too, 1t is well understood that ,
le enecs OF this tariff taxation is not limited to
10 consumers OF imported articles, but that !
10 duties imposed upon such articles permit a
'rrespondmg increase In price to be laid upon | !,
omestic productions Of the same kind, which J
lcrease, paid by all our people as !
'nsumers OF home productions, and entering :
'ery American homo, constitutes form Of
xation as certain and inevitable as though the &
nouns vas annually paid into the hand Of the Q