to protect, with equal fidelity and vigilance, the rights of its citizens, native and naturalized, at home and abroad; and to the end that this protection may be assured, United States papers of naturalization, issued by courts of competent jurisdiction, must be respected by the executive and legislative departments of our own government and by all foreign powers. It is an imperative duty of this government to efficiently protect all the rights of persons and property of every American citizen in foreign lands, and demand and enforce full reparation for any invasion thereof. An American citizen is only responsible to his own government for any act done in his own country or under her flag, and can only be tried therefor on her own soil and according to her laws; and no power exists in this government to expatriate an American citizen to be tried in any foreign land for any such act. This country has never had a well-defined and executed foreign policy save under Democratic administration; that policy has ever been, in regard to foreign nations, so long as they do not 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. The Federal Government should care for and improve the Mississippi river and other great waterways of the Republic, so as to secure for the interior States easy and cheap transportation to tide-water. Under a long period of Democratic rule and policy our merchant marine was fast overtaking and on the point of outstripping that of Great Britain. Under twenty years of Republican rule and policy our commerce has been left to British bottoms, and almost has the American flag been swept 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 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 century of Republican rule and policy, despite our manifest advantage over all other nations in high-paid labor, favorable climates, 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-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 pretense of friendship for American labor, expressed by imposing taxes, we de.nand in behalf of the Democracy freedom for American labor by reducing taxes, to the end that these United States may compete with unhindered powers for the primacy among nations in all the arts of peace and fruits of liberty. 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 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 this 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. 36 COMMENTS ON THE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM. The Democratic platform adopted by the convention on the 10th of July, 1884, is comprehensive and exhaustive. It starts out with the confident declaration that the fundamental principles of the Democracy, including the preservation of 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 form forever the ample basis and the best guarantee of our liberties. It boldly announces that the time has come for a change in the administration. It charges that frauds and jobbery have been brought to light in every department of the Republican party. The Democratic platform pledges that if its party is returned to power it will purify the administration, it will restore economy, it will revive respect for law, it will reduce taxation to the lowest reasonable point. Sufficient revenue to pay all the legitimate and reasonable expenses of the Federal government is all it asks. The Democratic party in their platform express their desire for intimate commercial and political relations with the fifteen sister Republics of North, Central and South America, but they desire with equal ardor to keep clear of all entanglements. They demand as the true safeguard of our freedom a free ballot and a fair count. On the question of labor, which becomes every day a question of greater importance, the platform states the conviction of the party, that labor is best rewarded when it is freest and most enlightened, and adds: "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 relations of capital and labor. After dealing with other important questions, the platform closes with a glowing tribute to Samuel J. Tilden. |