Daily Texarkana Democrat. (Texarkana, Ark.) 1890-1894, 1892-08-05
National Democratic Platform
Adopted ny the National Democratic
Convention at Chicago, June
2lst, 1892.

National CdnNenlOn h'senoitu, w Iealui ii
their allegiance to the principles of the par
tv as formulate by Jefferson aud ezempli
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 demand: thst these principles be
applied TO the conduct OF the Federal Gov
eminent through the accession to power Of
the party that advocates them; and we sol.
EMMY 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 become menace
to the reserved rights OF the States that strike
at the very roots of our Government under
the Constitution as framed by the Republic.
AZ 10 THE FORCE BILL.
Sec. 2, We warn the people of our COM
m On country, jealous for the preservation OF
their free institutions, that the policy OF Fed
eral control OF elections, to which the Re-
publican party has committed itself, is
fraught with the gravest dangers, scarcely
less momentous that would result from Il
revolution, practically establishing monar-
civ on the ruins of the Republic.
II strikes at the North as well as the South
and INJURIES thu colored citizens even more
than the whites. 1t means horde OF dep
uty marshals at every polling place, armed
with Federal power, returning boards ap-
pointed and controlled by Federal author
ity, the outrage OF the electoral rights OF the
people in the several States, the subjugation
of the colored people to the control OF the
party in power and tie reviving OF race an
tagonlsm, now happily abated, ofthe utmost
peril to the safety and happiness OF all; a
measure deliberately and justly described BY
aleading 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 dlslodged from pow
or only by an appeal to the reserved right
of the people to resist oppression which is
Inherent in all self-governing communities.
Two years ago this revolutionary power
was emphatically condemed by the people
at the polls; but IN contempt of that verdict
the Republican party has defantly declared
10 its latest authoritative utterance that its
succe 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 repub-
lican government in the United States IL
dependent upon the defeat OF this policy OF
legalized force AMI fraud, We invite the
support of IL citizens who desire to soc the
Constitution maintained IN its integrity with
the laws pursuant thereto which have given
our country hundred years OF unexampleo
prosperity; and vs. pledge the Democratic
party, if it be init listed with power, moi
only to the defeat of the force bill, but also
to resembles opposition to the Republican,
policy of profigate expenditure, which in
the short space OF two vars has squandered
an enormous surp us and emptled an over
flowing treasury after piling new burdens Of
taxation upon the already oYertaxed labor
Of the country
TARIFF TAXATION.
Sec. 3. We denouuce Republican pro.
lection as fraud. Tho robbery of the great
majority OF the American people for the
benefit of The few. We declare it to be
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 Wen honestly and econ
omlcslly administered.
We denounce the Mckinley tariff law en-
acted by the Fitty-frst Congress as the cul
minating atrocity of class legislation; we in
dorse the efforts made by the Democrats OF
L.
presslve features in the direction OF free raw
materials and cheaper manufactured goods
that enter into general consumption, and we
promise Its repeal as one OF the beneficent
results that will follow the action Of the
people in lntrusting powert to the Democrat
&c party. Since the Mckinley tariff went
into operation there have been ten leduc-
tions Of the wages of laboring men TO 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-
tons and strikes in the iron trade as the
best possible evidence that no such pros
perity has resulted from the Mckinley act.
Ne call the attention OF thoughtful Amer
leans to the tact that after thirty years OF
restrictive taxes against the importation OF
fereign wealth in exchange for our agrlcul-
tural surplus the homes aud farms of the
country have become burdened with u real
estate mortgage debt OF over $500, 100000
Exclusive of all other forms Of Indebted
ness; that in one of the chief agricultural
States of the West there appears real es-
tate mortgage debt averaging $l55 per cap
ita OF the total populations; and that similar
Conditions and tenderness are shown to exist
in the other agricultural exporting States.
We denounce policy which fosters no in
dustry 50 much as it does that of the sheriff.
ALLEGED RECIPROCITY.
f Sec. 4. Trade exchange on the basis OF
Reciprocal advantages W the countries par
ticlpating is Il tlme-nonored doctrine OF the
Democratic faith, but we denounc5 the sham
reciprocity which juggles with the peoples
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-
ricu tural products with other countries that
are also agricultural, while erecting GUS
tom house barrier ofprohbitlvo tariff taxes
against tho richest OK uEtres of the world
that stand ready to take our entire surplus
Of products and to exchange therefor COM
modities whice are neccssaries and comforts
OF life among our own people.
AGAINST TRUSTS.
= Sec. 5. We recognize in the trusts and
Examinations which are designed TO enable
capital to secure more than its Just share OF
the joint product of capital and labor and
natural consequence of the prohibitive taxes
which prevent the free competition, which
Is The lite Of honest trade; out we believe
their worst evils can be abated by law, and
we demand the rigid enforcement of the laws
made TO control and prevent them, together
With such further legislation in restraint OF
their abuses as experience may show to be
necessary.
REPUBLICAN LAND STEALS.
Gao a Tho Ronnhllcan nar,v yhila nro