Daily Texarkana Democrat., 1892-08-03
National Democratic Platform
Adopted ny the National Democratic
Convention at Chicago, June
21st, 1892,

Section l. The representatives, of the
DeAocraiic party of the United States, in
National Canven,ion assembled, do reattirm
their allegiance to the principles of the par
tv as formulate bv Jefferson and ezempli-
fed by a long end illustrious line Of his sue
cessors in Democratic leadership from Mad
ison to Cleveland. We believe that the pub
lie welfare demand: that these principles be
applied to the conduct OF the Federal Gov
ernment through the accession to power OF
the marty 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 becoma menace
to the reserved rights ofthe States that strike
at the yery roots of our Government under
the Constitution as framed by the Republic.
Az 10 THE FORCE BILL.
Sec 3. We warn the people of oug com
non country, Jealous for the preservation OF
their free institutions, that the policy OF Fed
eral control OF elections, TO which the Ke-
publican party has committed Itself, Is
fraught with the gravest dangers, scarcely
less momentous that would result from a
revolution, practically establishing monar-
civ en- the ruins Of tine Republic.
1t strikes Mt the North as well as the South
and iniures the colored citizens even more
than the whites. 1t means horde OF dep
uty marshals ut every polling place, armed
with Federal power, returning boards sp-
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
parry in power aud tie reviving OF race an
taeonlsm, now happily abated, OF the utmost
peril to the safety and happiness OF all; a
measure deliberately and justly described by
a 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 a self perpetuating oligsrchy of office
holders, and the party first entrusted with
its machinery could be dIslodged from pow
er only by an appeal to the reserved righ'
OF the people to resist oppression which is
inherent in all sel-goyorning communities.
Two years ago this revolutionary power
was emphatically condemed by the people
at the nolls; but in contempt OF That verdict
the Republican patty has defantly declared
in its latest authoritative utterance that its
succe S In the coming election will mean
the enactment OF the force bill and theusur-
patton of desDotic control over elections in
all the States
Believing that the preser alton OF repub-
licsn government in the United States Is
dependent upoa the defeat OF this policy Of
legalized force and fraud, We invite the
support of Il cit zens vino desire to see the
Constitution maintained In its integrity With
the laws pursuant thereto which have given
our country hundred years Of unexamplec
prosperity; and W. pledge the Democratic
party, ii ii be int listed with power, not
only to the defeat oil the force bill, but also
to resembles opposition to the Republican
policy of protligate expenditure, which IL
the short space OF two y arS has squandered
an enormous surp us aud emptled an over
flowing treasury after piiug new burdens o
taxation upon tie already oYertaxed labor
of the country
TARIFF TAXATION,
Sec g. We denounce Republican pro-
lection as u fraud. TIL 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 oi
such taxes snail be limited to the necessities
of the Government wuen honestly and econ
omcaly administered.
We denounce the Mckinley tariff law en-
acted by the Fitty-frst Congress as th9 cul
minuting atrocily 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 III nutactur9d goods
that enter into general consumption, snd we
promise It's repeal as one of the beneticent
results that will follow the action OF tht
people in ntrusting powerto the Democrat
ic party. Since the Mckinley talltf went
into operation there have been ten Ieduc-
tions Of the wages OF laborlng men 10 one
increase We deuy that there has been any
increase Of property to the country since
that tariff Went into operation; we point TO
the dulness and distress which wage reduc-
tions and strikes in the iron trade as the
best possible evidence that no such pros
perity has resulted from the McKiGlcy act.
We call the attention OF thoughtful Amer
leans to the Tact that after thirty years oil
restrictive taxes against the importation ol
fereign wealth in exchange for our agrlcul-
tural surplus the homes and farms OF the
country have become burdrned with real
estate mortgage debt OF over ", SOC, 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 $lf5 per cap
ita OF the total population; and that similar
conditions and Tenderness are shown to e>lst
in the other agricultural exporting States
We denounce policy whlcn fosters no in
dustry 50 much as it does that Of the sheriff
ALLEGED RECIPROCITY.
Sec. 4. Trade exchange on tho basis oi
reciprocal advantages " th9 countries par
ticlpating is a tint -aonored dottrlne OF the
Democratic faith, but we denouncjthe sham
reciprocity which juggies with the peoples
desire for onlar. cd fJreign markets and
freer exchange by pretending 10 establish
closer trade relations with Il country whose
articles CT export are almost exclusively ag-
rculturaI products with other countries that
are also AGRICULTURAL while erecting Gus
tom house barrier ofprohibitlve tariff taxes
against thi richest G. uuLr.es OF 20 world
that stand ready to take our entirs surplus
OF prod CTS aud to exchange therefor com
modites vince are neces,aries and comforts
of life among our own people.
AGAINST TRUSTS.
Sec. s. We recognize in the trusts and
combinations which are designed to enable
capital TO secure more than It's just share OF
tho joint product Of capital and labor and
natural consequence of the prohibtlve taxes
which p,eveut the tree composition, which
is The lie Of honest trade; but we believe
their worst evils can be abaled by law, and
we demand the rigid enforcement of the laws
made to control and prevent them, together
With such further legislation in 'c,traint OF