The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-07-12
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

The Democratic party of the United States.
in National convention assembled, renews the
pledge of its fidelity to the Democratic faith,
and reaftirms the platform adopted by Its rep
rese natives in the convention of 1884, and in-
dorses the views expressed by President CleVe
land in his last annual message to Congress as
the correct Interpretation OF that platform up
on the question OF tariff reduction; and also
indorses 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 indissoluDle Union of
free and iRdestructible ates now about 10
enter upon its Sc ond century OF uneXampled
snd e
ton strictly specifying every granted power
and expressly leserving to she States or peop:e
the entire ungranted residue of power; the
encouragement OF q jealous popular vigilance
directed to all who have been chosen for bi ief
terms to enact and execute the laws. ana :
ensuring equality and establishing justice.
The Democratic party welcomes an exacting
scrutiny of the administration OF the executive
power which, four years ago was committed
to its trust in the election of Grover Cleveland
Pr, sident of the United States. and it challen-
fidelity and devotion to the pledges which then
invited the suffrages of the people During a
most critical period OF our financial affairs.
condition of our c rrenoy, and public debt
unmaiured, it has by the adoption of wise
aster. but greatly promoted the prosperity of
the people.
It mas reversed the unwise and improvident
policy o. the republican party tauching the
public domain. and has reclaimed from cOrpO-
rations and syhdicates, alien and domestic,
and restored to the people nearly one hundred
miifions of acr S of valuable land to be sacred
ly held as hImes eads for our citizens.
Whiis carefully guarding the interests of the
ciples OF Justice and equity, it has paid out
more for pensions and bDuntIes to the soldiers
and sailors oil the Republic than was ever paid
before during an equal period.
BYintelllRent munHKement and ludlclOuS
and economi ical expenultu of the public mon
ey, it has set on foot the reconstruction OF the
American navy upon system which forbids
the recur ence OF scandal, and insures success
full results.
IG has adopted and consistently PURSUED a
frm and prudent foreign policy, preserving g
peace w ith all ma ions while scrupuously main
tanning all the rights and interests OF our own
Government and people. at home and abroad
The exclusion from our shores of Chinese la
bofers has been effectualiy secured under the
provisions of treaty. the operation of which
has been postponed by the action of n Repub
lican majority in the se ate
Honest reform in the civil service has been
inaugurated and maintained by President
cleveland, and ne has br. ug 1t the public SER
vice to The highest standard of efficiency, not
only By rule and precept, but by the example
Of his own Antiring and gnselfsh administra
dep rtment of The Government under Demo
cratic contr.l the rights and he welfare of all
every public interest has been protected and
the equality Of all our citizens before The law,
without egard to race or color has been stead
Upon its record thus exhibited. and upon the
pledge OF CO ntinuance TO the people of the
benefits OF good government; the National De-
mocracy inVokes a renewal of Popular trust
by The re election of Chief Magistrate who
mas been faithful. able and prudent They in
woke an addition 10 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 Congress a re-
formation nal
which have outlasted the necessities OF war
and are now undermining the abundance OF a
long peace. deny to the people equality before
the law and the fairness snd the justice which
are their right. Thus the cry OF American la
Dor for q better share OF the rewards of indus
cry is stiied with false pretenses. enterprise is
fettered and bound down to home markets.
capital is disturbed with doubt and unI quail
unjust laws can neither be properly amended
or repealed.
The Democratic party will continue, with all
the power conhded to it the struggle to reform
these laws in accordance with the pledges of its
asst platform, indorsed at the ballot box by the
suffrages OF the people. Of all the industrious
freemen of the land. an immense majority, in
cluding every tiller of the soil, gain no advan-
taKe Il ON excessive tax laws; but the price OF
nearly everything they buy is Increased by the
favoritisn OF an unequal system of tax legis-
lation.
1t is repugpant 10 The creed of Democracy that
by such taxation the cost of the necessities OF
life should be uujuStihably increased to all our
people. Judged by Democratic principles the
interest of the people are betrayed when by
unnecessary taxation, trusts and combin nations
are permitted and fostered. which while en-
riching the few, combine TO rob our citizens by
depriving them of the benefit of natural com
petition. Every Democratic rule OF govern
mental action is violated when. tn ough unnec.
essary taxation, y vast sum OF money. far be-
yond the needs Of an economical adminis}ra-
tion, is drawn from the people and the chan
nelS of trade, and accumulated as q demoraliZ-
| ing surplus in the National Treasury. The
money now lying idle in the Federal Treasury.
resulting from superfuous taxation, amounts
to more than $S2a 100 600. and the surplus col
| lected Is reaching the sum of more than $40
OO0. GOO annually. Debauched by this immense
temptation. the remedy of the Republican party
| is 10 meet and exhaust by eXtravagant apprO-
uriations and expenses. whether constitutional al
| or not the accumulation of extravagant taxa
ton. The Democratic remedy is to enforce
| frugality in public expenditures. and aboli> h
I'M ecessarY taxation Our established domes-
| tic industries and enterprises should not and
| need not be endangered by reduction and
correction Of the burdens of taxation. On the
| contrary a fair an careful revision of our tax
| laws. with due allowance for the differ ence
| between the wages of American and foreign
labor must promote and encourage every
| branch of such industries and enterprises, by
giving them assurance of an extended market
| and steady and continuous operations.
In the Interest of American labor, which
| should in no event be neglected the revision OF
our tax laws contemplated by the Democratic
| party tend to promote the advantage of such
| labor bv cheapening the cost of necessaries of
| life in the home of every workingman, and al
| the same time securing to him steady and re-
munerative employment Upon this question
| of tariff reform, so closely concerning every
phase of our national life and upon every
question involved in the problem of good gov
principles and professions to the intelligent
suffrages Of the American people,