Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-09-14
THE PLATFORM.
The Declaration ofPrincipIes Upon Which
the Democracy Propose to Make a Win
ming Fight in the Coming Campaign.


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 strong documents
( and one on which Democrats of every sec
/ ton can selidly unite in support of the
/ strongest and best ticket ever nominated
by the National Democratic party:
J THE PLATFORM
J The Democratic party OF the United States
K In Nationsi convention assembled, reuews the
J pledge Of its fidelity TO the Democratic faith
/ and reafiruas the platform adopted BY its rep
{ resertatives III the convention of 1888, and IN
oorseS the views expressed by President Cleye-
! land IN his last earnest message to Congress
/ the Question Of tarir reduction: ana also in
1 dorses the efforts of our Democratic represen-
! tatlves in Congress TO secure reduction OF ex-
eessiye taxation
I Chief among its principles OF party faith
are the maintenance Of an indis soluble union
/ OF free ard indestructible States, now about
progress and renovn, devotion 10 q plan
/ OF government regulated by a writ
every granted power and expressly re,
! serving 10 the States or people the entire IN
! granted residue OF power; the encouragement
I Of 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, ensuring equality and
establishing justice.
THE Democratic party welcome an exactins
scrutiny Of the administration OF the executive
/ power. WHICH TOUR years daC Mas committed TO
its trusts in the election OF Grover Cleve-
land. President Of the United States, but il
challenges the most searching inquiry
pledges which then invited the SURFACES of
the people during a most critical period Of our
financial sffairs, resulting from over-tsxatiou,
the Anomalies condition of our currency. and a
public debt unmatured, it has by the adoption
of a wise and conservative course not only
averted disaster, but greatly promoted the
prosperity OF the people.
1T has reversed the improvident and unwtse
policy OF the Republican party touching the
public domain, and has reclaimed from cor
porations and syndcates alien and domestic
and restored 20 the people nearly ore 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 bountes to the
soldiers AID sailors OF the Republic than was
ever paid before during an equal period. 1t has
adopted, consistently pursued, firm and pru-
dent foreign policy, preserving peace with all
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
provision Of treaty the operation of which
has been postponed by the action of Repub-
llcan ma lOrlty 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 guars6d and defended; every public in
terest has been protected, and the equality of
all our citizens before the law, without regard
" IdSS Ut COiOI' mas Otc4 slcauIdSlly udlu-
tanned.
Upon its record thus exhibited and upon
the pledge OF a continuance to the people of
the benefits of Democracy 1t tnvokes q renewal
OF popular trust by the reelection OF 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
le gislatiye power.
THE Republican party controlling the SEN
ate and resisting in both houses OF Congress Q
reformation of unjust and unequal tax laws,
which have outasted 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 and the justice which are
their right. Then the cry OF American labor
for better share in the rewards OF industry 10
stuffed with false pretences enterprise is fet~
tered and bound down to home markets; cap
ital is discouraged 18th doubt, and unequal, un-
just laws can neither be properly amended or
repealed.
THE Democratic party will continue, with all
the power confdedsto ii, the struggle to reform
these laws in accordance with the pledges OF its
last platform, indorsed at the ballot box by the
SURFACES of the people. OF all the Industrious
freemen of our land, the immense majority,
vantage from excessive tax laws, but the price
OF nearly every thing they buy is increased by
the favoritism OF an unequal system of tax leg
islation.
"AQ unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation.
II is repugnant to the creed OF Democracy that
by such taxation the cost of the necessaries of
life should be unjus tifably increased 10 ell our
people. Judged by Democratic principles
the interests OF the people are betrayed when,
W unnecessary ldASEOn, trusts anu COM
binations permitted to exist while
unduly enrtching the few, that combines to
rob the body of our citizens by depriving them
OF the benefits Of natural competition Every
rule of Governmental action is violated when
through unnecessary taxation @ vast sum OF
money far beyond the needs OF an economical
Administration is drawn from the people, the
channels OF trade, and accumulated a de-
moralizing surplus in the National Treasury.
THE money now lying idle in the Federal
Treasury resulting from superfluous taxation
amounts to more than one hundred and twenty.
five millions, and the surplus collected is
reaching the sum of more than sixty mill
ions annually. Debauchsd by the immense
temptation the remedy of the Republi-
can party is to meet and exhaust by extrava-
CANT appropriations and expenses, whether
constitutional or not, the accumulation of ex-
trayagant taxation. The Democratic policy is
TO enforce frugality in public expense and abol
ish unnecessary taxation.
" Our established domestic Industries and en-
terprises should not and need not be endan-
gersd by the reduction and correction OF the
burdens of taxation. On the contrary, a fair
and careful revision of our tax laws, with due
allowance for the difference between the wages
of American and foreign labor must pro-
mote and encourage every branch OF
such industries, d enterprises by giving them
assurance of an extended market and steady
and continuous operations. In the interests OF
American labor, which should in no event be
plated by the Democratic party should pro.
mote tho advantage of such labor by cheaper.
ing the cost OF necessaries OF life in the home
OF every working man, and az the same time
securing to him steady and remuneratiye em
DlQymsnt.'