The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-07-19
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

The Democratic party OF the United States.
in National convention assemble d, renews the
pledge of its fidelity TO the Democratic faith.
and reaffirms the platform adopted by Its rep
resentatives in the convention of 1874, and lh-
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-
sentattves in Congress to secure a reduction OF
excessive taxation.
Chief among its principles of party faith are
the maintenance of an indissoluDle Union OF
free and indestruct, BILE . ates now about 10
enter upon its se"ond century OF uneXampled
progress and renown; devot on to plan OF
government, regulated by written constitu-
ton strictly specifying everv Granted power
and expressly leserving to sha States or peopie
the entire ungranted residue of power; the
directed to all who have been chosen for brief
terms to enact and execute the laws. and u :
charged with the duty of preserving peace.
ensuring equality and establishing justice.
The Democratic party welcomes an eXacting
scrutiny of the administration OF the executive
power which, iour years ago was committed
to its trust in the election of Grover Clevela nj
resident of the United States. and it challen-
ges the most searching inquiry concerning its
fidelity and devotion to the pledges which then
invited the sufrages of the people During a
most critical period of our financial affairs.
resulting from over-taxation. the anomalous
condition of our C ,rrency, and a public debt
unmatured, it has by the adoption of a wise
and const rgaIive course, not only averted dis
sster. but greatly promoted the prosperity OF
the people
Itnas reversed the unwise and improvident
policy o. the Republican party t. uching the
pubic domain. and has reclaimed from corpo-
rati.ns and syndicates, alien and domestic,
and restored to the people nearly one hundred
miIiions of acr Of valuable land to be sacred
ly held as nomes eads for our citizens.
While carefully guarding the interests of the
tax payers and conforming strictly 10 the prin
clples OIL justice and equity, it has paid out
more for pensions and bOunties TO the soldiers
and sailors oil the Republic than was ever paid
before during an equal period.
BY intelligent management and a judicious
anu economical expenditure of the public mon
ey 1t has set on foot the reconstruction OF the
American navy upon system which forbids
the recur ence of scandal, and tnsures success
IU has adopted and consistently pursued a
firm and prudent foreign policy preserving
peace with all nallons while scrupulously main
tanning als the rights and interests of our ow II
Government and people. at home aud abroad
The exclusion from our shores of Chinese la
bofers has been efectualiy secured under the
provisions OF treaty the operation of which
has been postponed by the action of Repub
lican majority in the Be. ate
Honest reform IN the civil service has been
inRugnrated and maintained by Preside nj
Cley yeland. and he has br, ught the public ser
vice to the highest standard of efficiency. moi
only by rule ami precept, but by the example
Of his own unIiring and unselhsh administra
tion of pub ic affairs. In every branch and
de pa rtment of the Government under Demo
cratic contrul the rights and the welfare of all
the people have been guarded and defended
every public intel est has been protected. and
the equality OI all our clIlZcHS before lne law
without egard to race or color has been stead
lastly maintained
Upon its record thus exhibited, and upon the
pledge of CO ntinuance 10 the people OF the
benefits OF good government the National be.
mocracy invokes o renewal of popular trust
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
power.
The Republican party. controlling the Senate
and resisting in both Houses of Congress a re-
formation Of unjust and uneQu-l tax laws
which have outlasted the necessities of war
and are now undermining the abundance oil a
long peace. deny to the people equality before
the law and the fairness sni the Justice which
Dor for q better share OF the rewards of indus
try is stuffed with false pretenses enterprise is
fetteI ed and bound down to home mark cts
capital is disturbed with doubt. and unequal
unjust laws can neither be properly amended
or repealed.
The Democratic party will continue with all
the power con6ded to it, the struggle to reform
these laws in accordance with the pledges of its
asst platform. indorsed at the ballot box by he
sufrages of the people, OF all the industrious
freemen of the land. an immense majority, in
cluding every tiller of the soil gain no advan-
tage f, ON excessive tax laws; but the price OF
nearly every thing they buy is Increased by the
favoritism oil an unequal system of tax legis-
lation.
All unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation.
It is repugDant 10 The creed of Democracy that
by such taxation the cost of the neccssa. iIS OF
life should be unjustihably increased to all our
people. Judged by Democratic principles the
interest of the people are betrayed when by
unnecessary taxation, trusts and com bnations
are permitted and fOstered. which. while en-
riching the few, combine 10 rob our citizens by
depriVing them of the benefit of natural com d.
petition. Every Democratic rule OF govern
mental action is violated when. tn ough unnec-
essary taxation. vast sum of money. far be-
yond the needs of an economical aiiminislra-
ton, is drawn from the people and the chan
nels of trade, and accumulated as a demoraliZ-
ing surplus in the National Treasury. The
money now lying idle in the Federal Treasury
to more than $3ah 600, ,0CO. and the surplus col
lected is reaching the sum of more than $50
OO0 GOO annually Debauched by this immense
temptation, the remedy of the Republican party
Is to meet and exhaust by extravagant appro-
priations aud expenses. whether constitution al
or not. the accumulation of extravagant taxa
tion. The Democratic remedy is to enforce
frugality in public expenditures, and abolis h
tic industries and enterprises should not and
need not be endangered by reduction and
correction of the burdens of taxation. On the
contrary. a fair an careful revision of our ia X
between the wages of American ard foreign
lator, mnst promote and encourage every
branch OF such industries and enterprises by
giving them assurance of an extended market
and steady and continuous operations.
In the interest of American labor, which
should in no event be neglected. the revision of
our tax laws contemp plated by the Democratic
marty tend to promote the advantage of such
life in the home of every workingman, and at
the same time securing to him steady and re-
munerative employment. Upon this question
of tariff reform. so closely concerning every
question involved in the problem of good gov
ernment. the Democratic party submits its
principles and professions to the Intelligent
suffages Of the American people.