The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-09-13
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

The Democratic party OF the United States,
in National convention assembled, rencws the
and reatiirm the platform adopted by its rep
resentatives in the convention of 1894, and in
dorses the views expressed by President Cleve-
the correct Interpretation of hat platform up
on the question OF tariff reduction; and also
indorses the efforts of our Democl attic Repre-
sentatIves in Congress to secure q reduction of
excessive taxation.
Chief among its principles of party faith are
the maintenance of an indissOluble Union of
free and indestruct;ble ates now about 10
enter upon its se'ond century of uneXamplcd
progress and renown; devot on to a plan of
government, regulated by a written cOnstitu-
ton strictly specifying every -rHnted power
and expressly Ieserving to she States people
the entir. ungrauted residue Of power; the
encoura gemeut OF q Jealous popular vigilance
directed TO all who nave been chosen for briei
Terms to naet and execute tho laws and a 2
charged with the duty of preserving peace
tnsuring equality and establishing justice.
The Democratic parry welcomes hn exacting
scrutiny OF the administration OF the executive
power which. tour years ago was committed
to its trust in the election OF rover levela nd
President of the United States and 1t challen-
ges the mo searching inqui concerning its
fidelity and devotion to the pledges which then
invited the Sunrages of the people During q
most critical period of our financial Affairs
condition of our rrency, and a public debt
unmatured, it has by the adoption of u wise
ana cons, rSative course, not only ayerted dis
aster, but greatly promoted the prosperity of
the people
policy the Republican party truching the
public domain, and has reclaimed from corpo-
ratI"n> and syndtcates, alien and domestic,
millions of acr. of valuable land to be sacred
ly held as homesieads for our ci,izens
tax PAYERS and conforming strictly 10 the rrin
cIples OF justice and equity, it has paid out
more for pensions and bounties 20 the soldiers
and sailors OF the Republic than was ever paid
before during an equal period.
By intelligent management and q judicious
anu economical expenditure OF the public mon
ey 1t has set on foot the reconstruction of the
American navy up"n system which forbids
the recurI ence OF scandal, and insures success
ful results
It mas adopted and consistently pursued
firm and prudent foreign policy, preserving
peace with all ions W hile scrupulously IN main-
taiuing an the rights and interests of our own
Government and people. at home and abroad
The exclusion from our shores of Chinese la
borers has been efectualiy secured under the
provisions OF treaty. the operation OF which
has been postponed by the action OF Repub
lican majority in the Ne, ate
Honest reform in the civil service has been
inaugurated and maintained by President
cleveland. and he has brt ught the public SER
vice to the highest standard Of efficiency not
only by rule and precept, but BY the example
of his own untiring and unselfsh administers
| tion of pubic affairs. In every branch and
| department. of the Government under Demo
cratic control. the rights and the welfare of all
| the people have been guarded and defended
every public interest has been protected. and
the equality of all our citizens before the law.
without egard 70 race or color has been stead
| fastly maintalned
| Upon its record thus exhibited. and upon the
pledge of q co ntinuance 10 the people OF the
Dement'S of good government. the National De-
| by the re election of Chief Magistrate 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
The Republican party. controlling the Senate
and resisting in both Houses of Congress re-
formation Of unjust and unequ TAX laws
| which have outlasted the necessities OF wal
and are now undermining the abundance oil q
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 q better share OF the rewards of indus.
try is stified with false pretenses enterprise i:
ietteTed and bound down to home markets
Icapftal is disturbed with doubt. and unequal
urjust laws can neither be properly anendeL
o. repealed.
The Democratic party will continue, " ith al
the power confded to it. the struggle to reform
these laws in accordance with the pledges of it
ast platform, indorsed at the ballot box by Ih'
| suffrages of the people. Of all the lndustriou
freemeu of the land. an immense majority. in
Guiding every iller of the soil. gain NO advan
| ge ON excessive tax laws; but the price o
nea ly everything they buy Is Increased by tn
iavoritism OF an unequal system of tax legis
latioB.
All unnecess airy taxation is unjust taxation
It is repugpant 10 The creed of Democracy tha
by such tax Itiou the cost of the neccsSa les o
life should b. unjustidably increased to all ou
people. Judged by Democratic principles tn
| interest of the people are betrayed when b.
unnecessary taxa. ion, trusts and combination
are permitted and fOstered. which while en-
riching the few, combine o rob our citizens b.
depriving them of the benefit of natural com
petition. Every Democratic rule o. govern
mental action is violated when tn ough unnec
essary taxation. VHst sum of money Eir be
yond the needs Of an economical aim inislra
I'll N, is drawn from the people and the cha-
nels of trade. aud accunula ed AS a demoralz
ing surplus in the National Treasury Tn
money now lying idle in the Federal Treas ury
resulting from superfiuous taxation, amount
to more than $32' 100 0W and the sun plus col
lectPd rs reaching the eum Of mora than $50
OOn,l LOO anDu 'liy Dt baucned BY this 'mmens
I, t,mptation te remedy of the Republican part
is TO meet and exhaust by tx ravagant appro
priaI lions and expenses whether constitutions
or not the accumulat ON of extra VACANT Nl
tion The he norra,ic remedv is TO emf Ic
frug ility in public expenditures. and Az III
un ecessarV taxation our established ZONES
tic industries a'd enterprises should nOs an
nj ell not ba endangered by a reduction ar
correcti ion of the burdens OF taxation On th
contrary. lair an careful revision OF our Ia
between the wages of American ard IoleIg
IL or, must promote and encourage ev r
br4pch OF such industries and enterprises b
giving them assurance of an extended marx ,
and steady and continuous operations.
In the interest of American labor, whiU
should in no event be neglected the revision 1
our tax laws contem plated by the Democra
party tend to promote the advantage of ,ur
labor bv cheapening the cost of necessaries 4
life in the home of every workingman. and L
the > Ime time securing to him steady and re
munerative employ ment Upon this que>iio
of tariff reform. so closely cOncerniog ever
phase of our national life and upon ever
question involved in the problem of good gov
principles and professions to the intelligon
suffrages of the American people.