Daily Texarkana Democrat., 1892-08-04
National Democratic Platform
Adopted ny the National Democratic
Convention at Chicago, June
2lst, 1892.

tv as formulate by Jefferson and ezenlpli-
fed by long and illustrious line of his sue
cessors in Democratic leadership from Mad
ison to Cleveland. We believe that the pub
lie welfare demands that these principles be
applied to the conduct OF the Federal Gov
ernment through the accession to power of
the party that advocates them; and we sol.
emnIy declare that the need OF return to
these fundamental principles of free pop
ular government based on home rule and
Individual liberty was never more than now,
when the tendency to cen.ralize all power
at the Federal Capital has becom" menace
to the reserved rights ufthe States that strike
al the very roots of our Government under
the Constitution as framed by the Republic
AZ 10 THE FORCE BILL.
Sec. .. We warn the people of our com
mon country, Jealous for the preservation OF
their free institutions, that the policy OF Fed
eral control of elections, to which the Re-
pubncan party has committed itself, is
fraught with the gravest dangers, scarcely
less momentous that would result from ii
revolution, practically establishing monar-
chy en- the ruins Of the Republic.
~ ID strikes at the North as well US the South
and Injuries thu colored citizens even more
than the whites. 1t means horde OF dep
uty marshals Mt every polling place, armed
with Federal power, returning boards ap-
nointed and controlled by Federal author
itv. the outrage of the electoral rights OF the
people in the several States, the subjugation
Of the colored people to the control OF the
parsy in power ard the reviving OF race an
tagonlsm, now happily abated, OF the utmost
peril to the safety aud happiness oil all; a
measure deliberately and justly described BY
leading Republican Senator "as the most
Infamous bill that ever crossed the thresh
old of the Senate" such policy, if sane
TONED by law, would mean the dominance
of self perpetuating oligarchy of office
holders, and the party first entrusted with
its machinery could be dislodged from pow
or only by an appeal to the reserved rghi
OF the people to resist oppression which is
Inherent in all set-governing communities
Two wears ago this revolutionary power
was emphatically coademed by the people
at the polls; but IN contempt OF that verdict
the Republican party has dofantly declared
in its latest authoritative utteiance that its
succe S In the coming election will mean
the enactment of the force bill and the usur-
patton of despotic control over elections In
all the States.
Believing that the preser alton OF Tepuo-
lican government in the United States is
dependont upon Tie defeat Of this policy Of
legalizad force and fraud, We invite the
support of Ii cit zens who desire to see the
Constitution maintained IN its integrity with
the laws pursuant thereto which have gwen
our country hundred years OF uneXamplec
prosperity;snd VS. pledge The Democratic
party, if it be intrusted with power, not
only to the defeaJ of the force bill, hut also
TO resembles opposition to the Repubncau
policy of proaigste expenditure, which IL
the short space OF two ar5 has squandered
an enormous surp US and empued an over
flowing treasury after piling new burdens Of
taxation upon the already oYertaxed labor
OF the country
TARIFF TAXATION.
Sec. 3. We denounce Republican pro-
lection us Il fraud. The robbery OF the great
majority OF the American people for the
benefit of the few, We declare it to be 3
fundamental principle OF the Democratic par
ty that the Federal Government has no con-
stitutional power to impose and collect tariff
duties, except Tor the purposes OF revenue
only, and we demand that the collection Of
such taxes shall be limited to the necessities
of the Government wien honestly and econ
omcaIly administ, red.
81 We denounce the Mckinley tariff law en-
acted by the Filty-irst Congress as the cul
minating atrocity Of class legislation; we in.
dorse the efforts made by the Democrats Of
the present Congress to modify its most op-
presslve features in the direction OF free raw
materials and cheaper manufactured goods
That enter into general consumption, and we
promise It's repeal as one Of the benefcent
Results that will follow the action OF tht
people in ntrustng power to the Democrat
ic party. Since the Mckinley tariff went
into operation there have been ten Ieduc-
lions of the wages OF laborng men 10 one
increase. We deny that there has been any
Increase Of property to the country since
that tariff went into operation; we point to
the dullness and distress which wage reduc-
lions and strikes in the iron trade as the
best possible evidence that no such pros
perity has resulted from the Mckinley act.
We call the attention OF thoughtful Amer
leans to the fact that after thirty years OF
restrictive taxes against the importation OF
ferelgn wealth in exchange for our agrcul-
tural surplus the homes aud farms Of the
country have become burdened with a real
estate mortgage debt OF over ~ 800 100000
exclusive OF all other forms Of indebted
ness; that in ono Of the chief agricultural
States Of the West there appears real es-
tate mortgage debt averaging $l55 per cap
ita OF the total population; and that similar
Conditions and Tenderness are shown to eNlst
In the ether agricultural exporting States
We denouncs policy whlcn fosters no in
dustry 50 much Ms it does that Of the sheriff.
ALLEGED RECIPROCITY.
Sec. A. Trade exchange on the basis oi
reciprocal advantages 10 the countries par
tlclpating is time -honored doctrine OF the
Democratic faith, but we denouncJ the sham
Reciprocity which juggles with the peopls's
desire for enlarl ed foreign markets AND
freer exchange by pretending TO establish
closer trade relations with country whose
ARTICLES Of export are almost exclusively ag'
ricultural products with other countries that
are also agricultural, while erecting Gus
tom house barrier Of prohibltlve tarln taxes
against the richest c, unJries OF TIE worlo
that stand ready to take our entire surplus
OF products aud TO exchange therefor com
modties vince are neccsaaries and comforts
Of life among our own people
AGAINST TRUSTS.
I. Sec. 8. We recognize in the trusts anc
combinations which are designed to enable
capital TO secure moIe than its just share o.
The joint product Of capital and labor anC
natural consequence Of tho prohibitvo taxei
which prevent the tree competition, which
is the lilo Of honest trade; but we believe
their worst evils can be abated by law, anC
i've demand the rigid enforcement Of the law
made TO control uod prevent them, togethe
With such further legislation in lestruint o
iheir abuses as experience may show to b,
necessary
REPUBLICAN LAND STEALS.
Soc 6, Tho Republican party, while pro
fos Ing policy of resOrVng tho publa IAn(