The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1888-06-16
THE DEMOCRATS IN THE FIELD.
And Here Is tae Platform of Principles for
Uhich They HM IsL Ratification.

Following Is the platform adopted by
the democratic national convention
held in St. Louis:
The democratic party Of the United
States, in national convention assem-
bled, renewes the pledges Of it's fidelity
TO the democratic faith an reaffirms the
in the convention Of 1884 and endorses
the views expressed by President Cleve-
land in his last message to congress as
correct in every respect OF that platform
upon the question of tariff reduction,
and also endorses the efforts of our
democratic representatives IN congress
to secure a reduction OF excessive taxa
ton.
Chief among its principles of party
faith are the maintenance OF that 1ndls-
soluble union of free and indestructible
states now about to enter upon its
second century of unexampled progress
and renown, devotion to the affairs of
government regulated by the written
constitution strictly specifying every
granted power, and expressly reserving to
the states or people the entire ungranted
residue of power; encouragement OF a
jealous and popular vigilance directed
to all who have been chosen for brief
terms TO enact and execute laws and are
invested with the duty of preserving
peace, insuring equality and establish
ing justice.
The democratic party welcomes an ex-
acting scrutiny of the administration OF
the executive power which tour years
ago was committed to its trust in the
election of Grover Cleveland, president
of the United States; but it challenges
the most searching inquiry concerning
its fidelity and devotion to the pledges
which then invited the suffrages of the
people. During the most critical period
of our financial affairs, resulting from
over taxation, the anomalous condition
of our currency and public debt I'M
matured, it has, by the adoption of a wise
and conservative course, not only avert
ed disaster but greatly promoted the
prosperity of our people.
1t has reversed the improyident and
unwise policy of the republican party
touching the public domain, and has
reclaimed from corporations and syndi-
Gates, alien and domestic, and restored
to the people nearly n hundred mil
lions of acres of valuable land to be
sacredly held as homesteads for our citi-
ZenS.
While carefully guarding the interest
and the principles of justice and equity.
it has paid out more for pensions and
bounties to the soldiers and sailors of
the republic than was ever paid before
during an equal period. 1t has adopted
and consistently pursued a 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
effecSually secured under q provision of
treaty, the operation of which has been
postponed by the action OF the republl-
can 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 stand
ard of efficiency, not only by rule and
precept, but by the example of his I'M
firing and unselfish administration Of
public affairs.
In every branch and department of
the government under democratic con-
troll, the rights and welfare of all have
been guarded and defended; every pub
lie interest has been protected and the
equality Of all orr citizens before the
law, without regard to race OF color, has
been steadfastly maintained.
Upon its record thus exhibited, and
upon the pledge of continuance to the
people of its benefits, democracy in
vokes il renewal of popular trust by the
reelection of a chief magistrate who
has been faithful, able and prudent.
They invoke, 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
congress the reformation of just and I'M
lust laws which have outlasted the
necessities of wal and are now under
mining the abundance of long peace,
deny to the people equality before the
law and fairness and justice, which are
their right.
When the cry of American labor for a
better share in the rewards of industry
is stitied with false pretenses, enterprise
markets, capital is discouraged with
doubt and unequal and unjust laws can
neither be properly amended or re-
lbttieu. Lit UcllOCIdtlS IdIGy Will COl-
tinue with all the power confided to it
cordance with the pledges of its last
platform by the suffrges of the people.
Of all the industrious freemen of ou1
land, the immense majority, including
every tiller of the soil, gains no advan-
tage from our excessive tax laws, but
the price of nearly everything they buy
is increased by the favoritism of our
unequal system of tax legislation. All
unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation.
It is repugnant to the creed of democ-
racy that by such taxation the cost of
the necessaries of life should be unjust.
ifiable to all our people. Judged by
democratic principles the interests OF
the people are betrayed when by I'M
necessary taxation trusts and combina-
lions are permitted to exist, which,
while unduly enriching a few that com
bine, rob the body of our citizens by
deprivin- them of the benefits of natu.
raj competition.
Every democratic rule of government
tai action is violated when, through un-
necessary taxation, a vast sum of money
far beyond the needs of an economical
administration is drawn from the people
anu tlt ClldllltlS Vi tTduC duu dCCttIlu-
lated as q demoralizing surplus in the
lying idle in the federal treasury result.
ing from su~perfiuous taxation amounts
to more than II hundred and twenty
five millions, and the surplus collected
is reaching the sum of more than sixty
millions annually.
Debauched by this immense tempta-
ton, the remedy of the republican party
is to meet and exhaust by e~xtravagant
appropriations and expenses, whether
constitutional or not, the accumulation
of ~extravagant taxation. The democratic
policy is to enforce frucality in public
expenses, and abolish unnecessary tax
alton. Our established domestic indus.