Huntsville gazette., 1888-06-16
THE PLATFORM.

In National convention assembled renewS the
pledge of its fidelity to Democratic faith and
reafirms the.platform adopted by its represent
atves in the convention of 1854, and ndorses
the views expressed by President Cleveland in
his last annual message to Congress, as the
correct Interpretation of that platform upon the
question of tariff reduction; and also indorses
the efforts from Democratic Representatives In
Congress to secure a reduction of excessive
taxation. gF Fg
Chief among its principles OF party faith are
the maintenance of an indissoluble Union Of
free and indcstructible States, now about to
enter upon its second century of unexampled
progress, and renown devotion to plan OF
government regul ated by a written constitu-
ton strictly specifying every granted power,
and expressly reserving to the States or people,
the entire ungranted residue OF power; the en-
couragcment of d jealous, popular vigilance,
directe l to all who have been chosen for brief
terms to enact and execute the laws, and are
charged with the duty Of preserving peace en-
suring equality and establishing justice.
The Democratic party welcomes an exacting
scrutiny OF the Administration and the execu-
tive power, which, four years ago, was COM
mitted to its trust, in the election of Grover
Cleveland President of the United States; and
it challenges the most searching inquiry con-
cerning its fidelity and devotion to the pledges
which then invited the suffrageS of the people.
During most critical period Of our financial
affairs, resulting from overtaxation, the
anomalous condition of our currency, and
public debt unmatured, it has, by the adoption
o conservative course, not only averted disas-
ter, but greatly promoted the prosperity Of the
people. .a
1t has reversed the improvdent and unwise
policy of the Republican party touching the
public domain, and has reclaimed from cor
porations and syndicates, alien and domestic,
and restored to the people, nearly one hundred
millions of acres of valuable land to be sacred
ly held as homesteaGs for our citizens.
While carefully guarding the interest OF the
and bounties 10 tie soldiers and sailors of the
taxpayers and conforming strictly to the princi-
pies of Justice, it has paid out more for pensions
Republic than was ever paid before during an
equal period -s.
BY intelligent management ard judicious
and economical expenditure OF the public
money it has undertaken the reconstruction of
the American navy on system which forbids
the recurrence of scandal,and insures success
full results.
1t has adopted and consistently.pursued firm
and prudent foreign policy, preserving peace
with all nations while scrupously maintaining
all the rights and interests of our own Govern
ment and people at home and abroad. n
The exclusion from our shores Of Chinese
laborers has been effectually secured under the
provisions of treaty the operation of which
lican 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, but by the example Of his own
| untiring and unselhsh administration of public
| affairs. 4+,
! Inevery branch and department of the Govern
ment under Democratic control, the rights and
| the welfare of all the people have been guard
| ed and defended; every public interest has
| been protected and the equality of all our citi
| zens before the law, without regard to race or
| section. has been steadfastly maintained
Upon its record thus explained and upon the
! pledge of q continuance to the people Of the
| benefits of good government, the National
| Democracy invokes renewal Of popular trust
| by the reelection of a chief magistrate who has
| been faithful able and prudent They invoke
an addition to 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 Con
gress reformation of unjust and un-
equal tax laws, which have out
| lasted the necessities of war, and are now
undermining the abundance of long peace,
deny to the people equality before the law and
the fairness and justice which are their right.
Thus the cry Of American labor for better
share of the rewards Of industry is stif1ed with
down to home markets, capital is disturbed with
doubt, and unequal, unjust laws can neither be
properly amended nor repealed, The Demo
cratic party viii continue with all the power
confided to it to struggle to reform these laws
in accordance with the pledges OF its lastplat-
form indorsed at the ballot-box by the suffrages
of the people.
OF all the industrious free men Of land
an immense majority, including every tiller Of
the soil, gain no advantage from excessive tax
laws; but the price of nearly every thing they
consume is increased by the favoritsm OF an
| unusual system OF tax legislation All un-
necessary taxation is unjust taxation. 1t is re-
pugnant to the creed of Democracy that by
such taxation the cost of the necessarles of life
should be uniustly increased to all our people.
Judged by Democratic principles, the interests
of the people are betrayed when, by unneces-
| Sary taxation, trusts and combinations are
permitted and fostered which viii unduly
enrich the few that combine to rob the
body of our citizens by deprivng
| them of the benefit Of natural competition.
Every Democratic rule of governmental ac-
| tion is violated when, through unnecessary
taxation, q vast sum of money far beyond the
needs of economical administr tration, is drawn
| from the people and the channels of trade and
| accumulated as demoralzng surplus in the
! National Treasury. The money now lying idle
! in the Federal Treasury, from superfluous taxa
\ LlOn, amounts 10 more tlan 1lZo,UJU,UJU, ana
| the surplus collected is reaching the sum
OF more than 800, 10000 annually. Debauched
! by this immense temptation, the remedy
| of the Republican party was to meet and ex-
haust it by extravagant appropriations. The
/ Democratic remedy is to enforce frugaIitv in
public expenditures and abolish unnecessary
| taxation. Our established domestic industries
and enterprises should not and need
not be endangered by a reduction and
| correction Of burdens OF taxation. On
| the contrary, fair and careful revision
OF our tax laws; with due allowance for the
| difference between the wages Of American and
| foreign labor. must permit and encourage
| every branch of such industry and enterprise
by giving them assurance of an extended
| market and steady and continuous operation
In the interest Of American labor, which should
| in no event be neglected, the revision Of oul
tax laws, contemplated by the Democratic
1 party and to promote the advantage of such
| labor, by cheapening the cost of the necessa
| ries OF life in the home Of every workingman
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, ant
| upon every question involved in the problem o.
good government the Democratic party sub
| mits its principles and professions to the intel
4 ligent sufrares of the American ueoDle -4