The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-08-09
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

The Democratic party OF the United States.
in National convention assembled, renews the
pledge of its fidelity 10 the Democratic faiIh
and reaffirms the platform adopted by its rep
resentatives in the convention of 1874, and in
dorses the views expressed by President Cleve
land in his 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 reducflon OF
excessive taxation.
Chief among its principles of party faith are
the maintenance of an lndiss oluble Unlon OF
free and indestructible ateS now about TO
enter upon its sc. ond century OF uneXampled
progress and renown; devot on to plan of
government, regulated by written conetltu-
ton strictly specifying every Rranted power
and expressly deserving to she States or people
the entir.' ungranted residue of power; the
encouragement of a je Ilous popular vigilance.
directed to all who nave been chosen for biiet
terms to enact and execute ths laws. and a 2
charged with the duty of preserving peace,
ensuripg tquality and establishing justice
The Democratic party welcomes an exacting
scrutiny of the administration oil the executive
power which, tour years ago was committed
| to its trust III the election of Grover Cleveland
| Pr sidenI OF the United States and it challen-
| ges the mo t searching inquiry concerning its
invited the sunrages Of the people During
| most critical period of our financial affairs
! resulting from over-taxation. the anomalous
condition of our Frenzy. ard public debt
| unmatured it has by the adoption of wise
and cons, rsattve course, not only aVerted disx
aster. but greatly promoted the prosperity of
| the people
! 1t mas reversed the unwise and improvident
| 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 acr, of valuable land to be sacred
| ly held as homes; eads for our citiz Ems
| While carefully guarding the interests of the
| tax payers and conforming strictly 10 the prin
| ciples oil Justice and equity. it has paid out
| more for pensions and buunties TO the soldiers
and sailors OF the Republic than was ever paid
| before during an equal period.
| BY intelligent management and a judicious
| and economical expenditure of the public mon
/ ey it has set on foot the reconstruction OF the
| American navy upon q System which forbids
The recurl cnce of scandal, and insures success
| ful results.
| finn and prudent foreign policy, preserving
| peac. with all Ia. ions while scrupulously main
| taining all the I'll hts ana interests OF our own
Giovel nment and people, at home and abroad
| 1he CXsfasiun from our shores of Chinese Ia
boIers has been ehectualiy secured under the
| u, DIVISIONS of a treaty. the operation OF which
| has been postponed by the action of Repub-
| lican majority in the Sic ate
Honest reform in the CIVIL service has been
| inangurated and maintained by Pres side nj
| Lleye yeIand, and he has br, ught the public
| vice to the highest standard of efficiency. nel
| only by rule and precept but By the example
+ his own nntiring and unselfSh adminstra
ton OF pub ic affairs. In every branch and
d, % rtment of the Government under Demo
cratic control. the rights and the welfare oil all
the people have been guarded and defended
| every public interest has been projected. and
| the equality of all our citizens before The law
| without egard To race or color has been stead
| fastIy maintained
| Upon its record thus exhibited. and. upon the
| pledge of q Continuance 10 the people OF thu
Dement'S of good government, the National DE
mocracy invOkes renewal OF popular trus
by the re election OF Chief Magistrate who
has been faithful. able and prudent They in
woke an addition 10 that trust by the transfer
to the Democracy of the entire Legislative
| The Republican party. controlling the Senat,
and resisting in both Houses of Congress q re
| formation of unjust and unequ 4 tax laws
! lxrhic oh HAY
and are now undermining the abundance OF
long peace. deny To The people equality beior,
| the law and the fairness ami the justice whiel
| are their right. Ihus the cry OF american la
| bor for a better share OF the rewards Of indus
try is stified with false pretenses. enterprise i
fettered and Dound do an to home markets
capital is disturb ID with doubt. and unequal
| unjust laws can neither be properly amends
or repealed.
: the power conhded to it. the strusg gle to-reiorI
these laws in accordance with the pledges of II
ass F t nen az vn ,n .h.. ~
freemen of the land, an immense majority, in
cluding every Iiller of the soil. gain NO advan
tage ON excessive tax laws; but the price q
neatly everything they buy is Increased by tn
faVoritism of an unequal system OF tax legis
lation.
1t is repugrant 10 The creed of Democracy tfa
by such tax Itiou the cost of the necesSa, lIS {
people. Judged by Democratic principles. tn
inter est OF the people are betrayed when, b
unnecessary taxation, trusts and combination
are permitted and foStered. which, while eI
riching the few, combine 20 rob our citizens
deriving them of the benefit of natural CON
petition Every Democratic rule OF govern
mental action is violated when. tn Ough unneC
, essary taxation, u vast sum of money, FAR bt
. yond the needs OF an economical aClminislrS
tion, is drawn from the people and the char
nels of trade and accumulated as q demoralii
ing surplus in the National Treasury. Th
money now lying idle in the Federal Treasur,
resulting from super1uous taxation, amount
10 more than $32t 600, 090. and the surplus co
lected Is reaching the sum of more than $50
OOO.I 100 annu lilly. Debauched by this lmmens
TEN ptatiun tae remedy Of the Republican part
is 10 meet and exhaust by extravagant apprt
prialions and expenses whether constitution
or not the accumulation of extfavagant taxs
ticn The Democratic remedy is to enforC
frug ty in public expenditures. and abolis
IN ecrssary taxation Our established domei
tic industries AID enterprises should not an
need not hs endangered by a reduction an
correction of the burdens of taxation. ON ii
contrary a fair an careful revision OF our ia
i. laws. with due allowance for the differ enc
between the wages of American ard foreie
labor, must promote and encourage ever
branch of such industries and enterprises
giving them assurance of an extended mark
and steady and continuous operations.
In the interest of American labor, whiC
should in no event he neglected the revision
our tax laws contem plated by the Democrat
party, tend to promote the advantage of sue
labor bv cheapeuing the cost of necessaries
life in the home of every workingman, and
the same time securing to him steady and RI
munerative employment Upon this questie
OF tariff reform. SO closely concerning ever
phase of our national lile and upon ever
question involved in the problem of good gov
ernmeDt, the Democratic party submits i
principles and professions to the intelligel
suffrages of the American people