Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-07-08
THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.
As Adopted by the National COnven-
tiOn Held I'm Chicago.

these principles be applied TO the conduct oil
the Federal government through the accession
To power of the party that advocates them
solemnly declaring that the need Of a return tc
these fundamental principles OF free popular
government, based on home rule and individual
liberty was never more urgent than now, W hen
thc tendency to ccntralze all power at the
Federal capital has become n menace TO the re-
served rights OF the States that strikes at tho
very roots of our government under the consti.
tntion as framed by the fathers OF the Republic
e we warn tho people OF our common country,
Jealous for the preservation OF their free insti-
tutions. that the policy OF Federal control OF
elections. to which the Republican party has
committed itself, is fraught with the greatest
danger, scarcely less momentous than would
result from revolution practically establish
Ing monarchy on the ruins OF the Republic
1T strikes at the North as well as the South,
ana Injuries the colorcd citizen even more than
the white. 1t means a herd OF deputy marshals
at every polling place on the Federal power,
returning boards appointed and controlled by
Frderal authority, the outrage OF the electoral
rights Of the people II, the several States the
subiugation OF the colored people TO the con
trol OF the party IN power and the rcviving OF
race nntngonsms now happily abated of the
utmost peril TO the safety and happiness OF the
people. A measure deliberately and Justly de-
scribed by leading Republican Senator as
the most Infamous TIL that ever crossed tho
threshold of the Senate"
Such policy IL sanctioned by law would
mean the dominance of self perpetua ting
ollgarchy OF oficeholders and the party who
were Entrusted with Its machinery could be
dislodged from power only by an appeal to the
reserved right OF the people TO resist op.
preston, which is inherent in all selfgoyern-
ing communities
Two years ago this revolutionary policy was
emphaticaty condemned by the people at the
polls; and in contempt OF the verdict the Re
publican party has denantly declared in its
latest authoritative utterance that its success
In the coming elections will mean the enact.
ment Of the force bill and the usurpation of
hespottc control over elections in ali the
States
Believing that the preservation OF Repubu.
can government in the United States Is depen-
dent upon the deie,t Of this policy OF legalized
force and fraud we invite The support of all
citizens who desire to see the Constitution
maintained in its integrity. with the laws pur.
suant thereto which have given Our country
hundreds OF years OF unexampled prosperity;
and we pledge the Democratic party IL IL be
intrusted with power not only TO the defeat OF
the force bill, but also to, relentless opposition
to tine Republican policy OF proflgate expendi.
ture which in the short space of two years has
G1uandered an enormous surplus and empted
IN overlooking treasury after pilns new bur
dens OF taxation upon the airoady overtaxed
labor of the country
We rclterate the on repeated doctrine of the
that the necessities OF the
government are the only Justification for taxa
uon anu whenever tax is unnecessary 1t Is
unjustifable.
That when custom house taxation is levied
upon articles OF any kind produced In th.
country the difference between the cost M
labor here and labor abroad, when sech a DIFF.
ference exists, fully measures ANY possible
dement, to labor; and tho enormous additional
impositions OF The existing tariff fall with
crushing force upon our fo--- ----s-. -,'a' ~
mar = ~,sd S-luAu TaIInd ri nlers aud working
III, an" Tor the mere advantage of the few
whom II enriches exacts from labor q grossly
unjust share OF the expenses OF government
hnd we demand such q revision OF the tariff
laws as will remove every Ubiquitous Unequal.
ity, tighten every oppression, and put them on
q constitutional and equitable basis
But In making n reduction in taxes IL is not
proposed TO injure any dome, tic industries, but
rather 10 promote their healthy growth From
the foundation OF this government taxes col.
lected by the custom houses have been the
chief source OF Federal revenue. Such they
must continue to be- Moreover, many indus.
tries have come to rely upon legislation for
successful continuance, SO that any change OF
law must be at every step rcgardful of the
labor and the capital thus involved. The proc
css OF reform must be subject in its execution
to this plain dictate OF Justice.
We denouncc the Mckinley law enacted by
the Fifty first Congress as the enormity and
ntrocity of class Legislation We indorse the
Efforts made by the Democrats of the present
Congress TO modify its most oppressive feat
ures In the direction OF free raw materials and
cheaper manufactured goods that enter into
general consumption; and we promise repeal
as one OF the beneficial results that will follow
the action OF the people in intrusting power to
the Democratic party.
Since this Mckinley tariff went into opera ton
there have been ten reductions of the wages Of
laboring men TO one Increase.
We DENY that there has been any increase OF
prosperity to the country since that tarn
went into operation; and we point to the dull
ness and distress OF wage reductions and
strikes in the iron trade as the best possible
evidence that no such prosperity has resulted
from the Mckinley act
We call the attention OF thoughtful Ameri-
cans to the fact that after thirty years of re.
strictivo taxes against the importance of
foreign wealth in exchange for our agricultural
surplus the homes of farmers OF the country
have become hurdened with n real-estate mort
gage debt OF over S2bOO,0OC,Oo0 exclusive of all
other forms OF Indebtedness; and that in one
Of the chief agricultural States of
the West there appears real estate
mortgage debt averaging si65 per capita TO the
and t.ndt ncies are shown TO exist in the other
agricultural exporting States
We denounce policy which fosters no in
custry so much as II does that OF the sheriff
Trade interchange on the basis OF reciprocal
advantages to the countries participating Is u
time-honored doctrine of the Democratic
faith but we denounce the sham reciprocity
which juggles with the peoples desire for en-
larged fore ign markets and freer exchanges
by pretending to establish closer trade rela-
lions for country whose articles of
export are almost exclusively agricultur-
oil products, with other countries that
are also agricultural while erecting a custom
house barrier of prohibitive tariff taxes against
the richest countries OF the world that stand
ready TO take our entire surplus of products
and to exchange therefor commodities which
are neeessaries and comforts OF life among our
people. We recognize in the trusts and COM
oinations which are designed TO enable capital
to secure more than Its Just share OF the Joint
product of capital and labor q natural conse-
quence of the productive taxes which prevent
the free competition which is the life of honest
trade. but we believe their worst evils can be
abatcd by law and we demand the rigid en-
forcement Of the laws made 10 prevent and
control them, together with such further legs-
iation in restraint OF their abuses as expert.
ence may show TO he necessary.
The Republican party, while processing q
policy OF rescrving the public lands for small
holdings by actual settlers, has given away the
peoples heritage until now few railroad and
nonresident aliens. individual and corporate,
possess larger area than we with our farms
between the two seas. The last Democratic
administration reversed the improvident and
unwise policy Of the Republican party touching
the public domain. and reclaimed from corpor-
atoms and syndicates. alien and domestic and
restored to the people nearly l,0oo,oooooo acres
valuable land TO be sacredly held as homes ads
for our citizens And we pledge ourselves to
continue this policy until every acre OF land SO
unlawfully held shall be reclaimed and restored
to the people.
We denounce the Republican legislation
Snown as the Sherman act OF 1890, as u COW