The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-06-15

Monthly
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
As Reported by the Committee Snd Adopted by
the National Convention June Z. 1888.
The Democratic party of the United States
in National Convention assembled renews
/ the pledge of is fidelity to Democratic faith
| and reafirms the platform adopted BY It's
representatives in the Convention Of 1884
and endorses the views expressed by Presi-
! dent Cleveland in his last annual message
to Congress as the correct Interpretation OF
! that platform upon the question OF tarlh
| reduction, and also endorses the efforts OF
| our Democratic representatives in Congress
to secure q reduction of excessive taxation.
Chief among its principles of party faith
are the maintenance of an indissoluble
union of free aud indestructible States, now
about to enter upon its second century OF
unexampled progress and renown, devoted
to a plan of government regulated by q
written constitution strictly specifying every
granted power and expressly reserving to
the States or people the entire ungranted
residue of power; the encouragement Of q
Jealous popular vigilance, directed to all who
have been chosen for brief terms to enact
and execute the laws, and are charged with
the duty Of preserving peace, ensurtng equal
ity and establishing justice.
The Democratic party welcome an exact
ing scrutiny of the administration OF the
executive power which, four years ago, was
committed to its trust in the election OF
Grover Cleveland, President If the United
"a - "a ~le~1l~--4r Ahn Sr2Nof e0Ar0hln0
inquiry concerning its fidelity and devotion
to the pledges which then invited the suf-
frages of the people. During a most critical
period of our financial affairs, resulting from
o~vertaxation, the anomalous condition OF
| currency, and q public debt unmatured, it
has, by the adoption Of a wise and conserva-
tive course, not only averted q disaster, but
greatly promoted the prosperity OF the
people.
It has reversed the improvident and I'M
wise policy of the Republican party touching
the public domain, and has reclaimed from
corporations and syndicates alien and domes-
tic, and restored to the people nearly one
hundred millions of acres of valuable land
to be sacredly held as homesteads for our
citizens.
While carefully guarding the interest in
the principles of justice and equity, it has
D&lU OUT MOT0 lVE pCuSlOuS ~ OVuL1AOo ~
the soldiers and sailors Of the Republic than
was ever paid before during an equal period.
1t has adopted and consistently pursued 9
firm and prudent foreign policy, preserving
peace with all nations, while scrupulously
maintaining all the rights and interests OF
our own government and people at home
and abroad.
The exclusion from our shores of Chinese
laborers has been effectually secured under
the provision of q treaty, the operation of
which has been postponed by the action Of a
Republican majority IN the Senate.
Honest reform in the civil service has been
~inaugurated 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 ex-
ample of his " untiring and unseltsh adI-
ministration of public affairs.
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 equality
of all our citizens before the law, without
regard to race or color, has been steadfastly
maintained.
Upon its record thus exhibited, AMI upon
the pledge of q continuance to the people of
the benefits of Democracy, it asks a renewal
of popular trust by the election Of a chief
magistrate who has been faithful, able and
prudent. 1t invokes in addition to that
trust the transfer also to the Democracy OF
the entire legislative power.
The Republican party, controlling the
Senate and resisting in both houses of Con-
gress a reformation of unjust and unequal
tax laws, which have outlasted the necessi-
ties of war and are now undermining the
abundance nf a 1nnn no0oo dpnv r. the
people equality before the law, and the fair
pess and the justice which are their right.
When the cry of American labor for a better
share in the rewards of industry is stlled by
false pretenses, enterprise is fettered and
bound down to home markets, capital is
discouraged with doubt, and unequal, unjust
laws can neither be properly amended nor
repealed. ."
The Democratic party will continue, with
all the power confided to 1t, the struggle to
reform these laws, in accordance with the
pledges of its last platform, endorsed at the
ballot box by the SURFACES Of the people.
Of all the industrious freemen of our land,
the immense majority, including every tiller
of the soil, gain no advantage from excessive
tax laws, but the price of nearly everything
they buy is increased by the favoritism of an
unequal system Of tax legislation. All IN
necessary taxation is unjust taxation.
1t is ~repugnant to the creed of Democracy
that by such axatiOn the cost of the neces-
saries of life should be unjustifiably in
creased to all our people. Judged by Dem
ocratic principles, the interests Of the people
are betrayed when, by unnecessary taxation,
trusts and combinations are permitted to
exist, which, while unduly enriching the
few that combine, rob the body of our citi-
zens by depriving them of the benefits of
natural competition. Every Democratic rule
of governmental action is violated when,
through unnecessary taxation, a 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 q demoralizing surplus in the national
treasury. The money now lying idle in the
taxation, amounts to more than $125, 600 900,
and the surplus collected is reaching the
sum of more than $50, ZOO, 900 annually.
Debauched by this immense temptation the
remedy of the Republican party is to meet
aud exhaust by extravagant appropriations
and expenses, whether constitutional or not,
the accumulation of extravagant taxation.
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 en-
dangered by the reduction and correction of
the burdens Of taxation. On the contrary,
q fair and careful revision of onr tax laws,
with due allowance for the difference be-
tween the wages Of American and foreign
labor, must promote and encourage every
branch of such industries by giving them as
surance of an extended market and steady
and continuous operations. In the interests
of American labor, which should in no event
be neglected, the revision of our tax laws
contemplated by the Democratic party
should promote the advantage of such labor
by cheapening the cost of necessaries of life
in the home Of every working man, and at
the same time securing to him steady and
remunerative employment.
Upon this question Of tariff reform, so
closely concerning every phase OF our
national life, and upon every question in
volved in the problem of good government, |
the Democratic party submits its principles |
and professions to the intelligent SURFACES of
the American people.
AN ADDITIONAL RESOLUTION.
Scott, of Pennsylvania, under instru ctions
from the Committee on Resolutions, offered