Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-10-12
THE PLATFORM.
An Able and Interesting
Document.


Document.
PROTECTION, THE PLANK ON
WHICH WE STAND.
SQUARELY AND UNEQUlVOCALLf-
REPEAL OF THE TOBACCO TAX
CLEVELAND's ADMINISTRATION
CONDEMNED.
CHICAGO, June 2l.-The following is the
platform a. reported TO the convention
and adopted by unanimous vote
The Republicans OF the United states
assembled by their delegates in the Ma,
tional Convention pause on the threshold
Of their pnncendings to honor the memory
of their irst goat leader. immortal cham
pion of liberty and the rights OF the peo-
pie, Abraham Lincoln, and cover also
with wrsaths Of imp0rlshable rememoran-
co and gratitude, the heroic names OF the
later leaders who have more recently been
called away from our councils, Grant,
Garfield, Arther, Logan, Conkling' May
their memories DO faithfully cherished.
We also recall with our greetings and
prayer for his recovery the name OF one
of our living berOes whose memory VIII
be- treasured in history, both OF Republi-
cans and of the Republic, the name OF that
noble soldier aud fayorite child of victory,
Pbilip II, Sheridan. In the spirit OF those
Great leaders and of our own devotion TO
human liberty and with that hostility to
all the forms Of despotism and oppression
which is the fundamental idea OF the he-
publican party, we send iraternal congrat-
ulations 10 our fellow Americans OF bra-
! I'll mon their great act Of the emancipa-
! ton which completes the abolition oil
slavery throughout the two American
continents. We earnestly hope that we
NAV soon cOnk fatulate our fellow cltizehs
of Irish birth upon the peaceful recovery
Of home rule for Ireland. we re-aflrm
our answering devotion to the Natlonal
Constitutiou and the indissoluble Union
of States. to autonomy reserved to the
States under the constitution; to the per-
sonal rights and liberties of the citizens
in All States aud Territories in the Union,
and especially TO the supreme and soyer-
eign RIGHT of every lawful citizen, rich or
moor. native or foreign born, white OF
black, to csst one free ballot IN the puoilc
elections and 10 have their ballot duly
couuted. We hold that free TRACE anu
honest and popular ballot and just ana
equal representation OF all people 10 Do
the foundation OfOur Republican govern
ment and demand effective legislation 10
secure the integrity and surety OF the
elections which are the fountains oil all
public authority.
We charge that the present administra-
ton and the Democratic majority IN Con-
gresa owe their existence 10 the suppress
sion of the ballot by the criminal nulhh-
cation of the constitution and the laws oil
the United States.
We are uncompromisingly in favor OF
the American system of protection. We
protest against its destruction as proposed
bv the President and his party. They
serye the interests Of America. We ac-
cent the issue and confidently appeal to
tho people for their Judgment The pro-
tectiye system must be maintained Its
Abandonment has always been followed
nv general disaster to all interests except
tbose Of the usurer aud sheriff.
| We denounce the Mills bill as destruc-
tive To the general business, labor and
farming interests OF the country and we
heartily endorse the consistent and patri-
oiic action of the Republican representa-
tives in Congress in opposing its passage ;
wa condemn the proposition of the Demo-
cratic party TO place wool on the Tree ilst'
aud we iusist that the duties thereon
shall be adjusted and maintained so as 10
furnish full aud adequate protection 10
that industry. ~
The Republican party would effect all
needed reduction OF the national revenue
nv repeating the taxes upon tobacco,
which are an ANNOYANCE and burden to
Agriculture, aud tak on spirits used in the
arts aud or mechanical purposes and by
such revision of the tariff laws as will
tend 70 check the imports of such articles
AZ are produced by our people, the produc-
\ ton of which gives employment to our
labor and reduce from import duties those
articles OF foreign production Except lux
nries) the like Of which cannot be prodnc-
ed at home. If there shall still remain a
larger revenue than is required for the
government, we favor the entire repeal OF
| the internal revenue taxes rather than
the sol render Of any part of our protective
ssstem at the Joint behest Of whisky trusts
and agents Of foreign Manufacturers. we
declare our hostility TO the introduction
into this country Of foreign contract Ia
Dor ana of Chinese labor, alien to our CIV
! jlizatiou aud our constitution, and We de-
maud 9 rigid enforcement OF existing laws
against il aud favor such immediate leg
islation IS will exclude such labor from
our shores trr
We declare our opposition TO all combin-
atoms of capital organized in trusts or
otherwise to control arbitrarily the con-
ditiou of trade among our citizens, and we
recommend to Congress and the state
Legislatures, 10 their respective jurisdlc-
tons. such legislation as will prevent the
execution Of al schemes to Cypress the
people by undue charges on their supplies,
or by unjust rates for transportation OIL
their products 10 MARKET we approve
the legislation by Congress to prevent
alike burdens and unfair discrininatIons
between the States.
We re-afirm the policy Of approprlating
4 the public lands of the United States to
The homesteads for American citizens and
settlers, not aliens, which the Republican
party established ia 1862, against the per
sistAnt opposition of the Democrats IN
! Congress, aud which has brought our
Western do uain into such magnificent
dsvelopemeut; the restoration OF unearn'
ed railroad lsnd grants to the public DO
msiu for the use Of settlers, which was
begun nuder the ADMINISTRATION OF Presl'
dent Arther, should be continued. we
denv that that the Democratic party has
aver restored one acre to the people I; but
declare that by Joint action Of the Repub-
llcaus and Democrats about fifty millions
of acres Of unearned ! a IDS, originally
granted for the construction Of railroads
have been restored 10 the public domain
in pursuance of the conditions inserted
By the Republican party in the origina
grants. We charge tue Democratic sd
nripistration with failure TO execute the
laws securing TO the settlers their home
stesds aud with using the approximation
made for that purpose to harrass innocent
settlers with sples and prosecutions, IN
der the false pretense Of reporting iraud'
and yipdcating law. The Government
by Congress of tue Territories. is based
upon necessity only to the end that they
may become States in Union therefore
whenever the condition of population
material resources, public Intelligence ant
morality, are such as TO Insure stable
local government therein, the people o
such Territories should be permitted as I
right Inherent IN them, to form for them
selves constitutions and State govern
ments and be admitted into the UBlot
, pending preparation for statehood. Al
officers thereof SHOULD be selected frou
residents aud chizeos of the Teutoi
wherein they are to serve. South Dakoti
should OF right be Immediately ADMITTED
} a. q State in the Union under the constl
tuition formed and adopted by her people