The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-09-06
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

Tire Democratic party OF the United States.
in National convention assembled, renews the
pledge of its fidelity TO the Democratic faith,
and rsafiirms the platform adopted by Its rep
reseniatives in the convention of 1884, and In
dorses the views expressed by President Cleve-
land In lis 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 4 reduction of
excessive taxation.
Chief among it. principles of party faith are |
the maintenance of an indissOluDle Union OF
free and indestruct'ble ates now about 10 |
enter upon its Sc. ond century of uneXamPled |
progress and renown; devot on to plan Of
government, regulated by written ccnsiitu- |
ton strictly specifying every Hr'nted power |
and expressly ,eservipg to she States or people |
the entirr unGranted residue OF power; the
encouragement OF jealous p"p"lAr Vlr hance
directed 10 all who have been chosen for bIief |
terms 20 nact and eHecute tn laws. and q : |
charged with the duty of preserving peace.
ensurInR equality and establi hing Justice
Thu Democratic par welcomes hn eNacting
scrutiny of the administration OF the executive
power which. tour years ago was committed
10 its trnst in the election ni Grover Clevela nd
President of the United States and IL cnullen-
ges the mot searching inquiry concerning its
fidelity and devotion to the pledges which then
invited the su1lrages of the people During
most critical period of our financial Affairs.
resulting from over-taXation. the anomalo
Condition of our C rrency, and a public debt
unmatured, it has by the adoption of a wise
and cons. rSative course, not only averted dis
sster. but greatly promoted the prosperity OF
1t has reversed the unwise and improvident
policy o. the republican party tcuchlng the
| public domain, and has reclaimed from corpo-
ration. and syndicates, alien and domestic,
| and restored to the people nearly one hundred
millions of acr. of valuable land to be sacred
| ly reid as humeseads for our citizens.
| While carefully guarding the interests of the
| ciples OF justice and equity, 1t has paid out
| more foo pensions and bJunties to the soldiers
| and sailors oI the republic than was ever paid
| before during an equal PERIOD
| BY intelligent management and JudlcIous
| and economicai eSfen ture OF the public mon
! ey 1t has set on loot the reconstruction oil the
| American navy up N a system which toTbids
! the recurI ence OF scandal, and insures success
ful results.
| It has adopted and consistently pursued a
finn and pI Iudent foreign policy, preserving
peac, with all ma ions while scrupulously main
taininy all the ri hts and interests OF our own
Government ahd people, at home and abroad
Ihe exclusion from our shores of Chinese la
| burers has been enectuHlIy secured under the
| PROVISIONS oil II treaty. the operation OF which
| has been postponed by the action of kepub
IicAn majority in the Sc ate
Honesi reform in the civil service has been
inaugurnted and maintained by President
Lley Gland, and lie has br, ught the public ser
vice to the hi ghest standard Of efficiency. not
only by rule and precept, but by the example
of his own untiring anu unselfsh administra
| ton oil pubic affairs. In every branch and
| drpartment of The Government under Demo
cratic contrnl. the rights and he welfare of all
| the people have been guarded and defended
every public interest has heen projected. and
the equality of all our citizens before the law
without egard to race or color has been stead
Unon its record thus exhibited. and upon the
pledge of a Continuance 10 the people "l th'
benefits of good government; the National pe
mocracy invOkes q renewal OF POPULAR trus
by The re election of u Chief Magistrate whI
has been faithful. able and prudent. They in
woke an addition 10 that trust by the transfer
to the Democr. cy of the entire Legislative
power. . -.
formation of unjust ami unequ l tax laws
which have outlasted the necessities OF Wa
a1aN-V fnN he In
| long peace, deny to The people equailty Delof
the law and the fairness and the Justice whic
are their right. Thus the cry OF American Ia
bor for a he ter share OF the rewards of indus
try is stifed with false pretenscS. enterprise
fettered and bound down TO nome market
unjust laws can neither be properly amende
or repealed.
The Democratic party will continue. with a
the power confded to it. the struggle to reiorl
these laws in accordance with the pledges of i
" ast platform indorsed at the ballot box by ii
t, suffrages of toe people OF all the lndustrloI
N | rreemen of the land, an immense majority, il
&c cluding every 'iler of the soil. gain no adval
n, tage ON excessive tax laws; but the price
ir nca ly every thing they buy Is ircreased by u
IL favorItIsm OF an unequal system OF tax legl
I'D latIOL. -..
or IL is repug grant 10 The creed Of Democracy III
he by such lax ttiou the cost of the neccssa les
H. life should bR unjuStiiably Increased to all o
D. people. Judged by Democratic principles. u
lis Interest of the people are betrayed wheu,
er unnecessary taxation, trusts and com blnatlo
TO- are pernltte'l and fostereu. Whicn. Wntle e
6 riching the few, combine . rob our citizens
ay depriving them of the benefit of natural cor
petition. Every Democratic rule o. COVER
| mental action is violated when til ouGh unne
essary taxation. Il vast sum OF money, far u
yond the needs OF an economical a'imInislr
ton is drawn from the people and the cha
| nels of trade, and accum dlaIed as Itemorai
ing surplus in the National Treasury L
money now lS ing idle in the Federal fressu
ce | resulting from superhuous taxation. amour
ma | to more than $32+ LOO 0JI aud the surplus =,
he lected is reaching the sum of more shan -
he Ou TOO annuity. Debaucneu by this lmmen
nd temptation t,.e remedy OF the Republican par
re. | is 10 meet and exhaust by eX ravagant appl
of priations aud expenses whether const.tuiioT
he or not. the accumulat ON of extravagant y
he tion The Democratic remedy is to emf I
nd frugality in public expenditures. and aboli
oS un ecessary taxation Our establishes domI
a tic industries a d enterprises should nos a
ms need not be endangered by reduction II
Ter correction of the burdens OF taxation. On
Al contrary, II fair an 1 careful revision of our
L. | laws with due allowance for the dlhe4 tn
ad between the wages of American ard foreI
ice lator, mnst promote and encourage eV
ad branch OF such industries and enterprises
Il. | giving them assurance of an extended mari
lot and steady and continuous operations.
lot In the interest of American labor, viii
3 should in no event be neglected the revision
m our tax laws contemplated by the Demccra
IN party tend to promote the advantage of ii
3O labor bv cheapening the cost of necessaries
be- life in the home of every workingman, and
1d. the same time securing to him steady and
ID munerative employment Upon this que>ti
Is; of tariff reform, so closely concerning eys
he phase of our national life and upon eve
he question involved in the problem of good "
nat ernment. the democratic party submits
to principles and professions to the intellIE'
snffrages Of the American people