The Opelousas courier., 1888-06-23
The ST. Louis Platform.
THE PRINCIPLES AND POLICY OF Fl
PARTY.

Olcu, IGuGWo Ulo pAOASO VI Aoo ANSsAoJ
to Democratic faith and reattirms the
platform adopted by it's representatives
in the convention of 1854, and endorses
the views expressed by President
Cleveland in his last annual message
| to congress as the correct interpreta-
tion on that platform upon the ques-
ton of tariff reduction and also en-
dorses the efforts of our Democratic
representatives in congress to secnfe a
reduction of 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 progress and renown ;
devotion to a plan of government, reg
ulated by q written constitution strictly
specifying every granted power and
expressly reserying to the states or
people, the entire ungranted residue OF
power; the encouragement ofa 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 establish
ing justice. The Democratic party
welcome an eXacting scrutiny OF the
administration of the executive power,
Which four years ago was committed to
it's trust, in the election of Grover
| Cleveland, president of the United
States, and it challenges the most
searching inquiry concerning its fidel-
ity aud devotion to the pledges which
then invited the suffrages of the people.
During a most critical period of our
financial affairs, resulting from over
taxation, the anomalous condition of
our currency, and a public debt unma-
tured, it has, by the adoption of q wise
and conservative course, not only avert
ed disaster, but greatly promoted the
prosperity of the people. 1t has re-
verscd the improyident and unwise pol
icy of the Republican party touching
the public domain, and has reclaimed
from corporations and syndicates, alien
and domestic, and restored to the peo-
pie, NEARLY 100, 000,0 600 of acres of val
liable land to be sasredly held Us home
steads for our citizens.
While carefully guarding the inter
ests of the taxpayers and conforming
strictly to the Tinciples Of justice and
equity, it has paid out more for pen
sions and bounties to the soldiers and
sailors of the republic than was ever
paid before during an equal period.
BY intelligent management and a Ju-
dicious and economical expenditure of
the public money, it has set on foot
the reconstruction Of the American
navy upon a system that forbids the
occurrence of scandal and insures sue
cessful results.
1t has adopted and consistently pur,
sued a firm and prudent foreign policy,
preserving peace with all nations while
~scrupulously maintaining all the rights
and interests of our OWE government
and people at leme and abroad. The
exclusion from our shores of Chinese
laborers has been effectually secured
under the provisions of a treaty, the
operation of which has been postponed
by the action of a Republican majority
in thssenate.
Honest reform in the civil service has
been inaugurated and maintained by
President Cleveland, and he hat
brought the public service to the high
est standard of efficiency, not only by
rule and precept, but by the example
OF his own untiring and ~unselish ad.
ministration of affairs. 2 = &
In every branch and department o.
the government under Democratic con.
troll, the rights and the welfare of al
the people nave BIN guarded and d.
Tended; every pubic interest has betFF
protected, and the equality of all oul
citizens before the law without regard
to race or color has been steadfastly
maintained.
Upon it's record thus exhibited and
Upon the pledge of a continuance to
the people of the benefits of good gov.
! eminent, the national Democracy in.
vokes a renewal of popular trust by
the reelection of q chief magistrate
who has been faithful, able and pru.
dent. They invoke in addition to thai
trust the transfer to the Democracy Of
the entire legislative power.
The Republican party, controlling
the senate, and resisting in both hous'
esr of congress a reformation of unjust
and unequal tax laws, which have out.
lasted the necessities Of war and are
now undermining The abundance of a
long peace, deny to the people equal
ity before the law and the fairness and
the justice which are their right. Thus
the cry of American labor for a better
share of the rewards of industry il
stihed with false pretenses, enterprise
is fette3ed and bound down to home
markets. Capital iso disturbed will
doubt, and unequal, unjust laws car
neither be properly amended nor re
pealed.
The Democratic party will continue
with all the power confided to it te
struggle to reform these laws in accor.
dance with the pledges of its last plat,
form Endorsed at the ballot box by the
suffrages of the people.
Of all the industrious freemen of oul
land an immense majority, including
every tiller of the soil, gain no advant.
age from excessive tax laws; but the
price o fnearly everything they buy il
increased by the favoritism of an un.
equal system of tax legislation. AL
unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation
1t is repugnant to the creed of De.
mocraty that by such taxation the cost
of the n~ecessaries of life should be un.
iustifably increased to all our people
Judged by democratic principles, the
interests of the people are betrayed
when, by unnecessary taxation, trusts
and combinations are permitted and
fostefed which will unduly enrich the