The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1888-05-25
TIE ~PTATF}ORNL
he following resolutions we're passed


Tnc Democrats Of Minnesota, in harmony
vita the Democracy Of the Union, declare
that the longer continuance of taxes evied
for thc COnuuCt of a war which ended nearly
a quarter century ago is a needless and IN
ju>,inab.e burden upon the people Of this
country.
To the already accumulated $15O,OOO,-
600 surplus lying unused and useless in the
treasury there Is being added under our eX-
listing revenue laws an increasing surplds Of
$4,000 900 each wear. IhtS money Is nOt
needed for any legitimate urpOses Of gov
rrument; 1t Is witndrpwn from circulation;
it plays no part in the business transactions
Of the people; it Is n constant temptation. a
standing inducemcnL Tor schemes Of plumber
and corrupt eNtravagauCt.
We demand as a righC that TIE people shall
J lie at once and forever relieved from this un-
necessary and Oppres i've burden. Super
fGOuS taxation Is tyranny.
Inc time has come tor a thorough revision
and q radical reduction of the existing reve-
nue. taxes. We insist that this work be at
once h'gan and speedily contaminated with
out farther evasion or DELAY; and that in the
doing of it the following principles shall be
adhered to as the true basis of genuine revo-
nue. reform, viz
FiTst-That taxation is not q public bless
ing, nor an element Of national prosperity
That while sufficient revenue should at all
times be collected Tor the support OF an eco
nom!caI government in the discharge of its
! legitimate functions, for the ayme of the
public debt, and liberal pensions to deserv-
ing veterans OF the Union armies, not one
dollar of s~upert1uOus tax should be imposed
for the purpose of enhancing the prices of
commodities consumed by the people, and
as a tribute to the private business of u
favored few.
Second-That whatever taxation it may be
necessary to retain for governmental pur-
poses, should be imposed as far as pTactica-
be upon articles OF luxury and induigenceR
which mainly minister TO the enjoyment Of
the rich and the habits of the dissolute.
~Third-That the taxes should BIZ greatly
reduced, and, when practicable, altogether
abolished upon all articles aud materials ia
such general use as to be rightly classed as
necessarics for our people, which are essen
tiaI to their health, comfort and prosperity,
which enter into their domestic life, their
industrial pursuits, and their personal hap
piness.
FOurth-That the purchasing power Of the
products of our labor shall be no longer
diminished by a tax mon the things for
which we exchange these products; the
value of what we sell no longer curtailed by
enhancing the cost of what we buy with the
proceeds of our sales; that a tax upon i'm
ports is in effect a tax upon exports, and that
the best way to render our agricultural and
manufacturing industries profitable and
prosperous is to Increase the purchasing
power of their products in the markets of the
world Is Rbolishing taxes upon the things
purchased.
F~ifth-That our foreign and internal com
merce should be increased and the cost of
transportation reduced by repeating taxes
upon the materials which enter into the con-
srruction and equipment of the railways and
marine.
Sixth-That our manufacturing industries
should have the benefit of untaxed raw ma
rerials used By them, thus enabling them 10
dispose Of their surplus products in other
markets than our own
Ssventh-That the workingmen in these
industries should have that steady employ
ment and fair remuneration which can never
exist so long as the sale Of the products Of
their labor is confined TO the limited de-
mands Of an easily overstocked home market.
Eighth-That the ~cunningiy complicated
system Of specific n I'D yolorem duties
| upon the same article, whereby the heaviest
taxation Is imposed upon the cheaper grades
of materials used manly by our working
people, should be wholly abandoned, aad the
millionaire compelled to pay at least an
equal percentage Of taxation with the DOOR
esU laborer.
Ninth-FInaliy, that all taxation shall be
equal and impartial; that our people shall
have free access Co the markets of the world
to buy as well as TO sch to the best advantage
and with equal terms with the peoples OF
other Iapds; that our power to produce and
our ability TO purchase shall no longer be
| confined to q m~onOpolized home market, in
I iuenced by combinations and at the mercy
/ Of pools and trusts.
This ia what we mean by revenue reform.
The existing traffic WAS created and is now
maintained by the aggregated selfishness OF
toe particular interests which have 30 long
and bounteoualy fattened Upon its protle
Originally imposed as q necessary @war
measure. IL has since been perpetuated and
its enormities concealed BY deluding q credu-
lous people with false issues and keeping
alive the sectional hatreds ~engendered by
the war. For more than twenty years the
bloody shirt has protected protection from
scrutiny and popular Indignation. A COM
Dination of favored m~onopolisss, so power
full aud 60 deeply interested in the mninte-
nance OF such a system IL. not to be easily
broken. Inch by inch the cause OF reform
must win its way. We therefore welcome
and endorse the Mills bill now pending ia
congress as the first aggressive advance.
which deserves the united support OF nj
men who honestly favor revenue reform
While we recognize the growing sentiment
for tariff reform among the Republican yot-
ers Of Minnesota. we hereby cali their at
tention TO the recent u~tterance of The plat.
form adopted by the late Republican state
conventions platform which makes NO
demand for o reduction Of tariff taxes. bur
Is an oufepoken endorsement OF a protective
tariff. But we respectfully suggest 70 them
that such a reform Is MOI 70 be expected a
4 INC Mn4 Va nlCA WIZ = ICE ~
the abuses TO be reformed, but can only COINS
from those who are In hearty sympathy With
the reform to be accomplished.
In conformity with these principles we
specify as among the a~ruiel0s which should
be placed upon tho free list salt, Goa, lum-
Der. sugar, iron and steel. glass. binding
Irvine material, drugs and medicines, WOO
and all wearing apparel, carpets and house.
hold goods. tools, implements aud ma.
chinefy used In agricultural and mechanical
e~mployments, and all raw materials con,
sumed By our manufactures
While we are not unmindfuJ Of the grow.
ing interest OF the people OF the State 81
Minnesota in this great question. we declare
our Arm conviction that tariff reduction il
not q local issue merely, but one OF trans
cendent national Importance affecting
the prosperity, welfare and happiness ofsal
tho people OF the whole country, Il wa
made SO BY the fearless and uLeuuiYocal pol
sition assumed by President Cleveland In hi
last annual message Talif reform unCel
his leadership ia the vital. eingle issue OF ths
present campaign With Fach acause undei
such . leader we cannot fail
The bureaux 81 the French senate have
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ma canal lottery loan bin. A majority 81