The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-06-09
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM

The democratic party OF tn, United States,
In national convention asscrnbled. rencws the
rratlrIn the platform adopted by It's representa-
LIves In the convention OF 1854, and lndorars The
views eA pressed by President Cleveland IN lIs
last earnest message To congress IA the correct
Interpretation OF that platform upon the qles-
ton vi lurilf reduction. and al - IndOrses the
Efforts OF our democratic repTes' ntatIveB III con
gress To secure "a reduction of excessive taxa
lion Chief among It's principles Ol party inllh
are the maintenance Ot an'lndissolubi" union Ot
Tree aud understandable states, now about TO en-
ter upon It's second century OF uncNampled pro-
grsss and Tenown; devotion To II plan OF govern
Inent regulated by II written institution ST. icily
specifying every granted power, aud expressly
reseIvlng To the states or people the entire un-
granted residue OT power; the Encouragement
ola Jealous popular vigilance, directed 10 all
VINO have been chosen Tor brief terms Ia enact
and execute The laws and ure charged with the
duty oil preserving peace, lnsuring equality and
establishing justice.
The democratic party welcomes an exacting
scrutiny OF the administration oi the executive
power, which four years ago was 10
Its trusts IN the election ol Grover cleveland
president al tho Unitel STATES. and II challenges
The most searching inquiry concerning its nhei-
fidelity aud devotion to the nleiges
which then invited HE bunrnges Ol the people.
During the most critical period of our financial
utialrs, resulting from OVCr-ilNaLioh tile anum-
ulOns condition OF The currency ana The pun Z
debt unmaIurrd. IL has, by the adoption oil II
wise aud conservative course, not Oniy prevent
ed u disaster but greatly promo Ell Ia" pro5perl-
y OF the people. 1t has reycrsed the inprhVI-
dent and unWIse policy OF the republican party
tIuching the public domain Ind has reclaimed
from cor operations aud syndicaies alien anu d.
mrstic, and restored To the people nearly one
hundred millions Uf acres Oi valuable lands To
Be saCrsdly held M hOmebieads Tor our clll-
2ens. While carefully guarding the interests ol
those Concerned anu adherinE 10 The principles
Vi justice aud equity, Il has paid out more ior
pensions and bOunlies To the HOldiers aud salt
ors OF the repubhc Than was ever paid b. fore
during nm equal period. IL has adopted amt
consistently pursued u hrin and prudent foreign
policy, preserving peace with ali nations whiio
scrupuiOusly maintaining all the rights ana M
terests III our government anu people ut home
and abroad. The exclusion from our shores al
Chinese labOrerS has been electuaiiy secured
under the pI OvisiOn vi "A treaty, the ratification
of which has been postponed by the action OF II
republican majority IN the senate. IN every
branch and department of the government under
Democratic control The rights and the welfare OF
all The people have been guarded aud defended;
every public interest has necn protected and the
equality OF all our citizens before The law with
out regard To race or color, has been stead iastly
maintained.
Honest reform in the civil service has been
inauguruled aud maintained by President
Cleveland, and he has brought the public SER
vice To the highest standard Of cnICIency, MT
only by rule and pr"cept, but by The example 81
his own untIring anu unsc nSh administrator
OF public AFFAIRS.
Upon its record thus exhibited and upon the
pledge off, continuance To the people oil the
benefits oi democracy the democratic party in
Vokes "a renewal OI popular trust by the re-eltc-
ton oI "A chief magistrate who has been lIIihini,
able anh prudent.
The republican party controlling the senate
ami resisting ia both houses oil congress II re-
formation OF unjust aud unequal tax laws which
nave outIhsteu lie necGssiLlcs oil war aud are
now, undermining the abundance OF II long peace I.
deny 10 the people equality before the law ami
the fairness and the Jnstice which are their
right. The cry OF American labor Tor II better
share In the rewards OF industry Is sllied with
false prelensts; enterprise Is iCttered anu bound
down 10 home markets; capita. Is discouraged
with doubt, and unequal unjust laws can neither
be properly amended or repealed. The democrat
lc party will continue. with nil The power cOntii-
cd To II, the struggle To reform these laws. in ac-
cOTdauce with the pledges OF Its last platform.
Endorsed Ut the ballot box by The suffrage Of
the people. Ol all The Industrious Tree men Of
our land, the immense majority, including
every tIller Of the soil. gain no advantage from
excessive tax laws, but the price Ol nearly
everything they buy is increased by the lavor-
itlSm OF un unequal system Oi taxation. All
unnecessary taxation IL unjust taxation u ~
repugbanL TO the creed Of the democracy that
bv such legislation the cost OF the necesslrIrs 4
life should be nnjnStiiably increase TO ali our
people Judged by democratic principles, Tia"
mt rests Of the Ieoplc II t betrayed when by
unnecessary taxation, trusts and combinnt onS
are permitted TO exist, which while unduly en-
richiDg the lew that rombine. rob the 10 ~ of
our citizens by deprivlng them OF tue benefits ol
natural competition.
Every democratic rule of governmental &C
ton ls violated when Thu ouRh unnecessary Tux
alton n VA I sum of money FAR beyond tue needs
OF an economical: administration IL drawn from
the people anu The chahneis OF trade and accn-
mulalel AS u de morallzing surplus IN the national
treasury. The money now lying idle IN the ird
vim htnN'tibb super thAu
uon, amounts 10 mole than one hundred ana
twenty I'VE millions, and the surplus collected
Ia reaching The sum oI more than sixty millions
annually. D,banchCd 10y this Immense temp
tatl0n The remedy OF the republican party Is to
meet and exhaust by exirHvngant appropriations
anu expenses, whether c0nstItuJi onnI or not,
the accumulation OF eNiravagnbi taxation. The
uemOcr atic policy Is Ia enforce irugiliiy in
puUlIc expense and abolish unnecessary taA-
alton. Our established domestic industries and
enterprises should not aud need rot be endan-
kered by the reduction and correction OF the
burdens OF taxation. On The contrary a fair
and careful revision o. our tax laws, with du"
allowance Tor the difference between the wages
of American and foreign labor must prCInot" aud
encourage every branch of such industries ami
enterprises 10y giving them assurance OF nm e&-
tended market aud steady aud continuous oper-
atIOns. In the interests Of American labor,
which should Ia no event be neglected, the re-
vision Of our lax laws contempla, Ell by The dem
OcIatlc party. should promote the advantage Oi
such labor by chrapening the 90 { o the mecca
earles OF llie In the home OF every Workingmnn
and ut the same time securing to him steady
aud renumerative employment
Upon this question OF tarin reform SO closely
concerning every phrase of our national life,
and upon every question involved IN the prob
len OF good government, The den ocratic parry
submlts It's principles and professions to III"
intelligent sutfraRes OF the American people.