Evening journal., 1888-06-08
ST. LOUIS PLATFORM
WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC CAN.
DlDATES STAND ON.
Hndorsing CieveIand's Message aud
The mills Tariff HiIl-Et Welcomes
scrutiny orshe eAdnainfstratisns nss
Record.

I
vention OF 1884, and endorses the views ex
} pressed by President Cleveland ia bis las
annual message to Congress as the correc
Interpretation OF thas platform upon tn,
question OF tariff education; and also en-
dorsea the efforts OF our Democratic repre-.
sentatives In Congress 20 secure q reduc
tion or excessive taxation. Chief amonf
the principles OF party faith are the tmain
tenancs OF an indissolubls union OF fret
ana indestructible states. now about to en-
Ter upon iss second century of une 4mpled
progress and renown. devotion 10 a plan OF
government regulated by written Copsti
tuition, strictly specifying every granted
power. and expressly reservIng 20 the
states OF psopie the entire uagrantsd resi-
due OF power; the encouragement OF a jaal
oua popular vigilance, directed to all who
have been chosen for brief terms 10 enact
and execute the laws and are charged with
the dnty OF preserving pesec. ensurins
equality and establishing justice.
The Democratic party welcomes al ex-
acting scrutiny OF the administration OF ths
executive power which four years ago wns
committed to its trust In tha election OF
srover ClevelaBd President Of thu Uuited
States, but it challenges shs most searching
inqoiry concerning ita fidelity and devotion
to the pledges which thsn invited ths suf
trsges OF the people. During most criti
cal period OF our financial affairs, resulting
from oyer-taxation, tbs anonymous con
dition OK our currency, and a public debt
unmatured, has by she adoption OF a wiss
and conservative courss not only averted a
disaster. but greatly promoted the pros.
perity Of our people.
1t has reversed the improvident ard nm
wise policy Of the Republican party touch
ing the public domain. and has reclaimed
from corporations and syndicates. alien and
domestic. ard restored to the people nessl,
l00,O0oo0O acres OF valuable land. TO b,
sacredly held as homesteads for our citi.
zena
While carefully guarding the interests Of
the taxpayers and conforming utric.ly tn
the principles OF justice and equity, IL hes
paid out more for pension end bounties Ia
the soldiers and saiors OF the Republ,c
than was ever paid before during an euusl
period. It has adopted and consistently
pursued firm and prudent foreign policy,
preserving peace with ell natIona while
scrupuously maintaining all the rights and
interests Of our government and people OF
home and abroad. The exclusion from our
shores Of Cbioese laborers has been efYectu
ally secured under the provisions Of trestv
the operation OF which has been postponed
by tbs action OF tina Ripu olic4u majority
In the Senate.
Honest reform II the civil service has
been insugurated and mAintaiuei by Presi-
dent Cleveland, and he has brought the
public services to the Highest standard OF !
efficiency, not only by rule and precept
but by the exsmpls Of his own untiriuR
ssd unselflsh administration OF public |
affairs.
10 every department and branch Of the |
government under Democratic control the
rights and the welfare OF ell the peop,s
have bsen guarded and defended, every /
public interest has been protected, and the |
equality OF all our citizens before the law.
without regard to race or color, has been /
steadfsstly maintained. Upon rs record
thus exhibited. ard upon the pledge of
to the people OF these benefits
the Democracy invokes a renewal OF popu-
lar trust by the reelection OF chief maeis-
traie who has been faithful, abls aud pru.
dent. We invoke 10 addition TO that trust
the transfer also to the Democracy Of the
entire legislative power.
Tee Republican party, controlling the
Senate and resisting In both houses Of Con.
gress reformation OF unjust and uneuaal
tax laws, which have outlssted the nscessi
ties OF war and are now undermining the
abundance OF a long peace. denies to the
psopls equality before the Law, and the fair
ness and the justice which are their right.
Then the cry OF American labor for a bet
ter share in the re e@ards OF industry i
stifisd with false pretences, enterprise "a
and bound down TO homa m markets.
capital Is discouraged with doubt, and un-
equal, unjust law can neither be properly
amended nor repealed.
The Democratic party will continue
with oil the pswer confdei to It the strug-
gle 90 reform these laws. ia accordance
with the pledges OF its last platform, en-
iorsed at the hallot-box by the suffrages Of
the people. or all the industrious freemen
ot our land the immense majority, inclu.
ling every tiller OF the soil, gain no advan-
'age from excessive tax laws, but the price
of nearly everything they buy is increased
BY the faYoritism OF an unequal system Of
AK legislation. All unnecessary taxation
s unjust taxation.
1t is repugnant to the creed OF Democ-
racy that by such taxation the cost Of the
Of life should be unjnstfiably in
creased to all oar people. Judged by Dem
ocratic principles, the interests Of the pee
pie are betrayed when, by unnecessary
.axation. trusts and combinations are per
nitted to exist, which while uuduly enrich
ng the few that combine, rob the body Of
'ur cltizsns by depriving them OF the bsne
Its Of natural competition. Every Demo
ratio rule ot governmental action Is viola-
ed when through unnecessary taxation
1ast sum OF money, far beyond the needs
II an economical administration, Is drawn
rom the people and the channels OF trade
md accumulated as a demoralizlng surplus
n the national Treasury.
Tbs money now lying idIa In the Federal
Treasury, resulting from superhuous taxa
ion, amounts to msre than one hundred
md twenty-five millions. and the surplus
collected is reaching the same or more than
lxty millions annually. Debauched by
bis immense temptation, she remedy. OF
be Republican party 10 TO mset and to ex-
iauss by sxtrava9snt appropriations and