Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-06-09

ana IL challenges the most searching
inquiry concerning its fidelity and
devotion to the pledges which then
invited the suffrages Of the people.
Duringa most critical period of our
financial affairs, resulting in over
taxation, the anomalous condition of
our currency, and public debt I'M
matured, it has, by the adoption of
wise and conservative course, not on
ly prevented 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 reclaimed from corporations
and syndicates, alien and domestic,
and restored to the people nearly one
hundred millions of acres of valuable
land to be sacredly held as home
steads for our citizens.
While carefully guarding the inter-
ests to the principles of justice and
equity, it has paid cut more for pen
sions and bounties to the soldiers and
sailors Of the republic than was ever
paid before during an equal period.
1t hasadopted and consistently pur-
sued a firm and prudent foreign
policy with all nations, while
scrupulously maintaining 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 a
treaty, the operation of which has
been postponed by the action Of a
republican majority in the senate.
In every branchh and department
of the government under democratic
control the rights and welfare of the
people have been guarded and
defended every public interest has
been protected, and the equality of
all our citizens before the law with
out regard to race or color has been
steadfastly maintained.
Upon its record thus exhibited and
upon t he pledge Of continuance to
the people of the benefits Of demo-
cracy invokes a renewal of popular
trust by the reelection of a chief
magistrate who has been faithful,
able and prudent.
We invoke in addition to that trust
the transfer also to the democracy
of the entire legislative power. The
republican party, controlling the SEN
ate and resisting in both house OF
congress a reformation of unjust and
unequaled tax laws which have out
lasted the necessities of war and are
now undermining the abundances OF
a long peace, deny to the people
equality before the law and the fair
ness and the justice which are their
right. Then the cry of American
labor for better share in the rewards
of industry is stifled with false pre-
lenses, enterprise is fettered and
bound down to home markets; cap
ital is discouraged with doubt, and
unequal, unjust laws can neither be
properly amended or repealed. The
democratic party will continue, with
all the power confded to 1.-THE strug-
gleito reform these laws in accord.
ance with the pledges of its last plat
form, endorsed at the ballot-boX with
the suffrages of the people. Ofall in
dustrious fremen of our land the i'm
mense majority, including every ill
Ter of the soil, gain no advantage
from excessive taxation, but the
price of nearly everything they buy
is increased by the favoritism o.
an unequal system of tax legislation
All unnecessary taxation is unjust
taxation. 1t is repugnant platform
to the creed of democracy that by
such taXations the cost of the necessa
ries of life should be unjustifiably in
creased to all our people. Judged by
democratic principles, the interests
of the people are betrayed. when, by
unnecessary taxation, trusts and com
binations are permitted to exist
which, while unduly enriching thu
few that combine to rob the body o
our citizens by depriving them of thu
benefits of natural competition. Ev
cry democratic rule of governmental
action is violated when, through un
necessary taxation, vast sum o
money, far beyond the needs of al
economical administration, is drawn
, from thepeople and the channels o
trade, and accumulated as democrat
izingsurplus in the national treasury