The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-06-27
ST. LOUIS CONVENTION.
A Summary of the Work Done
by the National Democracy.
Cleveland For President and Thur
man For Vice-President.

The National Democratic convention al
st. Louis having adjourned after short ses-
SIGN on it's opening day, met on the following
morning and perfected its organization, max
ing Congressman Patrick Collins, of Massa-
chusetts, Permanent Chairman. After an
address by the Chairman resolution OF SYM
pathy for General Sheridan in his illness was
passed. Mrs. E. A. Merriwether spoke for a
few minutes on women's rights, and then the
States were called for the purpose of noml-
mating candidates for President Daniel
Dougherty, of New York, in short speech,
nominated Gro sr Cleveland, saying that he
gave the convention a name entwlned with
victory"
The Convention :, oke into the widest en-
thusiasm at the close Of Mr.. Dougherty 8
speech. Hats were waved and thrown into
the air, bandanas streamed out all over the
hall, and the delegates. jumped on their
chairs and cheered madly. a picture OF
Cleveland in the White House was uncovered
on the east wall, and the bands played HAL
to the Chief" The cheering lasted twenty.
four minutes The nomination was seconded
by number Of delegates. Upon their mo.
tion Grover Cleveland was nominated by &C.
clamation, and the Convention adjourned
until the following morning.
Soon after the Convention opened on the
tions reported with one dissenting voice
that Of Edward Cooper, of New York. The
platform presented by the Committee was
adopted unanimously, and is as follows:
THE PLATFORM.
The Democratic party Of the United States
in National Convention assembled, renews
the pledge of its fidelity to Democratic faith
and reaff1rms the platform adopted by its
representatives in the Convention OF 1854,
and indorses the views expressed by Presl-
dent Cleveland in his last earnest message
to Congress as the correct lnterpre-
easSa auessca OF Of tar snf PPsdaeton and ase
Endorses 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 indissoluble union of free and inde-
Shuctible States. now about to enter upon
its second century Of unexampled PRO-
gress and renown; devotion to plan
ten constitution strictly specifying
every granted power, and expressly
reserving to the States or people the entire
ungranted residue of power; the encourage
ment of a 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,
6QSuT1nR equality anu eSldUllSulIlR JuSpiSc.
The Democratic party welcome an exact
ing scrutiny of the administration OF the e1-
ecutive power which four years ago was
committed to its trust in the selection OF
Grover Cleveland President Of the United
States, and it challenges the most searching
scruting concerning its fidelity and de-
votion to the pledges which then IN
vited the suffrages Of the people. During
a most critical period of our financial
roc,11finO from OYertaYatlOQ.
the anomalous condition of our currency and
a public debt unmatured, it has by the
adoptiofot a wise and conservative course,
not sSIy averted disaster, but greatly pro-
pesIede prosperity Of the people. 1t has
k6$ersed the improvident and unwise policy
of the Republican party touching the
public domain, and has reclaimed from cor
porations 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 of the people and conforming
strictly to the principles of justice and equal.
ity, it has paid out more for pensions and
bounties to the soldiers and sailors OF the
Republic than was ever paid before during
1t has adopted and consistently pursued
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 provisions of treaty. the operation OF
which has been postponed by the action OF
Republican majority in the Senate.
Honest reform in the civil service has been
insugurated and maintained by President
Cleveland, and he has brought the public SER
vice to the highest standard of efficiency, not
only by rule and precept, but by the exam
pie of his own untiring and unselfish ad-
ministration Of public affairs. In every
branch and department of the Government
under Democratic control, the rights and the
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, and upon
the pledge of continuance to the people of the
benefits of a good Government the National
Democracy invoke renewal of popular trust
.by the reelection Of Chief Magistrate who
has been faithful, able, and prudent They
invoke in addition to that trust, the transfer to
the Democracy Of the entire legislative power.
The Republican party controlling the Sem
ate and resisting in both Houses OF Congress
q reformation Of unjust and unequal tax
war and are now undermining the abund-
ance of long peace, deny to the people
equality before the law and the fairness and
the Justice which are their right. Thus
the cry Of American labor for better
share in the rewards of industry
is stified with false pretences, enterprise is
fettered and bound down to home markets,
capital is discouraged with doubt, and un-
equal. unjust laws can neither be properly
amended nor repealed.
The Democratic party will continue with
form these laws in accordance with the
pledges Of its last platform, indorsed at the
ballot box by the suffrages of the people.
OF all the industrial freemen Of our land,
an immense majority, including every tiller
of the soil, gain no advantage from eS-
cessive tax laws; but the price Of nearly
everything they buy is increased by the
favoritism of an unequal system of tax legis-
lation. AL unnecessary taxation ID unjust
taxation. 1t is repugnant to the creed OF
Democracy that by such taxation the cost
be unjustifably increased to all our
people. Judged by Democratic principles
the interests Of the people are betrayed when
by unnecessary taxation trusts and combina-
tions are permitted to exist which, while un-
duly enriching the few that combine, rob the
body of our citizens by depriving them Of the
benefits Of natural competition. Every
Democratic rule of governmental action
is violated when through unnecessary
taxation q vast sum of money far be-
yond the needs of an economical admins
tratioa is drawn from the people and tho
channels of trade, and accumulated as .
demoralizing surplus in the National Treas
frho ,,o,o,, oo,r 1,,;,o, ;dIa n, tho Fadarol