The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-07-26
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

in National convention assembled renews the
pledge of its fidelity 10 the Democratic faith,
and reaffirmS the platform adopted by Its rep
resentatives in the convention of 1924 and in-
dofses the views expressed by President Cleve
land in hts last annual message to Consress. as
on the question OF tariff reduction; and also
indorses the efforts of our Democratic Repre-
sentatives in Congress to secure a reduction of
excessive taxation.
Chief among its principles of party faith are
the maintenance of an indissoluble Union of
free and indestruct bic 5 ates now about TO
enter upon its se' ond century OF unexampled
progress and renown; devot on to a plan of
government, regulated by written constItu-
ton strictly specifying every granted power
and expressly leserving to .ha States or peopie
the entire ungranted residue of power; The
encouragement of Jealous popniar vigilance
directed to all who have BEEN chosen for brief
terms to enact and execute the laws. and 2
charged with the duty .of preserving peace,
ensuring equality and establishing justice.
The Democratic party welcomes an exacting
scrutiny of the administration oil the executive
to its trust in the election OF Grover CIevela nd
Pre- sident of the United States and it challen-
ges the most searching inquiry concerning its
invited the suffrages of the people During a
most critical period of our financial affairs
resulting from over-taxation- the anomalous
condition of our e rrency. and public debt
unmatured it has by the adoption of wise
Ind cons, rVative course, not only averted dis
.ster. but greatly promoted the prosperity of
the people.
Itnas reversed the unwise and improvident
policy o. the Republican party { uching the
pubic domain, and has reclaimed from corpo-
atn and syhdicates, alien ana domestic
and restored Co the people nearly one hundred
miIIions OF acr Of valuable land to be sacred
ly held as hi mes eads for our titiZens
While carefully guarding the interests of the
tax payers ana conforming strictly 10 the prn
NOSE Tor pensions and 'unties 10 the soldiers
and sailors Oh the kepnbiia than was ever paid
before during an equai period.
By intelligent management and judicious
AMI economical expenditure of the public mon.
ey lt has set on foot the reconstruction of the
american navy ups n System which forbids
tui results.
It-has adopted and consistently Pursued a
dIm and prudent foreign policy, preserving
tanning all the rights and interests OF our own
government and people. at home and abroad
The exclusion from our shores of Chinese la
DoTers has been efectualiy secured under the
~ p'ovlslons OF treaty. the operation OF which
has been postponed by the action of 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. ugIt the public ser.
vice tothe highest standard of efficiency, not
onlS by rule and precept, but by the example
Il his own untiriag anu nnsel6sh adminIstra
tlon OF pub lc Affairs In every branch and
dep .rtment of The Government under Demo
cratic 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 egard TO race or color has been stead
fastly maintained
Upon its record thus exhibited. and upon the
piedge of CO htinuance 10 the people OF the
benefits OF good government. the National De-
mocracy inyokes renewal Of popular trust
has teen faithful able and prudent. They in
woke an addition 10 that trust by the transfer
70 the Democracy Of the entire legislative
The Republican party. controlling the Senate
and resisting In both Houses OF Congress . re-
formation OF unjust and unequll lax laws
which have outlasted the necessities OF war
and are now undermining the abundance OF a
long peace. deny TO The people equality before
are their right. Thus the cry OF 4 merican la
Dor for better share OF the rewards of indus
tettered and bound down to home markets.
capital Is disturbed with doubt, and UNEQUAL.
unjust laws can.neither be properly amended
or repealed.
the power conhded to it the struggle TO reform
these laws in accordance with the pledges of its
est platform, indorsed ut the ballot box by the
.ufrages Of the people OF all the industrious
freemen of the land, an immense majority, in
cluding every tiller of the soil gain no advan-
tage fom excessive tax laws; but the price of
nearly every thing they buy Is decreased by the
favoritism OF an unequal system of tax legis-
lation.
It Is repugpant 10 the creed of Democracy that
BY such taxation the cost of the neressa les of
life should be unjustidably increased to all our
people. Judged by Democratic principles the |
interest of the people are betrayed when by |
unnecessary taxation, trusts and combinations
are permitted and fostered. which while en-
riching the few, combine 10 rob our citizens by |
them of the benefit of natural com.
petition. Every Democratic rule OF govern |
mental action is violated when. tn ough uunee- |
essary taxation. vast sum of money, far be- |
yoIfds the needs Of an economical adminslra-
dons Is drawn from the people and the char |
aels of trade. and accumulated as demoraliz-
ing surplus in the National Treasury. The |
money now lying idle in the Federal Treasury
resulting from superhuous taxation amounts
to more than &39s .000, 600. and the surplus col
ected Is reaching the sum of more than $40
NO 600 annually. Debauched by this immense
,em ptation the remedy of the Republican party
Is to meet and exhaust by extravagant appro-
priations and expenses. whether constitutional
,r not. the accumulation of extravagant taxa
lion The Democratic remedy is to enforce
7rugality in public expenditures. and abolis h
In ,ecessary taxation Our established domes-
need not be endangered by reduction and
correction of the burdens of taxation. ON the
contrary u fair an careful revision of our tax
avs with due allowance for the differ ence
between the wages of American ard foreign
abor must promote and encourage every
riving them assurance of an extended market
md steady and continuous operations.
An the Interest of American labor which
hould in no event be neglected the revision of
ur tax laws contemplated by the Democratic
,arty tend to promote the advantage of such
abor bv cheapcning the cost of necessaries Of
ife In the home of every workingman, and at
he same time securing to him steady and re-
nunerative employment Upon this question
4 tariff reform so closely concerning every
uestion involved in the problem of good gov
rnment. the Democratic party submits its
rinciples and professions to the Intelligent
uffraRes Of the American people, -