self to purify the administration from corruption, to restore economy, to revive respect for law and to reduce taxation to the lowest limit consistent with due regard to the preservation of the faith of the nation to its creditors and pensioners, knowing full well, however, that legislation affecting the occupations of the people should be cautious and conservative in method, not in advance of public opinion, but responsive to its demands. The Democratic party is pledged to revise the tariff in a spirit of fairness to all interests.

Tariff Reduction.

capacity. Its platform promises are now a list of its past failures. It demands the restoration of our navy it has squandered hundreds of millions to create a navy that does not exist. It calls upon Congress to remove the burdens under which American shipping has been depressed, it imposed and has continued those burdens. It professes the policy of reserving the public lands for small holdings by actual settlers, it has given away the people's heritage, till now a few railroads and nonresident aliens, individual and corporate, possess a larger area than that of all our farms between the two seas. It professes But in making a reduction in taxes it is a preference for free institutions, it organ- not proposed to injure any domestic indusized and tried to legalize a control of state tries, but rather to promote their healthy elections by Federal troops. It professes growth. From the foundation of this a desire to elevate labor; it has subjected Government, taxes collected at the customAmerican working-men to the competition house have been the chief source of federal of convict and imported contract labor revenue, such they must continue to be. It professes gratitude to all who were dis- Moreover, many industries have come to abled or died in the war, leaving widows rely upon legislation for successful continand orphans, it left to a Democratic House uance, so that any change of law must be of Representatives the first effort to equal- at every step regardful of the labor and ize both bounties and pensions. It proffers a pledge to correct the irregularities of our tariff, it created and has continued them. Its own Tariff Commission confessed the All taxation shall be limited to the reneed of more than 20 per cent. reduction, quirements of economical government. its Congress gave a reduction of less than The necessary reduction in taxation can 4 per cent. It professes the Protection of and must be effected without depressing American manufactures, it has subjected American labor or the ability to compete them to an increasing flood of manufac- successfully with foreign labor, and withtured goods and a hopeless competition out imposing lower rates of duty than will with manufacturing nations, not one of be ample to cover any increased cost of which taxes raw materials. It professes to protect all American industries, it has impoverished many to subsidize a few It professes the Protection of American labor, it has depleted the returns of American agriculture-an industry followed by half our people. It professes the equality of men before the law, attempting to fix the status of colored citizens.

capital thus involved. The process of reform must be subject in the execution to this plain dictate of justice.

production which may exist in consequence of the higher rate of wages prevailing in this country. Sufficient revenue to pay all the expenses of the Federal Government economically administered, including pensions, interest and principal of the public debt, can be got, under our present system of taxation, from custom-house taxes on fewer imported articles, bearing heaviest The acts of its congress were overset by on articles of luxury, and bearing lightest the decisions of its courts. It accepts on articles of necessity We therefore deanew the duty of leading in the work of nounce the abuses of the existing tariff progress and reform, its caught criminals and, subject to the preceding limitations, are permitted to escape through continued we demand that federal taxation shall be delays or actual connivance in the prose- exclusively for public purposes, and shall cution. Honeycombed with corruption, not exceed the needs of the Government outbreaking exposures no longer shock its economically administered. The system moral sense. Its honest members, its in- of direct taxation known as the "internal dependent journals, no longer maintain a revenue" is a war tax, and, so long as the successful contest for authority in its coun law continues, the money derived theresels, or a veto upon bad nominations. from should be sacredly devoted to the reThat change is necessary is proved by an lief of the people from the remaining burexisting surplus of more than $100,000,000, dens of the war, and be made a fund to which has yearly been collected from a defray the expense of the care and comfort suffering people. Unnecessary taxation is of worthy soldiers disabled in the line of unjust taxation. We denounce the Repub- duty in the wars of the Republic, and for lican party for having failed to relieve the the payment of such pensions as Congress people from crushing war taxes, which may from time to time grant to such solhave paralyzed business, crippled industry, diers, a like fund for the sailors having and deprived labor of employment and of been already provided, and any surplus just reward. The Democracy pledges it- should be paid into the treasury.

none.

Commerce with South America.

Jeffersonian Principles.

We favor an American continental poli- In reaffirming the declarations of the cy based upon more intimate commercial Democratic platform of 1856, that "the liband political relations with the fifteen sister eral principles embodied by Jefferson in republics of North, Central and South the Declaration of Independence and sancAmerica, but entangling alliances with tioned in the Constitution, which make We believe in honest money, the ours the land of liberty and the asylum of gold and silver coinage of the Constitution, the oppressed of every nation, have ever and a circulating medium convertible into been cardinal principles in the Democratic such money without loss. Asserting the faith," we, nevertheless, do not sanction equality of all men before the law, we hold the importation of foreign labor or the adthat it is the duty of the Government in its mission of servile races unfitted by habits, dealings with the people to mete out equal training, religion or kindred for absorption and exact justice to all citizens, of whatever into the great body of our people or for the nativity, race, color or persuasion, religious citizenship which our laws confer or political. We believe in a free ballot American civilization demands that and a fair count and we recall to the mem- against the immigration or importation of ory of the people the noble struggle of the Mongolians to these shores our gates be Democrats in the Forty-fifth and Forty-closed. The Democratic party insists sixth Congresses, by which a reluctant Re- that it is the duty of the Government to publican opposition was compelled to as- protect with equal fidelity and vigilance sent to legislation making everywhere illegal the rights of its citizens, native and naturthe presence of troops at the polls, as the alized, at home and abroad, and, to the conclusive proof that a Democratic admin- end that this protection may be assured, istration will preserve liberty with order United States papers of naturalization The selection of federal officers for the ter- issued by courts of competent jurisdiction ritories should be restricted to citizens pre- must be respected by the executive and viously resident therein. We oppose legislative departments of our own Govsumptuary laws which vex the citizen and ernment and by all foreign powers. It is interfere with individual liberty. We favor an imperative duty of this Government to honest civil service reforms and the com- efficiently protect all the rights of persons pensation of all United States officers by and property of every American citizen in fixed salaries, the separation of church foreign lands, and demand and enforce and state, and the diffusion of free educa- full reparation for any invasion thereof. tion by common schools, so that every An American citizen is only responsible to child in the land may be taught the rights his own Government for any action done and duties of citizenship. While we favor in his own country or under her flag, and all legislation which will tend to the equi- can only be tried, therefore, on her own table distribution of property, to the pre- soil and according to her laws, and no vention of monopoly and to the strict en-power exists in this Government to expaforcement of individual rights against cor-triate an American citizen to be tried in porate abuses, we hold that the welfare of society depends upon a scrupulous regard for the rights of property as defined by law We believe that labor is best rewarded where it is freest and most enlightened. It should therefore be fostered and cherished. We favor the repeal of all laws restricting the free action of labor, and the enactment of laws by which labor organizations may be incorporated, and of all such legislation as will tend to enlighten the people as to the true relation of capital and labor. We believe that the public lands ought, as far as possible, to be kept as homesteads for actual settlers, that all unearned lands, heretofore improvidently granted to railroad corporations by the action of the Republican party, should be restored to the public domain, and that no more grants of The Federal Government should care for land shall be made to corporations, or to and improve the Mississippi River and be allowed to fall into the ownership of other great water ways of the Republic, so alien absentees. We are opposed to all as to secure for the interior states easy and propositions which, upon any pretext, cheap transportation to tidewater. Under would convert the general Government a long period of Democratic rule and into a machine for collecting taxes to be policy our merchant marine was fast overdistributed among the states, or the citizens taking and on the point of outstripping thereof.

any foreign land for any such act.

This country has never had a well defined and executed foreign policy save under Democratic administration. The policy has ever been, in regard to foreign nations, so long as they do no act detrimental to the interests of the country or hurtful to our citizens, to let them alone. That, as the result of this policy, we recall the acquisition of Louisiana, Florida, California, and of the adjacent Mexican territory by purchase alone and contrast these grand acquisitions of Democratic statesmanship with the purchase of Alaska, the sole fruit of a Republican administration of nearly a quarter of a century.

Federal Responsibilities.

that of Great Britain. Under twenty years | United States may compete with unhinof Republican rule and policy our com- dered powers for the primacy among namerce has been left to British bottoms, and tions in all the arts of peace and fruits of almost has the American flag been swept liberty off the high seas. Instead of the Republican party's British policy, we demand for the people of the United States an American policy Under the Democratic rule and policy, our merchants and sailors, flying the stars and stripes in every port, successfully searched out a market for the varied products of American industry Under a quarter of a century of Republican rule and policy, despite our manifest advantages over all other nations in high paid labor favorable climate and teeming soils, despite freedom of trade among all these United States, despite their population by the foremost races of men and an annual immigration of the young, thrifty and adventurous of all nations, despite our freedom here from the inherited burdens of life and industry in old world monarchies, their costly war navies, their vast tax-consuming, non-producing standing armies; despite twenty years of peace, that Republican rule and policy have managed to surrender to Great Britain, along with our commerce, the control of the markets of the world.

Instead of the Republican party's British policy, we demand in behalf of the American Democracy, an American policy; instead of the Republican party s discredited scheme and false pretenses of friendship for American labor expressed by imposing taxes, we demand in behalf of the Democracy, freedom for American labor, by reducing taxes to the end that these

With profound regret we have been apprised by the venerable statesman,through whose person was struck that blow at the vital principle of republics (acquiescence in the will of the majority), that he cannot permit us again to place in his hands the leadership of the Democratic hosts, for the reason that the achievement of reform in the administration of the Federal Government is an undertaking now too heavy for his age and failing strength. Rejoicing that his life has been prolonged until the general judgment of our fellow-countrymen is united in the wish that wrong were righted in his person for the Democracy of the United States, we offer to him, in his withdrawal from public cares, not only our respectful sympathy and esteem, but also that best homage of freemen, the pledge of our devotion to the principles and the cause now inseparable in the history of the Republic from the labors and the name of Samuel J. Tilden. With this statement of the hopes, principles and purposes of the Democratic party the great issue of reform and change in administration is submitted to the people in calm confidence that the popular voice will pronounce in favor of new men and new and more favorable conditions for the growth of industry, the extension of trade, the employment and due reward of labor and of capital, and the general welfare of the whole country.

THE ISSUES OF 1884.

The Democratic party with its long his- The two great political parties substantoric record, reaching back to the primi- tially agree as to the true intent and purtive days of the Republic, has so often pose of government. They both declare asserted its fundamental principles, and in their purpose to be to secure the perpetuity the administration of the government has of our institutions, the prosperity of our peoso fully defined its policy that a passing ple, and the rapid and safe development notice is all that is necessary to present of our resources. Each recognizes the them to the reader. Its maxim of "the constitutional rights of our people, and greatest good to the greatest number" has the supremacy of legal enactments in acbeen the prominent idea of the party since cordance therewith. Executive officers the days of Jefferson, and hence its great and legislators without regard to party following by the masses of the laboring must protect and defend our institutions, classes. The Democratic party as the and carry on the government as they shall representative of free institutions, or of a deem best for its present and future good. government of the people, became from It is at this point that party lines diverge the beginning the natural antagonist of on the question of policy. The division is aristocracy, and the champion of legiti- not as to what we need as a nation, but as mate industry. It not only welcomed to to the best way to secure it. Thus, we our shores the oppressed of other nations, need money to carry on the government, but after clothing them with the garb of but the question as to the best way to procitizenship it has stood between labor and cure it is probably the real dividing line capital, demanding an equitable division between the great parties. At the present of their joint earnings. To hold in check time our receipts are from duties on imthe syndicates of capital, and to compel ports, from internal revenue taxes, and corporations to deal justly with employees, from the sale of public lands. As regards has ever been its aim and end. The the money raised by the taxation of articles great national doctrines enunciated by produced in our own country, there is a Jefferson, whose broad and practical large following in both the Democratic and views gave our nation a home prosperity and a foreign prestige, still form the keystone of the Democratic arch through which the present millions march onward to a bright future. To preserve national honor, to perpetuate our institutions as handed down to us by the noble framers of our government, to give stability to industry and trade, to legislate for the whole nation and not for a chosen few-these are a few of the prominent ideas of the Democratic party. Individual interests will differ, the different callings of life beget a friction, and cause collisions between rival elements. Governments when just, instead of favoring one interest to the prejudice of others, bring about such a compromise as aids all by protecting all.

Republican parties that the necessity for said tax no longer exists, and its collection should be discontinued.

Protection laws are unstable.

An essential of a just law is that it affects all alike, and measured from this stand point our tariff legislation is undoubtedly very unjust. Protection instead of being designed for the common good, is special and discriminating, and is therefore partial. It favors the one at the expense of the other, and all tariff legislation having a view to protect must necessarily do so. When it discards favoritism and ceases to discriminate, it cannot protect, because a law which affords equal protection to all the home industries would leave them in precisely the same condition as if

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they had no legal protection. As has been We are even obliged to pay more than the truly said, "the attempt to protect every-value in a foreign market with the duties thing protects nothing. The history of and freight added, because these commoour country shows further, that these par- dities of necessity pass through more hands tial laws cannot be permanent, and the than domestic produce, and each demands knowledge that they are liable to change his percentage on the actual cost. The at any session of Congress tends to dis- wealthy who can afford to purchase in organize business and thus destroy the ge- large quantities of first hands, purchase at neral prosperity Capitalists are slow to less rates than the poor who are compelled invest in any business, which is subject to to buy in small quantities, at much higher the mutations of popular legislation, thus rates, and hence the laboring poor of the placing them and those whom they employ country, who are least able to pay, have to at the mercy of each congressional dele- bear the major part of this taxation. Duties gation. A tariff which favors one class to- on imports are therefore a direct tax on day may be changed to favor another to- the labor of the country much more onermorrow, and thus capitalists become bank-ous and unjust to the poor than a direct rupt and labor is paralyzed under the hy-taxation would be. To put the case plainly, pocritical name of protection. The De- the consumer of an imported article pays, mocratic party is pledged against such fa- in addition to its market price at home, voritism, and sham protection, and favors the expense of transportation and insursuch tariff legislation as will give stability ance, the amount of duty levied under the to all our industries, and through that, tariff law, the cost of maintaining our cusprosperity to the whole country What tom houses and their accessories, the comthe country needs is a rest from such legis- missions of agents, the percentage of lation as vainly strives to regulate that wholesale dealers, the profits of jobbers, which is only governed by the stern laws and the augmented prices of the retail of supply and demand, when business dealers, so that the original price is often will take its natural channel, labor receive quadrupled ere it is purchased by the its proper compensation, and prosperity sweat of labor. It compounds its rates as will bless and restore what protective laws it passes from hand to hand, and the have blasted. consumer must pay both principal and interest.

The Duties are Principally Paid by the
Consumer.

Those who advocate a Protective Tariff assert that the importer pays the duty, and thus foreign Governments pay the principal portion of our taxes. The absurdity of this proposition is evident from the fact that if it were true, all nations would immediately resort to such a tariff in order that they might be relieved from taxation. But even for a moment admitting it to be true, no possible benefit could be derived from such a system, as the reciprocal feature would require us to pay the taxes of other nations in the same amount that they might pay ours.

It may be laid down as a verity, that the consumer of an article pays its full value, including all costs and charges incident to its production and delivery to the last purchaser, and hence whatever we consume of foreign product or manufacture we pay for to the uttermost farthing.

But the Protectionist replies, that notwithstanding this, the consumer purchases at a cheaper rate than he can buy the same goods manufactured at home-that foreign manufacturers must undersell our market before they can find purchasers. If this were true, it would successfully refute the position taken by the Democratic Party on the tariff question, and completely disarm the opponents of Protection so far as this principle applies. But it is not the fact, as may be shown in a single sentence. The idea that goods manufactured in the old countries are superior to ours, is entertained by a great majority of our people, and hence they are willing to pay a higher price for them than for similar articles made at home. There was a time when the proposition was true, but the rapid development of the country, and its advance in all the skilled industries, enables it now to make almost