Show DI 1555 GRAND principles THE instrument ADOPTED AT THE ST LOUS convention readous why the tariff be reduced we print below in full the creed of the democratic party as enunciated at st louis the democratic party of the united states in national convention assembled renews the pledge of its fidelity to the democratic faith and reaffirms the platform adopted by its representatives in the convention of and endorses indorses indor ses the views expressed by president cleveland in his last earnest message to congress as a correct interpretation terp of that platform upon the question of tariff reduction and endorses the efforts of Democratic our representatives in congress to secure a reduction of excessive taxation chief among its principles of party faith are the maintenance of an indissoluble union of free and indestructible tible states now about to enter upon its second century of unexampled progress and known devotion to a plan of government regulated by a written constitution strictly specifying every granted power and expressly reserving to the states or the people the entire residue of power and the encouragement of zealous popular vigilance directed to all who have been chosen for brief terms to enact and execute the laws and are charged with the duty of preserving the peace ensuing equality and the re establishment of justice the democratic party welcomes an exacting scrutiny of the administration of the executive power which four years ago was committed to its trust in the election of grover cleveland as president of the united states and it challenges the moat searching inquiry concerning its fidelity and devotion to the pledges which then invited the suf frages of the people during a most critical period of our financial affairs resulting from over taxation with an anomalous condition of our currency and the public debt it has re versed the improvident and unwise policy of the republican party touching the public domain and has reclaimed from corporations and syndicates alien and domestic and restored to the people nearly one hundred millions of acres of valuable land to bo sacredly held as homo for our citizens while carefully guarding the interests of the principles of justice and equity has paid out more for pensions and bounties to soldiers and sailors of the republic than was ever paid before during an equal period it has adopted and consistently pursued a firm and prudent foreign policy preserving peace with all nations while maintaining all the rights and interests of our government and our people at home and abroad exclusion from our shores of chinese laborers has been effectually secured under provisions of a treaty the operation of which has been postponed by the action of the republican majority in the senate in every branch and department of the government under democratic control the rights and welfare of all he people have been guarded and defended every public interest has been protected and the equality of all our citizens before the law without regard to race or color has been steadfastly maintained upon ita record thus exhibited and upon the pledge of a continuance to ahe people of cheso benefits the democracy involves a renewal of the popular trust by the election reelection re of a chief magistrate who has been faithful able and prudent and it invokes in addition to that trust the transfer also to the democracy of the entire legislative power of the republican party controlling the senate and resisting in both houses of congress th e reformation of and unequal tax laws which haye outlasted out lasted the necessity of war and are now undermining the abundance of a long they deny to the leopla equality before the law and the fairness of justice which are their rights the cry of american labor for a better share in the rewards of industry is still stifled with alse pretenses enterprise ter prise is fettered and bound down to home markets capital is aged with doubt and unequal unjust laws can neither bo property amended or repealed alie democratic party will continue with all the power confided to it the struggle to reform these laws in accordance with the pledges of its last platform endorsed indorsed indor sed at the ballot box by the suffrages suf frages of i the people of all the industrial freeman of our land the immense majority including every tiller of iho soil ain no advantage from excessive tax laws but the price of nearly everything they buy s increase dby the favoritism of an unequal system of tax leg tion all unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation it is repugnant to the creed of the that by such taxation the cost of the life should bo unjustly increased to all our people judged by democratic principles the interests of the people are tobe protected by unnecessary taxation trusts and have been permitted to exist which ahil unduly enriching the few combine 0 rob the body of our citizens by taking from them the benefits of natural competition every rule of governmental action is violated when through unnecessary taxation n vast sum of money far beyond jeche needs of economical is drawn from the people and channels of trade and accumulate as a demoralizing surplus in the national treasury the money now lying idle in the federal treasury resulting from superfluous taxation amounts to more than and the surplus collected is reaching the sum of more than annually debauched by this immense temptation the remedy of the republican party is to meet the emergency by extravagant appropriations and expenses the democratic policy is to enforce frugality in the jhc expense and abolish unnecessary legislation our established de industries idus tries and enterprise ter prise should not and need not be endangered by a reduction and correction of the burdens of taxation on the contrary a fair and careful revision of our tax law with a duo allowance for the difference between the wages of american and foreign labor must promote and encourage every branch of such of our industries and enterprises by giving them of an extended market and steady and continuous operations in the interests of american labor which should in no event bo neglected the revision of our tax law contemplated by the democratic party should promote the advantage of such labor by cheapening the cost of the necessaries of life in the home of every workingman then 41 the bamo time securing to him steady and remunerative employment upon this question of tariff reform so closely concerning every phase of our national life and upon every question involved in the problem of good government the democratic party submits its principles and professions to the intelligent suf frages of the american people |