, 1888-06-28
The Democratic Platform.

The following is the platform
adopted by the Democratic party at
st. Louis.
The Democratic party Of the United
States, in National Convention as
sembled, re2ews the pledge of It's
fidelity to the Democratic faith. aud
re atirms the platform adopted by its
representatives in the convention of
ashland endorses the views expressed
by Cleveland in his last earnest mes
sage to Congress as correct inter-
probation OF that platform upon the
question of tariff reduction. and also
endorses the efforts OF our Demo-
cratic representatives IN Congress
to secure reduction of excessive
| taxation. Chief among lis principles
of party faith, are the maintenance
of an indissOluable union of free
| iudestructible states, now aboat
to enter upon ITS second century
Of unexampled progress, and known
devotion to the plun cf government
regulated by a written constitution,
strictly specifying every granted pow
er and expresal y reservinS to the sta,
es or people the ungranted residue of
power, the encouragement of Jealous
popular vigilance, directed to all
who have been chosen FOR hI. rms
to enact and execute the law, and
charged with the duty of PIE
serving the peace, irsuring equal
ity and establishing justice.
|
The Democratic party welcomes an
exactlng scrutiny Of the admins
tratlon OF the executive power which
four years ago was committed
to its trust in the election
of Grover Cleveland, the Presi
dent of the United States. bat it chal-
leugesthe most searching inquiry con
cernipg its fidelity and devotion to the
pledges which then invited the suf-
frages of the people, during the most
critical period of our financial affairs.
resulting from taxation, the
anomalous condition of our cur
rency and public debt unmatured.
1t has, by the adoption of wise and
conservative course, not not only
avoided disaster, but greatly promot
ed the prosperity of cur people, res
vised the improvident and unwise
policy of the Republican party touch
ing the public domain, and has re-
claimed from corporations and syndi-
Gates, alien ard domestic, and restored
to the people near, one hundred mil
lion acres of valuable land to be sacred
ly held as homesteads for our citizens.
While carefully guarding the interests
of the principles of justice and equity
it has paid out more for pensions and
bounties to soldiers and sailors of the
republic than was ever paid before dur,
ing an equal period.
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 Chinese
laborers has been etfectually secured
under the provisions of treaty opera,
tions which have been postponed by
the action of the Republican majority
in the Senate. In every branch and
department of the government under
Democratic control the right and wei
fare Of all the people have been guard
ed and defended. Every public inter
est 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 the
pledge of continuance to the people oil
the benefits Of Democracy, it invokes a
renewal of popular trust 10y the re
election of the chief magistrate, who
has been faithful, able and prudent
1t invok an addition to that trust b,
the transfer also to the Democracy OF
entire Legislative power, the Republi
can party controlling the Senate and
resisting i'll both houses of Congress
the reformation of unjust and unequa,
tax laws which have outlasted the
necessities of war and now under the
abundance of long peace deny TO the
people equality before the law, The
fairness and justice of which are then
FlShts' lhe cry OF American labor tol
a better share in the rewards of The
industries is still stihed with false pre-
lenses. Enterprise is fettered anc
bound down to a home market, anC
capitalists discouraged. The Demo
cratic party will continue, with all tn,
power confined to it. the struggle t,
reform these laws in accordance witt
the pledges of its last platform, indors
at the ballot box by the suff'rages o.
the people of all the Industrious free
men of our land by an immense major
ity.
All unnecessary taxation is unjust
taxation. Itis repugnant to the Greco
of Democracy that by such taxation
the cost of the necessaries of life
should be unjustly increased to all oul