Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-06-15

ocratie representatives in congress to secure
reduction of excessive taxation. Chief
among its principles of party faith are the
maintenance of an indissoluble union of free
and indestructible states, now about to enter
upon its second century of unexampled pro-
gress and renown; devotion to a plan of gov
eminent regulated by a written con-
stitution strictly specifying every granted
power and expressly reserving to
the states or people the entire ungranted
of Jealous popular vigilance, directed to all
who have been chosen for brief terms to en-
act and execute the laws and are charged
with the duty of preserving peace, ensuring
equality and establishing justice. The Demo-
cratic party welcome an exacting scrutiny of
the administration of the executive power
which four years ago was committed to its
trust in the election of Grover Cleveland as
president of the United States, and it chal-
lenges the most searching inquiry concern
ing its fidelity and devotion to the
pledges which then invited the suffrages of
the people. During most critical period of
our financial affairs, resulting from over tax
alton, the anomalous condition of our cur
rency and public debt unmatured, it has by
the adoption of a wise and conservative
course not only averted 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 syndi-
Gates, alien and domestic and restored
to the people nearly one hundred millions 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 equality, it has paid
out more for pensions and bountieS 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
money, it has set on foot the reconstruction
of the American navy npon system which
forbids the recurrence of scandal and insuros
successful results. It has adopted and con-
sistently pursued a 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 Chinese
laborers has been efectually secured under
the provisions of treaty, the operation of
which has been postponed by the action OF
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 standard of efficiency,
not only by rule and precept, but by the
example of his own untiring and unselfish
administration of public affairs.
In every branch and department of
the government under Democratic control,
the rights and the welfare of all the people
have been guarded and defended every pub
lie interest has been protected, and the equal
ity of all our citizens before the law, without
regard to race or color, has been steadfastly
maintained
Upon its record thus exhibited and upon
the pledge of continuance to the people of
the benefits of good government, the national
Democracy invoke a renewal of the popular
trust by the reelection OF a chief magistrate
who has been faithful, able and prudent.
They invoke, in addition to that trust, the
transfer to the Democracy of the entire leg
islative power.
The Republican party controlling the senate
and resisting in both houses of congress a
reformation of unjust and unequal tax laws,
which have outlasted the necessities of war
and are now undermining the abundance of
long peace, deny to the people equality be-
fore the law and the fairness and the Justice
which are their right. Thus the cry of
American labor for a better share of the re-
wards of industry is stifed with false pre-
lenses, enterprise is fettered and bound down
to home markets, capital is disturbed with
doubt, and unequal, unjust lars can never
be properly amended nor repealed.
The Democratic party will continue with
all the power confided to it to struggle to re-
form these laws in accordance with pledges
of its last platform Endorsed at the ballot box
by the suffrages of the people.
OF all the industrious freemen of our land
an immense majority, including every tiller
of the soil, gain no advantage from exces-
sive tax laws, but the price of nearly every
thing they buy is increased by the favoritism
of an unequal system of tax legislation.
All unnecessary taxation is unjust taxa
ton. 1t is repugnant to the creed of Denoe-
racy that by such taxation the cost of the
necessaries Of life should be uniustly increased
to aall our people Judged by Democrs
10 c.Nf tl,nT IL,
trayed y hen, by unnecessary taxation.
and combines are permitted and t
which will undlltlly enrich the few th
bine to rob our c1Jiizens by depriy
of the benefit of natural competitjr
Democratic rule of government
vitiated when through unnecessa1
a vast sum OF money beyond the neG>
economical administration is drawn IL.
the people and the channels of trade and ac
cunulated as a demoralizing surplus in the
national treasury.
The money now lying idle i'll the federal
treasury, resulting from superfiuous taxation.
amounts to more than S125, 100000, and the
surplus collected is reaching the sum of more
than $60,000,000 annually Debauched by
this immense temptation, the remedy of the
Republican party is to meet and exhaust 1T
by extravaganza taxation The Democratic
remedy is to enforce frugality in public ex-
penditures and abolish unnecessary tax
alton. Our established domestic Industries
and enterprises should not, and need
not be endangered by reduction and cor
rection of the burdens of taxation. On the
contrary, a fair and careful revision of our
tax laws, with due allowance for the differ|
ence between the wages of American and
foreign labor, must permit and encourage
every branch of such industry ana en-!
terprise by giving them assurance
of an extended market and steady
and continuous operation in the interest OF
American labor, which should in no event be
neglected, the revision of our tax laws, con-
templated by the Democratic party is to
promote the advantage of such labor by
cheapening the cost of the necessaries of life
in the home of every workingman, and al
the same time securing to him steady and
remunerative employment
Upon this question of tariff reform, SO
closely concerning every phase of our ma.
tional life, and upon every question involved
in the problem of good government, the
Democratic party submits its principles and
professions to the intelligent suffrages of the
American people.
Secretary Petit, during the reading of the
report of the committee on resolutions, was
frequently compelled to stop for several sec
onds while the convention applauded signifi
cant passages in the platform. There was
moderate volume of applause at the opening
sentences, which reaffirmed the utterances OF
the tariff plank in the platform of 1884, but
when Secretary Petit read the paragraph in
dorsing the presidents message and declaring
that it correctly interpreted that plank, the
convention fairly rose to its feet and cheereG
wildly for a full minute.
At the conclusion of the reading of the
platform, Mr.. Watterson addressed the con.
vention and was followed by Senator Cor
man, after which it was adopted unani,
mously.
49, 49, \
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