The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-08-30
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

Dhu1UUAtH " A u L V4tulo
The Democratic party of the United States. |
in National convention assembled, renews the |
pledge of its fidelity 10 the Democratic faith. |
resentatives in the COW ention of 1881, and in-
dorses the views expressed by President Cleve- |
land In ms iast annual MESSAGE 20 Songress as
the question oil tariff reduction; and also
indorses The efforts of our Democratic Repre-
sentativeS in Congress to secure a reduction of
excessive taxation.
Chief among its principles of party faith are
the maintenance OF an indissoinbie Union oI
enter upon its se' ond century OF uneXampled
progress and renOwn; devotion TO q plan OF
government, regulated by a written constitu-
ton strictly specifying every granted power
and expressly deserving to she States or people
the entire uneranted residue OF power; the
encoura cement OF Jealous popular vigilance.
directed 10 all who have been chosen for Drfet
terms to enact and execute the laws. and = :
charged with the duty OF preserving peace,
ensuTing equality and establishing justice.
The Democratic party welcomes an eXacting
scrutiny OF the administration OF the executive
power which. Jour years ago was committed
to its trust in the election OF Grover Cleveland
Pr. sident OF the United States. and 1t challen-
ees the mo t searching inquiry concerning its
fidelity and devotion to the pledges which then
invited the sutfrageS Of the people During q
most critical period OF our financial Affairs,
resulting from over-taXation. the anomalous
| condition of our C rrency. and public debt
| unmatured, it has by the adoption OF wise
| and const rSative course, not only averted dis
| aster but greatly promoted the prosperity OF
| the people.
| policy o. the Republican party uching the
public domain, and has reclaimed FROM corpo-
| rationS and syndicates, alien and domestic,
| and restored to the people nearly one hundred
millions of acres of valuable land to be sacred
lly held as hcmesieads for our citizens.
While carefully guarding me interests & oi ,in inc
| ciples OF justice and equity. it has paid out
more for pensions and bountes to the soldiers
| and sailors OF the Republic than was ever paid
| hafa during "A equal period.
BY Intelligent management and ludicious
and economical expenditure Of the pubic mon,
| American navy upon system which forblds
the recurl ence OF scandal, and Insures success
it mas adopted and consistently PURSUED a
fiji and prudent foreign policy. preserving
peac.. with all na, ions while scrupulously main
iaiuing all the rights and interests OF our wn
(iavernmt mt and people. at home and abroad
The ex cIa>iOn from our shores of Chinese la
borers has been ehectualiy secured under the
proyIsIons of treaty. the operation OF which
has heen postponed by the action of Repub
lican majority in the Sc ate
Honest reform in The civil service has been
| inaugurated and maintained by Pres idenl
| Cley Gland, and he has br, ught the public ser
vice to the highest standard o. emIiency. not
Cf his own unIiring anu nnseiash adminlstra
tion OF pub ic affairs In every branch and
dep 4rtment of the Government under Demo
cratic control. the rights and The welfare OF al
| The people have been guarded and defended
every public intel est has been projected. anC
the equality of all our citizens before The law
without egard to race or color has been stead
fastly maintained
ple,ige of CO ntinuance 10 the people OF tn
benehts of good government. the National DE
nocracy invokes y renewal OF popular trus
by the re. election OF chief Magistrate VIII
has been faithful, able and prudent They in
=. woke an addition 10 that trust by the transle
9 to the Democracy of the entire Legislative
The Republican party. controlling the senat
I and resisting in both Houses of Congress a re
| forY al u0iuet and uQeQusl laws
which have Outlasted the necessities OF wa
d and are now undermining the abundance oil
long peace, deny to the people equality heior
| the law and the fairness and the justice wnic
!. are their right. Thus the cry OF american Ia
: Dor for q better share OF the rewards OF indu:
try is stifie with ilse pretenses. enterprise
fettered and bound do2 to home market
s capital is disturbed with doubt. and unequa
unjust laws can neither be properly amende
a or repealed. K
The Democratic party will continue. with O
the power confded to it. the struggle to relor
e these laws in accordance with & the pledges & so of
suffrages of the people. of all the lndustrio,
n freemen of the land, an immense majority, IL
cluding every tiller of the soil, gain no adval
- TIA ge f, ON excessive tax laws; but the price
70 nearly everything they buy is increased by u
favoritism of an unequal system OF tax legi
,r lation.
All unnecessary taxation is unjust taXatio
1t is repugpant TO The creed of Democracy tn
20 by such taxation the cost of the necessa lies
life should be unjustilably increased to all ol
. people. Judged by Democratic principles. Il
Is interest of the people are betrayed Wnen,
re- | unnecessary taxation, trusts and combination
are permitted and fostered which. while e.
riching the few combine 10 rob our citizens
depriying them of the Deneht Of natural COL
petition. Every Democratic rule OF COVER
mental action is violated when. Tn ough unne
~, essary taxation. u east sum OF money, far
Or yond the needs OF an economical adminislr
ut | tim is drawn from the people and the cha
10 nels of trade, and accumulated as demorali
ing surplus in the National treasury. ~
" money now lying idle in the Federal Treasur
le resulting from superhu0us taxation, amour
IA TO more than $32s. 900 900 and the surplus cC
III lected is reaching the sum of more than 81
he 0O0.t 90 annu lilly. Debancneu by TINS lmmen
- is to meet and exhaust by eXtravagant apr
10 priaii0ns and expenses whether constitution
Id or not the accumulation OF eXtravagant tax
PC ton The Democratic remedy is to enfor
frug ,lity in public expenditures. and aboli
Of un ecesSary taXatiOn our established dome
tn tic industries and enterprises should not a.
.. | need not be endangered by q reduction u
- correction of the burdens of taxation on
contrary, a fair an careful revision of our t
I laws. with due allowance for the differ en-
r | between the wages of American and forei
L labor must promote and encourage eve
10 branch of such industries and enterprises.
Il | giving them assurance OF an extended marx
and steady and continuous operations.
ne In the interest of American labor, Will
d should in no event be neglected the revision
al our tax laws contemplated by the Democra
rs labor bv cAeapening the cost of necessaries
ar life in the home of every work kingmRn. and
: the same time securing to him steady and
e. munerative employment Upon this questi
IN of tariff reform. so closely concerning eve
n phase of our national life and upon eve
question involved in the problem of good gC
ernmont, the Democratic party submits
principles and professions to the intelligt
suffrages of the American people