Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-07-04
THE PLATFORM.


Tho Declaration orPrincipIes Upon which
the Democracy Propose to- Make a Win
ming Fight in the Coming Campaign.
Following is given the full text of the St.
Louis platform. IL is a strong document
and one on which Democrats of every sec
tion can solidly unite in support of the
strongest and best ticket ever nominated
by the National Democratic party:
THE PLATFoRM
"The Democratic party Of the United States
in National convention assembled, renews the
pledge OF It's fidelity to the Democratic faith.
and reaffirms the platform adopted by its re p
resentativeS in the convention of 1884, and m
dorscs the views expressed by President Cleve-
land IN h 5 last earnest message to Congress as
the correct Interpretation of that platform upon
the question OF tariff reduction; and also in
dorsss the Efforts Of our Democratic represen-
tatiVes in Congress TO secure reduction Of ex-
cess taxation.
"Chief among its principles of party faith
are the maintenance Of an indissoluble union
OF free and indestructtble States, now about
10 enter upon It's second century OF unexampled
OF government regulated by writ
ten constitution strictly specifying
every granted power ana expressly re-
serving TO the States or people the entire un-
granted residue OF power; the encouragement
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, ensurinR equality and
establishing justice.
scrutiny OF the administration OF the executive
power, which four years ago was committed TO
its trusts IN the election of Grover Cieve-
land, President Of the United States, but IL
challenges the most searching inquiry
concerning its fidelity and devotion TO the
pledges which then invited the suhrages OF
the people during a most critical period OF our
hnaHclnl affairs, resulting from Over-taxation,
the anomalies condition OF our currency, and a
public debt unmatured II has by The adoption
OF wise and conservative course not only
averted disaster, but greatly promoted the
prosperity Of the people.
''lt has reversed the improvident and unwise
policy OF the Republican party touching the
public domain, and has reclaimed from cor
poratonS and syndicates alien and domestic
and restored TO the people nearly one hundred
millions OF acres Of valuable land to be sa-
credly held as homeSteads for our citizens
"While carefully guarding the interests to
the principles OF justice and equity, it has paid
out more for pensions and bounties 10 the
soldiers and sailors OF the Republic than was
ever pad before during an equal period. II has
dent ioreiFn policy, preserving peace with all
nations white 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 ef1ectuslly secured under the
provision OF q treaty, the operation of which
lican majority in the Senate.
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 in
terest has been protected, and the equality OF
all our citizens before the law, without regard
70 race or color, has been steadfastly main
tanned.
Upon its record thus exhibited and upon
the pledge OF continuance to the people OF
the benefits OF Democracy IL invokes a renewal
OF popular trust by the reelection OF q Chief
Magistrate who has been faithful, able and pru-
dent and invoke In addition to that trust the
transfer also to the Democracy OF the entire
legislative power.
Z" The Republican party, controlling the SEN
ate and resisting In both houses of COnQrasa n
reformation OF unjust and unequal tar laws,
which have outlasted the necessities OF war and
are now undermining the abundance OF q long
peace, deny to the people equality before the
law, and the fairness and the Justice which arc
their right Then the cry OF American labor
for better share in the rewards OF industry IL
stified with false prctences. enterprise is fet-
tered and bound down TO home markets; cap
ital is discouraged ith doubt, and unequal, un-
Just laws can neither be properly amended or
repealed.
''The Democratic party will continue, with all
the power confided TO il. the struggle to reform
these laws in accordance with the pledges OF its
last platform, indorsed at the ballot box by the
suffrages of the people. or ali the industrious
freemen Of our land the immense majority,
including every tller OF the soil, gain no ad-
vantage from excessive tax laws, but the price
OF nearly every thing they buy is increased by
the favorittsui OF an unequal system of tax leg
islation.
'An unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation
II is repugnant 10 the creed OF Democracy that
oy such taxation the cost OF the necessaries OF
life should be unjust 1ably increased 10 all our
people. Judged by Democratic principles
the interests OF the people are betrayed when,
by unnecessary taxat on, trusts and COM
binations are permitted To exist while
unduly enriching the few. thu combine TO
rob the body OF our citizens by depriving them
OF the dement's or natural competition Every
rule OF Governmental action is violated when
through unnecessary taxation a vast sum Of
money far beyond the needs OF an economical
Administration l. q avn from the people, the
channels OF trad, and accumulated as q de-
moral zing surplus 10 the National Treasury.
The money now lying idle in the Federal
Treasury resulting from superfiuous taxation
amounts 10 more than one hundred and twenty.
hve millions, and the surplus collected Is
reaching the sum OF more than sixty mill
temptation the remedy OF the Republi-
can party Is 10 meet and exhaust by extrava-
constitutional or not the accumulation Of ex-
travagant taxation. The Democratic policy Is
10 enforce frugality in public expense and aboL
ish unnecessary taxation.
"Our established domestic Industries and en-
terprises should not and need not be endan-
gered BY The reduction and correction Of the
burdens Of taxation On the contrary. q fair
and careful revis.On Of our tax laws. with due
allowance for the d ference between the wages
OF American and fore gn labor must pro
such industries, and enterprises by giving them
assurances OF an extended market and steady
and continuous operations. In the interests OF
American labor. which should Ia no event be
neglected. tie revision 81 our tax laws contem-
plated BY the Democratic party should pro
LIote me adfantaga OF such labor oy cheapen-
Ing the cost OF necesSaries of lie In the home
OF every working-Inan. and At the same time
securing . him steady and remunerauvs em-
ploymeaL"
TIERE is no period in the career Of the
bustlc that appeals 80 strongly to the sym
pathetic side Of mans nature as when it
just reaches far enough abaft the weather
board OF the umbrella TO catch the sogging
rain drops as they sog.
IRIS the little things that tell-e.Decisrlu