The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1888-06-14
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM
ADOPTED AT THE ST. LOUIS CONvEN-
TON LAST WEEK.

n (.
The Democratic party Of the United
States, in national convention assembled,
renews the pledge Of its fidelity TO Demo
cratic faith and Yeafirms the platform
adopted by its representatives, in the con-
vention of 1884, and Endorses the views
expressed by President Cleveland in his
last annual message to congress as the
correct Interpretation Of that platform
upon the question of tariff reduction,
ocratic representatives In congress TO Sc
cure reduction of excessive taxation.
Chief among its principles OF party faith
are the maintenance Of an indissolublo
union of free and indestructible states,
now about to enter upon Its second CEN
tury of unsxamplsd progress and re-
nowp; devotion to plan Of government
rsgdlated By written constitution
end sxprSssay reserving 10 the states or
people the entire ungranted fesidue of
bower; the encouragement Of jealous
popular vigilance, directed TO all who
haSs been chosen for brief terms to enact
and execute the laws, AID are charged
with the duty Of preserving peace, en-
suring equality and establishing justice.
The Democratic party welcome an ex-
acting scrutiny Of the administration OF
the executive power which four years ago
was committed to its trust, in the cleo
ton of Grover ClevelaldSprssidsnt Of the
United States, and it challenges the most
searching inquiry concerning its fidelity
and devotion to the pledges which then
invited the SURFACES Of the people. Dur
ing most critical period OF our financial
affairs, resulting from over taxation, the
anomalous condition Of our currency, and
q public debt UNINSURED, it has, by the
adoption of wise and conservative
course, not only avsrted disaster, but
greatly promoted the prosperity Of the
people. It 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 has
restored to the people nearly 100, 0O0, 900
of acres of valuable land to be sacredly
held as homesteads for our citizens.
While carefully guarding the interest
of the taxpayers, and conforming strictly
to the principles Of justice and equity, it
has paid out more for pensions and
bounties to the soldiers and sailors Of the
republic than was ever paid before dur
ing an equal period.
BY intelligent management and
judicious and economical expenditure of
the public money 1t has set on foot the
reconstruction of the American navy
upon a system which forbids the recur-
renee of scandal and insures successful
results
1t has adopted and consistently pur-
sued firm and prudent foreign policy,
preserving peace 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 Chi
nese 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.
Honest reform in the civil service has
been inaugurated and maintained by
President Cleveland. and he has brought
the public service to the highest stand
ard of efficiency, not only by rule and
and precept, but by the example of his
own untiring and unselfish administra-
ton Of public affairs.
In every branch and department of the
government under Democratic control
the rights and welfare Of all the people
have been 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 steadfastly maintained.
Upon it's record thus exhibited and
upon the pledge of continuance to the
people of the benefits of good govern
Inent, the national Democracy invokes
Il renewal of popular trust by the re-
election of chief magistrate who has
been faithful, able and prudent.
They invoke an addition to that trust
by the transfer to the Democracy of the
entire legislative power.
The Republican party controlling the
senate and resisting in both houses of
congress reformation of unjust and I'M
equal tax laws which have outlasted the
necessities of war and are now under
mining the abundance of a long peace,
deny to the people equality before the
law and the fairness and the justice
which are their right Thus the cry of
American labor for better share Of the
rewards of industry are stifled with false
pretenses, enterprise arc fettered and
hound down to home markets, capital 10
disturbed with doubt, and unequal and
unjust laws can neither be amended nor
repealed.
The Democratic party will continue
with all the power confided to it to strug-
gle to reform these laws in accordance
with the pledges of its last platform, in
dorsed at the ballot box by the SURFACES
of the people.
OF oil the industrious freemen of our
land an immense majority, including
every tiIler of the soil, gain no advantage
from excessive tax laws; but the price of
nearly every thing they buy is increased
by the favoritisin of an unequal system
of tax legislation. All unnecessary taxa
ton is unjust taxation. 1t Is repugnant
to the creed Of Democracy that by such
taxation the cost of the necessaries of
life should be unjustly increased to all
our people. Judged by Democratic prin-
eiples, the interests of the people are be-
trayed when, by unnecessary taxation,
trusts and combinations are permitted
and fostered which daily enrich the few
that combine to rob our citizens by de-
priving them of the benefit of natural
competition. Every Democratic rule Of
governmental action is violated when,
through unnecessary taxation vast sum
of money far beyond the needs Of an eco
nomical administration 10 drawn from
the people and the channels of trade and
accumulated as demoralizing surplus
in the national treasury. The money
now Lying Idle in the federal treasury
resulting from snperfluous taxation
amounts to more than sl25, 900, 900, and
the surplus collected is reaching the sum
of more than $60, 000. 600 annually. De-
LAUGHED by this immense, temptation the
remedy of the Republican party is to ex-
haust it by extravagant appropriation.
The Democratic remedy is to enforce fru-
gality in public expenditures and abolish
unnecessary taxation. Our established
domestic industries and enterprises should
not and need not be endangered by re-
duction and correction Of the burdens of
taxation. On the contrary, fair and
careful revision of our tax laws with due
allowance for the differences between the
wages of American and foreign labor
must permit and encourage every branch
of such industry and enterprise by giving