The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-06-12

were with him have accepted the situation,
and while holding that the convention has
taken too extreme a stand on the tariff, yield
gracefully to the work of the majority, and
fall in line with the new issue.
When Henry Warterson mounted the STAGE
| Immediately after the convention was called
to order, to report the platform,
he was greeted with burst of applause
which plainly showed that tariff reform,
| whether or not popular in the committee, was
the choice of the delegates, This was however,
only the beginning of the enthusiasm over the
platform, for when the chairman stated that
the report was unanimous, cheer that shook
the roof went up, too. Two points were
cheered to the echo One was the
paragraph referring to the tariff
plank of 1884, and the other the reference to
| the presidents message. The yell which
| greeted these had all the ring and whoop of
| the Cleveland yell of yesterday, only it was
| not so prolonged. Henry Watterson closed his
! speech urging harmony in regard to the plat
| form by saying democrats never know
| each other wholly nor love each other thor
oughly until they have had fun with each
| other"
| THE PLATFORM.
| The following is the platform:
The democratic party OF the United States in ma
| tional convention assembled, renews the pledge of
| its fidelity to democratic faith and reatfrms the
platform adopted by us representatives. IN the con-
Vention of 1891, and indorses the views expressed
| by President Cleveland in his last annual message
TO congress as correct Interpretation of that plat
form upon the question OF tariff reduction; aud also
indorses the efforts of our democratic representa-
tiYes in congress to secure reduction of excessive
taxation. Chief among its principles of party faith
are the maintenance of an indissouble union of free
and indestructble states now about to enter upon
its second century Of unexampled progress and re-
| noWn; devotion 10 the plan OF government regu-
lated by the written constitution strictly specifying
every granted power and expressly reservng to the
| states or people the entire ungranted residue of
| power; encouragement of a jealous popular vigi-
| lance, directed to all who have been chosen for
| brief terms to enact and execute laws and are
charged with the duty of preserving peace, ensur-
| ing equality and establishing justice The demo-
cratic party welcomes exacting scrutiny of admins
traton OF executive power which four years ago
committed to its trust in the election of Grover
Cleveland president of theUnted States audit chal
lenges the most searching inquiry concerning its fl
| deity and devotion to pledges which then invited
the suffrage of the people during the most critical
period of our financial affairs resulting from over
taxation anomalous condition of our currency and
| public debt unmatured. 1t has by the adoption OF
| wise and conservative course, not only averted
people. 1t has reversed the improYdent
| and unwise policy of the republican party
| touching theepublic DOMAIN, and has reclaimed
| from corporations and syndcates. alien and do
nestle and restored to the people nearly one hun
dred million acres Of land to be sacredly held as
| homeseads for our citizens
| While carefully guarding interest of tax PAYERS
| and CONFORMING strictly to principles of
justice and equity it has paid out more for pensions
and bounties 10 soldiers and sailors of the republic
than was ever paid before during equal period 1t
has ADOPTED and consistently pursued firm and pru
dent foreign policy, preserving peace with all
| tons while scrupulously maintaining oil the rights
and interests of our own government and people at
| home and abroad Exclusion from our shores of
Chinese labor has been eecually secured under pro-
vision of treaty. the operation of which has been
postponed by action OF republican majority in the
| senate.
Honest reform in civil service has been in
| auguraed 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 I'm
| selfish administration OF public affairs
In every branch and department of the govern
ment under democratic control. the rights and vel
fare OF all 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 steadastly main
| tanned. Upon its record, thus exhibited, and
| upon the pledge of continuance to the people OF
| these benefits democracy, invokes the renewal of
| the popular trust by the re election of the chief
| magistrate who has been faithful, able and pru
dent invoke i'll addition to that trust by transfer
also to the democracy Of the entire legislative power
| The republican party controlling the senate and
resisting In both houses OF congress the reformation
| of unjust and unequal tax laws, which have out
| lasted the necessities Of war and are now under
| mining an abundance of long ace deny to the
people equality before the law and fairness and the
| Justice which are their right. Then the cry of
American labor for better share in the rewards of
| industry is sted with false pretense enterprise is
| fettered and bound down to home markets: capital
Is discouraged with doubt, and unequal, unjust laws
can neither be properly lamended or repealed.
The democ attic party will continue with all the
/
reform hese laws in accordance with the pledges of
| its last PLATFORM Endorsed at the ballot box by the
surageS of the people, of all industrious freeman Of
onr land by an immense majority, including every
| tier OF the SOIL gain no advantage from excessive
| tax laws but the price OF nearly everything they
| buy is increased by favortism of unequal sys-
TEN of tax legislation. All unnecessary taxation
is unjust taxation. 1t is repugnant to the creed of
democracy that by such taxation the cost of the
necesSares of life should be unjustifably increased
to all our people. Judged by democratic principles
the interests OF the people are betrayed, when, by
| q arp
permitted TO exist. which, while unduly enriching
the few that combine rob the body of our citizens
by deprivng them of the benefits of natural compe-
| uion. Wwhether constitutional or not, the
| accumulation of extravaganza taxations, the
democratic policy Is to enforce frugality in public
expense, and abolish unnecessary taxation. Our
| established domestic industries and enterprises
| should not and need not be endangered by reduc-
| ton and correction of the burdens of taxation. On
the contrary fair and careful revision OF tax
| laws, with due allowance for differences between
the wages OF American and foreign labor must pro-
mote and encourage every branch of such industries
| and enterprises by giving them assurances of ex-
| tons Interests of American labor, which should
in event be neglected. revision of our tax laws
contemplated by the democratic party, should pro-
| mote the advantage of such labor 10y cheapeniug
the cost of the necessares of life in the home of
| every workingman and at the same time securing
| TO him steady, remunerative employment. Upon
the question of tariff REFORM so closely concerning
| every phase of our national life, and upon every
question involved in the problem OF good govern
and professions to the intelligent suffrages OF the
| American people.
ME. wATTERsoN's SPEECH.
Az the conclusion of the reading of the plat
form, Mr.. Watterson addressed the convention.
Mr.. WatterSon said:
| Mr. Chairman and Follow Democrats We bring
| TO you platform upon which democrats may stand
| without feeling that they away from home
| Laughter and applause.l 1t embraces a decara.
ton of principles to which democrats may subscribe
without looking around the corner. Laughter ami
| cheers. II embodeS statement of facts incontro-
vertible. lCheers.l 1t delocalizes the cause of re-
| form and gives to 1t language which may be
| spoken alike in New Jersey and Iowa-[cheer and
cries of Good" "Goodp' lin Massachusetts and in
Texas tRenewed cheering.l Its face is set in the
right direction and its eyes look upon the rising
not the setting, sun. loud outburst of applause
| Gentlemen, language of agitation is one thing
| lApplause.l The hand Of construction is another
thing lApplause.l
Thanks to Grover Cleveland Icheers the attention
Of the country wooed by others long in vain, is
fixed at last lcrys of "good'l upon the remedy OF
real, instead Of imaginary, evils arising out of
state of war; and henceorward the democratic
party, which has been the voice, will become the
hand of the people. But its hands will be the hands
ofthe builder and not the destroyer and 1t will re
the occupants before it il it takes the root of
| of the house. lApplause.l
Fellow democrats, bid you be of cheer touching
the future Of the party ana country. The democ
rsey. at leRs Is at one with itself, and though We
may sometimes contend among ourselves our con