The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-10-04
POLITICAL PLATFORMS.
A Series of Interesting Documents.

MtlestoToes IN the Development OF Politi-
cal Parties Since the Organiz0-
tiOn of the GoUern naeput.
1884.
DEMOCRATIC, CHICAGO, JULY 10, 1884.
The Democratic party of the Union,
through its representatives in National
Convention assembled d, recognizes that
az the nation grows older new issues
are born of time and progress, and old
| issues perish But the fundamental
principles Of the Democracy, approved
by the united voice of the people, re-
main, and will ever remain, as the best
and only security for the continuance
OF free government. The preservation
or personal rights, the equality of all
citizens before the law, the reserved
rights of the States, and the supremacy
OF the Federal Government within the
| limits of the Constitution, will ever
| form the true basis of our liberties, and
can never be surrendered without de-
strOying that balance of rights and
powers which enables a continent to be
developed in peace, and social order to
be maintained by means of local self
government
But it is indispensable for the prac
tical application AMI enforcement of
| the fundamental principles that the
| government should not always be con
trolled by one political party. Ere
| quent change of administration is as
necessary as constant recurrence to
| popular will. Otherwise abuses grow,
and the government, instead of being
carried on for the general welfare, be
comes an instrumentality for imposing
heavy burdens on the many VINO are
governed, for the benefit of the few
who govern. Public servants thus be-
come arbitrary rulers
This is now the condition of the cOun-
try. Hence a change s demanded.
The Republican party, so far as prin
ciple Is concerned, is q Renaissance; !;
| In practice, it Is an organization for
enrlching those who control it's machin-
cry. The frauds and jobbery which
have been brought to light in every de-
partment of the government are suff
cient to have called for reform within
the Republican party; yet those In aU-
! tl1orlty, made reckless by the long pos
session of powec, have succumbed to
it's corrupting influence, and have
placed in nomination ticket against
which the independent portion of the
paEty are in opsn revolt.
Therefore a change is demanded.
Such change was alike necessary in
1875, but the will of the people was
then defeated by fraud which can
never be forgotten nor condoned.
! Again in 1880, the change demanded
by the people was defeated by the
lavish use of money contributed by
unscrupulous contractors and shame
less jobbers, who had bargained for
unla wful profits or for high Office.
The Republican party, during its
| legal, its stolen and its bought tenUres
of power, has speedily decayed in moral
character and political capacity.
It's platform promises are now list
of it's past failures.
It demands the restoration of our
navy. 1t has squandered hundreds of
millions to create a navy that does not
exist.
It calls upon Congre IS to remove the
burdens under which American ship
| ping has been depressed. It imposed
and has continued those burdens.
1t processes the policy of IT tserving
the public lands for small holdings by
actual settlers. 1t has given away the
peoples heritage till now few rail
roads and non resident aliens, individ
ual and corporate, possess a larger
area than that of all our farms between
| the two seas.
It processes a preference for free in
stitutions. 1t organized and tried to
legallze control of State elections by
| federal troops.
1t processes a desire to elevate labor.
IJhas subjected American workingmen
to the competition of convict and i'm
ported contract labor.
It processes gratitude to all who were
disabled or died in the war, leaving
widows and orphans. It left Demo
cratic House Of Representatives the
first effort to equalizo both bounties
and pensions.
1t proffers q pledge to correct the
| irregularities of our tariff It created
ard has continued them. It's own
Tariff Commission confessed the need
of more than 90 per cent. reduction.
It's Congress gave reduction of less
than per cent.
It processes the protection of Ameri-
can manufacturers It has subjected
them to an increasing food of manu-
factured goods and a hopeless compe-
tition with manufacturing nations, not
one of which taxes raw materials.
It processes to protect all American
industries. 1t has impoverished many
to subsidize few.
It processes the protection of Ameri-
can labor It has depleted the returns
of American agriculture an industry
followed by half our people.
1t processes the equality of all men
before the law. Attempting to fix the
status of colored citizens, the acts OF
it's Congress were overset by the de-
cision of it's courts.
1t accepts anew the duty of leading
in the work of progress and reform.
It's caught criminals are permitted to
escape through contrived delays OF
actual connivance in the prosecution.