The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-08-16
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.


The Democratic party OF the United States,
in National convention assembled renews the
pledge of its fidelity 10 the Democratic faith,
and reafhrms the platform adopted by its rep
resentatives in the convention of 1894, and in
dorseS the views expressed by President Cleve
land in his last annual message to Congress- as
on the question on tariff reduction; and also
indorses the efforts of our Democratic Repre-
sentatives in Congress to secure reduction of
excessive taxation.
Chief among its principles of party faith are
the maintenance of an indiss olnbie Union OF
free and lndestruet,ble ates now about 20
enter upon its Sc ond century OF uneXamp pled
progress and ien0Wn; devotion to plan OF
government, regulated By written cOn>tiIu-
ton strictly specifying every granted power
and expressly ieserving to she States or people
the entir.. Hngrauted residue Of power; the
encouragement OF a jealous popular vigilance.
directed 10 all who lave been chosen Tor brlef
terms TO enact Snd execute tha laws. and Il 2
charged with the duty OF preserving peace,
epSnring equality and e. establishing Justice
The Demt@ratic parry welcomes AN exaCting
scrutiny OF the administration OF the executive
powet which, tour years ago was committed
to its tru$L ia this election OF Grover Cleveland
a sttent OF the United States and it challen-
ges the mo t searching inquiry concerning its
fidelity and devotion to The pledges which then
invited the suarages of the people During q
most critical period OF our financial affairs.
resulting from Over-taNatiOn the anomalous
condition OF our c rrenry, and a public debt
unmatured, it has by The adoption of n wise
and cons. rvative course, not only aTerted dis
aster. but greatly promoted the prosperity of
the people.
Itnas reversed the unwise and improyident
policy o. the Republican party uching the
public domain, and has reclaimed from corpo-
rationS and syndicates, alien ana domestic,
and restored TO the people nearly one hundred
millions of acr. s of valuable land to be sacred
ly held as honest eads for our citizens.
tax payers and conforming strictly 10 the prin
ciples OF Justice and equity. it has paid out
more for pensions and bounties 10 the soldiers
and sailors oil the Republic than was ever paid
before during an equal period.
BY intelligent management and judicious
and economical expenditure of the public mon-
ey 1t has set on foot the reconstruction of the
American navy upon system which forbids
The recuri ence of scandal. and insures success
lie has adopted and consistently pursued a
firm and prudent foreign policy, preserving
tanning all the rights and interests OF our own
Government and people, at home and abroad
The exclusion from our shores of Chinese la
borers has been effectualiy secured under the
has been postponed by the action of Repub-
lican majority in the Senate
Honest reform in the civil service has been
inaugurated and maintained by Pres ident
Cleveland, and he has brt ught the public SER
vice to the highest STANDARD Of efficiency. not
f his own unIiring anu unselfsh administers
tion of pub ic affairs. In every branch and
d. partment of the Government under Demo
cratic control the rights and the welfare of all
the people have been guarded and defended
every public inter est has been protected. and
w.
without egard to race or color has been stead
fastly maintained
Upon its record thus exhibited. and upon the
pleIge of a co otinuance 10 the people of the
benefits of good governments. the National be-
mocracy invokes a renewal of popular trust
| by the re. election of Chief Magistrate who
| has been faithful. alb e and prudent. They in
| woke an addition 10 that trust by the transfer
to the Democracy OF the entire Legislative
| power.
| The Republican party. controlling the Senate
and resisting in both Houses of Congress n re-
| formation of unjust and unequ,l YAK laws
which have outlasted the necessities OF war
| and are now undermining the abundance oil d
| long peace. deny 20 the people equality before
| the law and the fti rness and the Justice which
are their right. Thus the cry OF american Ia.
Dor for better share OF the rewards of indus.
try is sti1ed with false preteuses. enterprise i.
| fettered and bound down to home mark cts
capital is disturbed with doubt. and unequal
| unjust laws can neither be properly amende4
| or repealed.
The Democratic party will continue. with al
| the power confded to it. the struggle to reform
| these laws 10 accordance with the pledges of il
ass platform. indorsed at the ballot box by ihI
sufrages of the people. OF all the industrious
rreemen of the land, an immense majority, in
cluding every uller of the soil, gain no advan
tage f.om excessive tax laws; but the price o
neaI ly every thing they buy Is Increased by th
favoritism OF an unequal system of tax legis
Iation.
| All unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation
| 1t is repugrant 10 the creed of Democracy tia
by such tax ttiou the cost of the neccssa. ies O
life should b. unjustifably increased to all ou
people Judged by Democratic principles. tn
interest of the people are betrayed when, b,
unnecessary taxation. trusts and com bination
are permitted and fostered. which, while en-
richinas the few, combine % rob our citizens b,
/ depriving them of the benefit of natural com
| petition Every Democratic rule OF govern
/ mental aclian is violate when, tn ough unnec
essary taxation, aSL sum OF maneS, far he
| yond the needs OF an economical admins3ra
i'm is drawn from the people and the chan
nels of trade, aud accumulated as demoraliz
| ing surplus in the National Treasury. Th
| money 10 " iI ing idle in the Federal Treasury
| resulting from superhuous taxation, amount
to more than S32s 900 900. and the surplus col
| ieetati u reaching the sum of more than $50
ODl 90 annu lily Debauched by this Immens
| temuLatiun the remedy of the Republican part
Is 10 meet and exhaust by extravagant appro
CIR net the accuIuulat on of eXtraVagant taxa
tiun The Democratic remedy to enforc
frug ,lity in public expenditures. and abolisl
un ecessary taxation our established domes
tic industries ard enterprises should not an,
need not be endangered by a reduction an,
correction OF the burdens OF taxation. Un tn
contrary, q fair an careful revision of our ia,
laws. with due allowance for the differ enc
between the wages of American and foreigl
labor, must promote and encourage ever
branch of such industries and enterprises b.
giving them assurance of an extended marke
| and steady and continuous operations.
| In the interest of American labor whicl
| should in no event be neglected the revision o
l-our tax laws contemplated by the Democrasi
| party, tend to promote the advantage of suci
labor bv cheapening the cost OF necessaries O
| life in the home of every workingman, and a
| the same time securing to him steady and re
munerative employment. Upon this question
| of tariff reform, SO closely concerning ever,
phase of our national life and upon ever
question involved in the problem of good gov
ernment, the Democratic party submits it
principles and professions to the inteiligen
snffrages of the American people.