The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1888-06-15
THE PLATFORM. .

In every branch aud department of the |
government under democratic control, the
rights and welfare OF all the people have
been guarded and defended, Every public |
interest has been protected and the equali. |
ty of all our citizens before the law without
regard to race or color has been stcadfastly
maintained.
Upon its record thus exhibited and upon
the pledge of a continuance to the people
of the benefits of democracy, Il inyokes a
renewal of the popular trust by the re.elec-
ton Of a chief magistrate who has been
faithful, able and prudent. II invokes In
addition TO that trust, the transfer also 10
the democracy of The entire legislative
power. The republican party controlling
the Senate and existing In both houses Of
Congress, prevents the reformation of the
unjust and unequal tax laws which have
outlasted the necessities of war and are now
undermining the abundance ola long peace,
and denies TO the people equality before the
law,and the fairness and justice which are
their rights.
The cry of American labor for better
share In the rewards of industry Is still
stlfed with false pretenses. Enterprise Is
fettered and bound down to the same mar
ket,and the capitalist Is discouraged with
oubt.
The democratic party will continue, with
all the power confirmed to Il, the struggle
to reform these laws, In accordance with
the pledges Of its last platform endorsed at
the ballot box by the suffragcs of the people.
OF all the industrious free men of our land,
the immense majority Including every let.
ter ofthe scale, gain no advantage from ex-
eessive tax laws, but the price of nearly
Everything they buy is increased by Ia
voritism of an unequal system of tax legis-
lation.
Allunnecessary taxation Is unjust taxa.
ton. 1t is rePugnant to the creed Of dem
ocracy that by such taxation the cost of the
necsssaries of life should be already un,
Justly increased to all oar people. Judged
by democratic principles, the interests OF
the people are buried when,by unnecessary
taxation, trusts and combinations are per,
mitted to exist, which, while unduly en-
riching few, combine to rob the body oi
our citizens by depriving them Of the ben.
efits of national competition
Every democratic rule of governmental
action Is Violated when, through unneees-
sary taxation,a vast sum OF money, far be-
yond the needs Of an economical admins
tration, Is drawn from the people and the
channels of trade, and the wealth aecumn-
lated as a demoralizing surplus in the ma
tional treasury. The money now lying idle
in the federal treasury resulting from super
fuous taxation amounts to more than one
hundred and twenty-five millions, and the
surplus collected is reaching the sum of
more than sixty millions annually.
Debauched by this immense temptation,
the remedy of the republican patty Is to
meet and exhaust by extravagant appro-
priations and expenses, whether consiitu-
tional or not, the accumulation Of cxtraya-
CANT taxation.
The democratic policy is TO enforce iru-
gality in public expense and abolish un-
necessary legislation.
Our established domestic industries and
enterprises should not, and need,n be en-
dangered by the reduction and correction
of the burdens of taxation.
On the contrary fair and careful revi.
sion Of our tax laws, with due allowance
for the difference between the wages Of
America and foreign labor, must promote
and encourage every branch ofsuch indus.
tries and enterprise by giving them the as.
surance of an extended market and the
steady and continued operations and inter
ests of American labor, which should In no
event be neglected.
The revision Of our tax laws contempIat.
ed by the democratic party should promote
the advantage of such labor By chcapening
the cost of the necessaries of life in the
home of every working man, at the sane
time securing to him steady and remunera.
tive employment
Upon this question of tariff reform, so
closely concerning every phrase of our ma
tional life, and upon every question inyo'-
we'd in the problem Of good government the
democratic party submits its principles and
professions to the intelligent suffrages of
the American people.
But in making reduction in taxes 1t is not
proposed to in jure any domestic indust-
ries, but rather 10 promote their healthy
growth. FrOm the foundation Of this Gov.
ernment, taxes collected at the Custom
House have been the chief source of Fed
eral reycn-c. Such they must continue to
be. Moreover, many industries have come
to rely upon legislation for successful con-
tinuance, so that any change of law must
be at every step regardful Of the labor and
capital thus involved. The process of re-
form must be subject, in the execution, to
this plain dictate of justice. All taxation
shall be limited 10 the requirements of &C.
onomical government. The necessary re-
duction in taxation can and must be effect |
ed without depriving American labor of
the ability to compete successfully with for
eign labor, and without imposing lower |
rates of duty than will be ample to cover
my increased cost of production which
may exist in consequence Of the higher rate
IF wages prevailing in this country
Sufficient revenue to pay all the expense of
he Federal Government economically adj
including pensions and interest
ind principal of tbe pubic debt, can be got
Inder our present system of taxation, from
Custom House taxes on fewer imported ar