Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-09-21
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
Full Text of the Declarations OF
Principles Adopted By the st.
Louis Convention.
DOWN WITH THE WAR TARIFF.

ano res;firms the platform adopted by It's
Representatives in the convention OF loot,
and ir4orsss the views expressed oT fresl-
dent Cleveland in his last earnest message 10
Congress as the correct Interpretation OF tnat
platform upon the question OF tarlf reduc-
fion, and also indorses the efforts OF our
Democratic representatives il Congress 70
secure . reduction OF excessive taxation.
AN INDIssoLUBLE UNION.
Chief among its principles of party faith
arc the maintenance q an indlssolupls
Union Of free and indestructibls States, now
about 70 enter upon its second century Of I'M
saampled progress ana renown, devotion TO
pan of Government regulated by written
Constitution strictly specifying every
granted rover and expressly Teservlng TO
the States or people the entire ungrented
residue Of power; tho encouragement OF a
Jealous popular vigilance. directed 70 all who
have been chosen for brief terms to enact
and execute the laws and are charged
with the duty of preserving peace, insurlng
equality and establishing justice.
cLEvELAN D'S ADMINISTRATION.
The Democratic party welcomes an exact
tpg scrutiny or the administration OF TIE ex-
scutive power which four years ago was
committed to its trust in the election or Gro
yer Cleveland President Of the l ulLed Htates,
and it challenges The most searching inquiry
concerning It's fidelity and devotion 10 the
pledges which then invited TIE sulrases OF
The people.
PREVENTING FINANCIAL DISASTER.
During most critical period of our hEnn-
einl affairs, resulting III over-taxatlon, the
anomalous condition OF our currency, snc q
public debt unmetured, 1t has, by the aoop-
tion of wise and conservative course, not
only prevented disaster. but greatly promo
ted the prosperity OF tho people.
PROTECTING PUBLIC LANDS.
t. 10 md nm
wise policy Of the Republican party touca-
ing tie Lnblc domain, and has reclaimed
from corporations and syndicates, alien ard
domestic. and restored TO the people nearly
100, coo, 600 Of acres Of valuable land 20 be
sAcredly held rs hornesteaos tor cur citizens.
LIBERAL PENSIONS
While carefully guarding the interests to
the principles OF justice ana equity, It has
paid out more for peslons and bounues 10 the
soldiers ana sailors oil the Republic than VAS
ever paid before during all equal PERIOD
FIRE. FoIEI6S roIIcY.
It has edopted and consequently pursued .
firm and prudent foreign policy with all ma
tions, while scrupulously maintaining all
the rights ana Interests of our own Govern
menr anu people at home and abroad.
EXCLUSION OF TIE CHINESE.
The exclusion from our shores OF Chinese
leborers has been sfectually secured under
which has been postponed by the acrion of
Republican majority IN tine Senate.
HONEST CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Honest reform III the civil service hes been
inaugurated and maintained by President
Cleveland. and he has brought tie public
service to the highest standard OF efficiency,
not only 10y rule ana precept. but ly the ex-
ample OF his own untlrlng and unseitish ad-
miIistration OF public affairs.
RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE STCrRE
In every branch and department Of the
government under the Democratic control
the rights and welfare OF the people have
Oeen guarded ana defended: every public
interest has been projected and The equality
of all our citizens before the law without re-
gard 70 race or color has been steadfaStly
maintained.
a VOTE OS CONFIDENCE ASKED.
Upon its record thus exhibited and upon
che pledge of q continuance to the people of
the bsaefits OF democracy, 1t lnvokeS re-
neS, al Of popular trust by the reelection OF q
CHIEF magistrate who has been faithful, able
ana DruGent.
We invoke in addition to that trust the
transfer also TO the Democracy of the entire
legislative power. Tho Republican party,
controlling the senate ana resisting IN both
houses of Congress a reformation of unjust
and unequal tax laws which have outlasted
the necessities of war and are now under
x
TO the people equailty before the law and the
fairness and the justice which are their
right. Then the cry of American labor for
. better share in the rewards Of industry il
stified with false pretenses; enterprise is fet-
tered and bound down TO home markets;
capital is discouraged with doubt, and un-
equal. unjust laws can neither be properly
amended or repealed.
WILL REFORM THE TARIFF.
al the power contded to it, the struggle TO
reform these laws, in accordance with the
pledges OF its last platform, Endorsed at the
ballot-box with the sutfrages OF the people.
OF all the industrious freemen of our land,
the immense majority, including every tiiler
Of the soil, gain no advantage from excessive
taxation, but the price of nearly every thing
they buy il increased by the favoritism OF an
unequal system of tax legislation.
All unnecessary taxation Is unjust taxa
Eon. 1t il repugnant to the creed Of
Democracy that by such taxations the cost of
the necessaries of life should be unjustifably
increased to all our people. Judged by Dem
0craIic principles, the interests of the people
are betrayed when, by unnecessary taxation,
trusts and combinations are permitted to ex-
1st, which are unouiy enriching the few
that combine to rob the body OF our citizens
by depriving them of the benefits Of natural
competition. Every Democratic rule Of
governmental action Is violated when,
through unnecessary taxation. q vast sum Of
money, far beyond the needs of an economi-
cal administration, is drawn from the people
and the channels of trade and accumulated as
. demcralizing surplus in the national
treasury.
WILL REDUCE THE SURPLUS.
The money now lying idle in the Federal
treasury resulting from superhuous taxation
amounts to more than Sis, 00J 900, and the
surplus collected is reaching the sum of more
than SCI, COO, 700 annually. Debauched by
this immense temptation the remedy Of the
Republican party is to meet and exhaust by
0xtravagant appropriations and expenses
whether constitutional or not. the accumu-
lation Of extravaganza taxation.
WILL PRACTICE FRU0ALIrY.
The Democratic policy is to inforce fru-
gality in public expenses and abolish unnec-
essary taxation. Our established domestic
industries and enterprises should not and
need not be endangered by the reduction and
correction OF tho burdens OF taxation On
the contrary, fair and careful revision of
our tax laws with the allowance for the diff
ference between the wages of American and
foreign labor, must promote ana encourage
every branch OF such industries and enter
prioss BY giving them assurance Of an ex-
tsnded market and steady and continuous
operations.
TWILL GUARD THE INTEREST OF LABOR.
In the interests of American labor, which
should In no event be neglected, the revision
Of our tax laws contemplated by the Demo
cratic party should protect the advantage Of
such labor by cheapening the cost of the
necessaries of life in the home of every work.
lngman, and, at the same time, securing to
him steady and remunerative employment.
Upon this question OF tariff reform, so closely
e0naecting every phase of our natural lie,
and upon every question involved in the
problem OF good government. the Demo-
fessions to the intelligent suifrages of the
American people.
To this platform Mr.. Scott, as directed by
the Committee on Resolutions, presented the