The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1888-06-15
THE NATIONAL PLATFORM
OF THE EREAT DEMOCRATIC
PARTY.

Formulated and Adopted at the NatiOn-
al Democratic Convention Held at st.
Louis Last Week.
The platform of the Democratic parry
this year is nearer what it ought to be
than since 1876. Time and time again the
Democratic party has attempted to strad
die on the question, and for such unman-
Illness and dishonesty it has been defeat
ed. This year there is no mistaking its
meaning, 1t endorses Cleveland's message
and declares his view of the tariff to be
the Democratic view.
In the Committee there was a stubborn
fight. The Protectionists wanted Il Pro
lection platform and sought to secure it.
but the advocates of Low Tariff demanded
a plain endorsement of the principles Of
the party, and got it, whereof the CHRoN-
ICLE is glad.
The following is the platform adopted:
The Democratic party of the nted
States in National Convention assembled
renews the pledge of its fidelity to the
Democratic faith, reaffirms the platform
adopted by its representatives in the Con
vention OF 1894, and endorses the views
expressed by President Cleveland in his
last earnest message to Congress as Il cor
rect Interpretation of that platform upon
the question of tariff reduction. 1t also
indorses the efforts of onr Democratic
representatives in Congress to secure a re-
duction of excessive taxation. Along with
its principles of party faith are the main
tenance of the indissoluble union of free
and indestructible States now about to
enter upon its second century of unex-
ampled progress and renown: devotion to
the plan of government regulated by a
written Constitution strictly specifying
every granted power and expressly reserv-
n n 20 r. hp jra
unSranted residue of power; the encour
asement of a Jealous, popular vigilance
directed toward the purpose of the Ameri
can people to enact and execute laws, and
charged with the duty of preserving peace,
iusuring equality and establishing justice.
The Democratic party welcomes an exact
ing scrutiny of the administration of eX
ecutive power which, four years ago, was
committed to its trust in the election of
Grover Cieveland. President of the nlted
States, bnt it challenges the most search
ing inquiry concerning its fidelity ard de
votion to the pledges which then involved
the suffrases of the people during the
most critical period of our financial affairs,
resulting from over taxation, the abnormal
condition of our currency and public debt,
unmatured. it has, by the adoption of
its policy, not only avoided disaster, but
greatly promoted the prosperity of the
people. 1t has reversed the improvident
and unwise policy of the Republican party
touching the public domain, and has re
claimed from corporations and syndicates,
alien anddomeStic, and restored to the
people nearly one hundred million acres
of land to be sacredly held as home steads
| for our citizens. While carefully guarding
the interests of the principles of Justice
and equity it has paid out more for pen
|
sailors of the Republic than was ever paid
before during an equal period. 1t has
adopted and consistently pursued q ii m
and prudent foreign policy, preser IN z
peace with all nations while scrupulously
mainta lining all the rights and interests of
our OWN government and people at home
and abroad. The exclusion from our shores
! of Chinese laborers has been effectually
secured under the provisions of treaty
the operation of which has been postponed
| by the action of the Republican alority
in the Senate. in every branch and de
| partment of the government under Demo
cratic control the rights and welfare OF all
| the people have been guarded and defend
ed; every public interest has been protect
ed and the equality of all our citizens
| before the law without regard to race or
color has been steadfastly maintained.
! Upon its record thus exhibited, and upon
the pledge of a continuance to the people
| of the benefits of Democracy it invokes Il
renewal of popular trust by the re- election
| of the chief magistrate who has been faith
! full, able and prudent, and invOkes in ad-
dition to that trust the transfer also to the
Democracy of the entire legislative power.
The Republican party, controlling the
Senate and resisting in both Houses of
Congress the reformation of unj ust and
unequal tax laws, which have outiasted
the necessities of war and are now under
mining the abundant prosperity of "A long
peace, deny to the people equality before
the law and the fairness and justice which
are their right. The cry of American
labor for a better share in the rewards OF
industry is stifled with false pretenses
enterprise is fettered and bound down tC
home markets; capital is discouraged with
doubt whether the unequal, unjust laws
can ever be properly amended or repealed
The Democratic party will continue with
all the power contided to it to struggle tC
reform these laws in accordance with the
pledges of its last platform endorsed al
the ballot box by the suffrages OF the peo
pie of all Industries. The free men Of Oul
land, the immense majority, including
every tillcr of the soil, gain no advantage
from the excessive tax laws, but the price
of nearly everything they buy is increased
by the favoritis1n of the unequal sys en-
of taxation. All unnecessary taxation il
un Just taxation
1t is repugnant to the creed of the De
mocracy that by such taxation the cost o
the necessarics of life should be unlustifi
ably increased to all our people. Judged
by Democratic principles the interests o
the people are betrayed when by unneces
sary taxation trusts and combinations ar
permitted to exist which, while undul
enriching the few that combine, tend t.
the robbery Of our citizens by deprivin!
them of the benefits of natural conpeti
tion Every Democratic rule of govern
mental action is violated when throug
unnecessary taxation vast sum Of money
; far beyond the needs of economical ad
ministraton, is drawn from the peopl
and the channels of trade and accumula
ted as a demoralizing surplus in the Ma
tional treasury.
The money now lying idle in the Fedora
; treasury resulting from superfuous taxa
tion amounts to more than one hundre
and twenty five millions and the surplu
collected is reaching the SUN of more ha
sixty millions annually. Debauched b
this immense temptation the remedy c
the Republican party Is to meet and ez
7 haust by eXtravagant appropriations an
Y expenses, whether constitutional or nO
the accumulation Of extravagant taxation
S The Democratic policy is TO enforce fri
pality in public expense and abolish III